Officials Protected Motty's Supermarket Despite Hazards: Report

RAMAPO, NY — Motty's Supermarket, which burned down in an intense and dangerous fire in February, had been protected despite decades of safety and building violations by Ramapo's actively lax oversight and enforcement, The Journal News reported.

An investigative report by Steve Lieberman and Peter Kramer details "a pattern of disregard and defiance" over decades of violations of safety and fire codes, lack of basic building permits, illegal expansion, lack of enforcement, and lack of response from administrators, prosecutors and courts.

And it goes into detail about the actions top town officials have taken on behalf of business owner Abraham Klein, including the time Motty's began building without permits on the Metro-North right-of-way. When MTA officials began to take enforcement action, Ramapo town purchasing director Mona Montal called to tell them to lay off, an action approved by town Supervisor Michael Specht. Their stated reason: the town had permission to use the right of way for a recreational path.

The report also describes the horrific conditions firefighters faced Feb. 18.

Read the entire report on lohud.com.

The supermarket burned down Feb. 18. Rockland fire volunteers and officials have complained for years that buildings all over Ramapo have deliberately been constructed or expanded without even the basics of fire and safety codes.

SEE: Rockland Firefighters, Officials Call for State to Intervene in Ramapo, Spring Valley Code Enforcement