Rockland County Executive Asks Cuomo to Open Ice Rink Because it Doesn’t Serve ‘The Clusters’

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MONSEY (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – Residents of Rockland County’s Jewish cluster zones are seeing red over a letter written by the county executive, asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to exempt a local ice rink from the lockdowns because it does not serve Orthodox Jews.

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A copy of the October 16th letter written by County Executive Ed Day was posted to Twitter by user Yehuda Zorger today, with Day advocating for Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks, saying the facility “does not serve the general public in the Cluster for recreational use.” With Governor Andrew Cuomo noting on several occasions that the red zones were created to deal with COVID clusters in the Orthodox Jewish community, Day’s statement angered members of Monsey’s Jewish community.

Rockland County Executive Ed/ Courtesy: Facebook

“This is what it has come to in NYS unfortunately,” tweeted Zorger. “A county executive asking u to help an establishment that’s #JEW free. #Antisemitism without even trying to hide it. It’s Judenrein. #NeverAgain.”

“Saying the quiet part aloud again, the Rockland County Executive, is asking the NY Governor to allow a business to reopen because the Jews in the Rockland red zone cluster don’t frequent the business,” tweeted Spring Valley resident Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel school district. “It’s not only offensive, it’s a lie. SportORama should be opened safely for all.”

Members of the Monsey community have flocked to Sport-O-Rama for years to enjoy ice hockey, figure skating lessons and open skating.

“Sport O Rama is a great place!” tweeted Monsey resident Rivkie Feiner. “We’ve all skated there and our kids played #IceHockey there. Of course they should be allowed to #ReOpen as well as ALL other #SmallBusinesses that were force to #ShutDown in #RocklandCounty.”


Day’s letter also stated that the rink’s owner believed that his establishment was included in the red zone because it was mistakenly assumed to be on Horton Drive, while it is actually located on the east side of College Road. Cuomo’s Rockland County COVID cluster map places the east side of College Road on the outer perimeter of the red zone.

Day defended the letter, telling VIN News that it was in keeping with Cuomo’s stated intentions to fine tune the cluster zone designation and that it was based on a communication from Sport-O-Rama indicating that the rink is not open to the general public and only two individuals enrolled in its hockey, school and figure skating programs live within the red zone.

The Journal News (https://bit.ly/3m8BQlh) reported on October 8th that Sport-O-Rama owner Bob Tweedy was outraged to find his rink within the red zone, noting that he only does private rentals and has strict COVID policies in place, closing locker rooms and maintaining separate entrances and exits.

“I’m going to have to fight it,” said Tweedy. “There no reason for us to be in the zone. I don’t know where it’s going to go, how we’re going to do it, but, there’s no reason.”

A change.org petition to reopen the rink has garnered just over 2,000 signatures and took a slightly different tone than Day’s letter, saying, “Sport-O-Rama ice rink is in the red zone that was just put in place by Governor Cuomo and was forced to close. The rink has done everything in their power to keep the kids safe and to help stop the spread of Covid 19.

It is unfair that the kids, whose hearts are in that rink are now forced to sit out and not be allowed to play or skate, while other organizations are back. They are being unfairly punished. If the rink is being diligent on their end and doing their part, the rink should remain open. This is a petition to reopen the rink and allow the children to do what they love.”


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21 Comments
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Enough is enough is enough
Enough is enough is enough
3 years ago

Once again Ed Day is showing us what kind of jerk he really is. The place should be open! That being said, on any given Sunday, you can walk in there and see many many from 10952 and 10977 playing hockey as well as utilizing the facility.

I think as soon as the king in Albany capitulates on this one, the rink should be visited by many many people from that area.

Josh
Josh
3 years ago

Probably has a family member playing there. Self centered hater.

Asher
Asher
3 years ago

Here is a screen shot from his facebook page with a clear blatant anti-Semitic comment (which is not the only one) and not only does he not remove it, he responds to it. He is an anti semite and should be removed from office imagine this was with the black community

5TRESIDENT
5TRESIDENT
3 years ago

Why don’t Jews use the rink?

ruby
ruby
3 years ago

gezunterheit open the rink .. just leave us a lone

ruby
ruby
3 years ago

someone make a petition to open the rink we will gladly sign it

ruby
ruby
3 years ago

oh i see it ,

anonymous
anonymous
3 years ago

There are SO MANY frum people who are members of Lifeplex. There are frum people who run camps there, etc. Cancel your memberships, relocate your camps. Do not give Jewish money to these antisemites.

Mendy
Mendy
3 years ago

If Monseyvolk would wear masks and not have a Covid Cluster this wouldn’t be an issue!

Joe from Yehupitz
Joe from Yehupitz
3 years ago

He is exactly right. The Goyim suffered enough from Jewish recklessness.