This blog started exploring Mayor Jackson’s curious lawsuit with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. The lawsuit was “curious” in a sense that Jackson struck a deal with the church- selling the property for $11,500,000 while wanting to collect a $9,500,000 “consulting fee”- but later reneging on the deal and ultimately filing a lawsuit against the church. You can revisit the blogs here: part 1, part 2.
This blog wanted to know why Jackson sold the property to the church in the first place, when he was applying for zoning for the property to have several developments on the land. The only explanation this blog was able to find for Jackson selling the property was due to the economic downturn.
As was mentioned in the previous blogs, Jackson intended to develop four properties on 250 acres of land. In the 2004 Town of Ramapo’s Comprehensive Plan, Jackson’s development plan was recommended for redevelopment as an age restricted planned community of residents aged 55 and over. In July 2005, the Planning Board granted preliminary approval for Jackson’s senior-citizen housing development in addition to three other developments, totaling 1,800 potential housing units. Some members in the community were concerned that the Jackson’s development project would cause drainage issues, traffic, and affect the wetlands in the area:
“ ‘This is not going to be a good thing,’ said Edward Goodell, executive director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. ‘It's a bad idea and bad planning.’ During previous sessions — the project has been discussed for at least four years — Goodell and residents have raised concerns over issues ranging from drainage to traffic to the development's impact on wetlands. Goodell said he would like to the project's density to be decreased as well its location changed so as not to impact the natural surrounding.”
Others were also interested in preserving the Ramapo River Watershed’s drinking water and the areas open spaces. Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence “spearheaded” the Ramapo River Watershed Intermunicipal Council aimed at preserving Ramapo’s water. St. Lawrence served as the Chairman for Ramapo Watershed:
The goal of the Watershed Council was to ensure fresh drinking water and preserve the remaining open spaces. The Advocacy Director for NY/NJ Trail Conference Dennis Schvejda said it was under St. Lawrence’s watch “that the Lorterdan project is moving towards final approval,” and by allowing the Lorterdan project to be approved, St. Lawrence was not protecting the Council’s best interests.
This blog became interested in the contributions the Jackson municipal campaign ticket received in 2012, and was also interested in the types of contributions Jackson made. As it turns out, Jackson made a quite a few contributions in New York, including a couple contributions to St. Lawrence’s campaign:
Jackson’s Lorterdan Properties also made several contributions to Friends of Alex Gromack and the Rockland County Republican Committee:
According to Gromack’s LinkedIn page, he is the Town Supervisor for the Town of Clarkstown. It’s fitting that Gromack’s LinkedIn summary includes: “Supervisor Gromack has supported senior and 55 and over housing,” the type of housing development Jackson was trying to get zoned.
And Jackson made even more contributions to city council and town council candidates in the county and townships Jackson’s property fell under:
It’s clear that Mayor Jackson was interested in getting the property developed. He had a few setbacks from the environmental groups and community members, but a few contributions to town councils really helped his efforts. Does this record of shady business dealings cast light on his qualifications and current abilities as mayor? This blog is concerned about the mayor’s previous business dealings in Montclair, and whether contracts were awarded not based on merit but rather through pay-to-play dealings. From the looks of it, he may have some experience with that sort of thing.
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