Don't blame Chester for Monroe's problems

To the editor: A lot has been said about the Monroe town election. Both the Democrats and SaveMonroe make like if they are elected they will either create or join a Southeast Regional Task Force. It already exist and the Town of Monroe is apart of it. As a resident of Chester I take offence of their innuendo that we are irresponsible in our growth and all we contribute to Monroe is more traffic and more students to the town of Monroe. First let me say that I have been to one or two town meetings. There is a very hostile atmosphere at those meeting, and there is a need for two armed state troopers at these meetings. You don’t see this at Town of Chester meetings. Parts of Chester belong to the Monroe-Woodbury School District, as do the parts of the Towns of Tuxedo and Blooming Grove, and we all pay school taxes to that district. Also we have a master plan for growth and it allows for open space. Now that Camp Monroe has been sold, and if the Town of Chester allows cluster building there, we will have more open space and a ready-made town park. And supporters of Save Monroe criticize us, but it’s OK that Monroe wants to put up condos and a strip mall right across the street from there? The people of Monroe should learn the difference between the town and villages. Most of your growth are in the villages of Monroe and Kiryas Joel, which allow large houses or multi-family houses on small parcels of land. The town board has no control over village government. So if you want to stop all this building in Monroe, go voice your concerns to the respective village boards. Ronald Zodda Monroe