Alleged Coronavirus Violations and Jewish Summer Camps
Item
Title
Alleged Coronavirus Violations and Jewish Summer Camps
Description
These articles discuss the potential role of Jewish summer camps in some COVID-19 outbreaks
Date Created
August 2020
Denomination
Judaism
State
New York
Place
Albany
Genre
articles
Institution
extracted text
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside
COVID-19 rules
Brendan J. Lyons
Updated: Aug. 15, 2020 10 21 a.m.
3
1 of 3
A bus, pictured here, is dropping off campers from an Ulster County camp at a location in Sullivan County.
Six Jewish summer camps in Ulster County have been accused by local officials of health and safety
violations.
Provided Photo
ALBANY — Hundreds of children have been packed into buses and brought to more than six Jewish
camps in Ulster County this summer, triggering a drawn-out battle with local code enforcement officials
who have asked a judge to shut down the facilities they allege are operating in violation of zoning laws and
COVID-19 restrictions.
The six camps, both overnight and day camps and at least one that has operated as a school, are in the
town of Wawarsing, a hilly and remote community that's nestled between two state forests about 10 miles
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
1/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
west of New Paltz at the base of the Catskill Mountains.
An attorney for the town said they also have received reports that the buses are driving some campers —
many of them from Brooklyn and the greater New York City metropolitan area — into neighboring Sullivan
County at night, where they are apparently staying at other camps.
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm helps represent five of the camps, said two of the camps
are not hosting children. Rather, there are families — parents and their children — who are staying in
bungalows at those sites.
Kaplan said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it was
made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no COVID19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or not,
they didnʼt want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town officials) are
grasping for areas that really werenʼt part of the original allegations, and the camps are doing what they can
to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
2/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Earlier this week, after police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp Rav Tov on
Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the nearby village of Ellenville,
wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced on
those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive orders
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
3/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this community
should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
On Friday, Mattracion said that he didn't recall how many children were in the groups. He also said that a
rabbi associated with the camp had assured him this week they are following health department guidelines
and are taking the temperatures of the children on the buses. The chief said he had responded to the camp
to assist State Police after a motorist complained a bus had forced his vehicle off the road — and that the
town's supervisor had asked him to document what he saw there.
Houck declined to comment on the litigation and the town's code enforcement efforts, but said the town "is
very concerned about the safety and health of all of our visitors and all of our residents."
John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town, said code enforcement officers were initially denied access to the
camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple codeenforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating without
an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"Initially, it was clear they were going to operate overnight camps, whether they were permitted or not ...
and apparently Mr. Kaplan has admitted (to the Times Union) that there are people sleeping in camps,"
Bailey said. "It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are
many hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues. ... To this day the town has not been provided with their
plan of operation."
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be kept
separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear masks.
Bailey also said that code enforcement officers have had difficulty investigating the situation, in part,
because the operators prevented them from entering the camps' buildings or only consented to an
inspection if they are given a day's notice.
It's unclear how many people are staying overnight at the camps that hold bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
4/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Ten days after the governor's announcement on summer camps, state Health Commissioner Howard
Zucker issued a directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer. Zucker
noted that overnight camps "have congregate settings and sleeping arrangements in close quarters that
present too many risks. In such a setting, even a single positive case in a camper or staff member could
create an untenable quarantine situation and overwhelm camp health personnel that may not be able to
handle a serious infectious outbreak of this nature."
But the camp operators have waged a formidable legal counterattack, including obtaining "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. In addition, a group representing many of
the camps filed a federal lawsuit in Albany in June challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight
camps.
Most Popular
Trial and error on campuses offer clues to COVID-19 prevention
House of the Week: Row house in Albany
Judge in Albany slams DA's office, gives killer 15 to life in murder-for-hire
Columbia High student who took SAT with 300 others tests positive for coronavirus
Prosecutor says man sexually attacked, 'water-boarded' woman in Coeymans
In the federal lawsuit, attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators alleged the governor's order
violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and noted that it was issued "without
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
5/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding that these overnight camps involve
core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states. "The
need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of shutdowns of the
yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the Jewish overnight
camps."
More for you
State investigating camps
near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus...
Brendan J. Lyons
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an order
denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
In a parallel legal battle, the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme Court a month ago asking
a judge to order the camps to shut down and alleging they are operating in violation of local zoning laws
and also the state's coronavirus orders governing occupancy and health safety measures.
The town argues, in part, that the facilities are permitted to operate only as "overnight" camps and are
violating their permits by hosting day camps — with hundreds of children bused in and out each day, and
the failure to follow social distancing and other requirements.
The camps this summer obtained "temporary residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of
Health, and have asserted that those permits allow them to operate. But Kaplan, the attorney for the camps
who is also the mayor of the nearby Village of Ellenville, said those permit were used at the camps where
parents and their children are staying in bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
6/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
The town, in its court petition, contends a temporary residence use "must be a permitted use for the Zoning
District in which the parcel is located and the property owner must receive the required approvals from the
town Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals along with any necessary certificates of occupancy
and/or building permits from the Town's Building Department." They said that has not been done.
The town's court petition includes an affidavit from Arkady Aleksandryants, a neighbor of Camp Rav Tov,
who said that the camp's buses frequently park illegally on his property and that he has observed hundreds
of children at the camp throughout the summer and buses "literally loaded with children."
"I have observed the children not wearing masks and not engaged in any social distancing,"
Aleksandryants said in the affidavit.
Attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on Friday. A spokesman for the state Department of Health could not be reached for comment.
With the pace of the court system slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's possible the case in state
Supreme Court, in which the town is seeking a permanent injunction shutting down the camps, may not be
resolved before they close for the season at the end of the month.
Sign up for the Daily Brief newsletter
As the Capital Region reopens, we're delivering stories that keep you safe, informed.
Enter your email
SIGN UP
By subscribing, you agree to our
our Terms of use
use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our
our Privacy Policy.
Policy.
Written By
Brendan J. Lyons
Reach Brendan J. on
Brendan J. Lyons is a senior editor for the Times Union overseeing the Capitol Bureau and Investigations. Lyons joined the Times
Union in 1998 as a crime reporter before being assigned to the investigations team. He became editor of the investigations team
in 2013 and joined the Capitol Bureau in 2017. You can reach him at
at blyons@timesunion.com
blyons@timesunion.com oror (518) 454-5547.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
7/7
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus violations
Health Department steps into case where camps alleged to be violating COVID-19 regs
By Brendan J. Lyons Updated 3:56 pm CDT, Tuesday, August 25, 2020
ALBANY — The state Department of Health is investigating the practices at multiple summers camps in
Ulster County that local officials have asked a judge to shut down due to allegations they may be
violating zoning laws and COVID-19 restrictions.
The camps, which are exclusive to Jewish children, have been operating as day-only facilities, although
some residents who have followed the buses that transport the children to and from the sites said they
are staying overnight at camps and residences in neighboring Sullivan County.
The state's intervention comes weeks after the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme
Court asserting that the facilities pose a health risk to the people at the camps and residents in that
area.
"Even though it’s late in the season, any help would be appreciated. … Let’s just hope the Health
Department is serious about investigating," said John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town of Wawarsing.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
1/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
"They certainly have not been in touch with my clients, and my clients could provide them with useful
information."
Steven Barshov, a Manhattan attorney who represents several of the camp operators targeted by the
town's litigation, said they are operating legally, following the COVID-19 regulations imposed by the
state, and have not reported a single case of coronavirus infecting anyone at the camps.
"The Ulster County Department of Health issued permits; those permits remain in full force and effect,"
Barshov said. "I’m not aware of any Ulster County Department of Health action to revoke any of the
permits for illegal operations. As best as I know, everybody is doing what they’re supposed to do."
Previously: Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm also helps represent five of the camps, earlier this
month said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it
was made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no
COVID-19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or
not, they didn’t want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town
officials) are grasping for areas that really weren’t part of the original allegations, and the camps are
doing what they can to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
In the second week of August, police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp
Rav Tov on Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, where Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the
nearby village of Ellenville, wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the
scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced
on those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive
orders from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this
community should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
Bailey, who represents the town in the litigation, said code enforcement officers were denied access to
the camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
2/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
code-enforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating
without an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are many
hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues," Bailey said.
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be
kept separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear
masks.
Ten days after the governor's announcement, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a
directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer because of concerns
about triggering an outbreak of coronavirus.
The town's efforts to shut down the camps were stymied when the operators obtained "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. County officials said those permits
enabled camp employees to stay at the facilities overnight.
“Following the governor’s early June order allowing day camps to operate across New York state, the
county health department — as did the state and other county health departments — processed and
granted camp permits pursuant to that order while enabling staff members to reside on site during the
season," said Carol Smith, the county's health commissioner. "Every day camp is expected to operate
pursuant to all state guidelines prohibiting overnight camps, guidelines for protective measures against
the spread of COVID-19, as well as any other state and local laws and rules they may be subject to."
In June, a group representing many of the camps — the Association of Jewish Camp Operators — filed
a federal lawsuit in Albany challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight camps.
They alleged the governor's order violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and
noted that it was issued "without making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding
that these overnight camps involve core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states.
"The need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
3/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
shutdowns of the yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the
Jewish overnight camps."
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an
order denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
4/4
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside
COVID-19 rules
Brendan J. Lyons
Updated: Aug. 15, 2020 10 21 a.m.
3
1 of 3
A bus, pictured here, is dropping off campers from an Ulster County camp at a location in Sullivan County.
Six Jewish summer camps in Ulster County have been accused by local officials of health and safety
violations.
Provided Photo
ALBANY — Hundreds of children have been packed into buses and brought to more than six Jewish
camps in Ulster County this summer, triggering a drawn-out battle with local code enforcement officials
who have asked a judge to shut down the facilities they allege are operating in violation of zoning laws and
COVID-19 restrictions.
The six camps, both overnight and day camps and at least one that has operated as a school, are in the
town of Wawarsing, a hilly and remote community that's nestled between two state forests about 10 miles
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
1/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
west of New Paltz at the base of the Catskill Mountains.
An attorney for the town said they also have received reports that the buses are driving some campers —
many of them from Brooklyn and the greater New York City metropolitan area — into neighboring Sullivan
County at night, where they are apparently staying at other camps.
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm helps represent five of the camps, said two of the camps
are not hosting children. Rather, there are families — parents and their children — who are staying in
bungalows at those sites.
Kaplan said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it was
made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no COVID19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or not,
they didnʼt want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town officials) are
grasping for areas that really werenʼt part of the original allegations, and the camps are doing what they can
to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
2/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Earlier this week, after police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp Rav Tov on
Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the nearby village of Ellenville,
wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced on
those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive orders
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
3/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this community
should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
On Friday, Mattracion said that he didn't recall how many children were in the groups. He also said that a
rabbi associated with the camp had assured him this week they are following health department guidelines
and are taking the temperatures of the children on the buses. The chief said he had responded to the camp
to assist State Police after a motorist complained a bus had forced his vehicle off the road — and that the
town's supervisor had asked him to document what he saw there.
Houck declined to comment on the litigation and the town's code enforcement efforts, but said the town "is
very concerned about the safety and health of all of our visitors and all of our residents."
John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town, said code enforcement officers were initially denied access to the
camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple codeenforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating without
an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"Initially, it was clear they were going to operate overnight camps, whether they were permitted or not ...
and apparently Mr. Kaplan has admitted (to the Times Union) that there are people sleeping in camps,"
Bailey said. "It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are
many hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues. ... To this day the town has not been provided with their
plan of operation."
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be kept
separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear masks.
Bailey also said that code enforcement officers have had difficulty investigating the situation, in part,
because the operators prevented them from entering the camps' buildings or only consented to an
inspection if they are given a day's notice.
It's unclear how many people are staying overnight at the camps that hold bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
4/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Ten days after the governor's announcement on summer camps, state Health Commissioner Howard
Zucker issued a directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer. Zucker
noted that overnight camps "have congregate settings and sleeping arrangements in close quarters that
present too many risks. In such a setting, even a single positive case in a camper or staff member could
create an untenable quarantine situation and overwhelm camp health personnel that may not be able to
handle a serious infectious outbreak of this nature."
But the camp operators have waged a formidable legal counterattack, including obtaining "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. In addition, a group representing many of
the camps filed a federal lawsuit in Albany in June challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight
camps.
Most Popular
Trial and error on campuses offer clues to COVID-19 prevention
House of the Week: Row house in Albany
Judge in Albany slams DA's office, gives killer 15 to life in murder-for-hire
Columbia High student who took SAT with 300 others tests positive for coronavirus
Prosecutor says man sexually attacked, 'water-boarded' woman in Coeymans
In the federal lawsuit, attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators alleged the governor's order
violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and noted that it was issued "without
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
5/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding that these overnight camps involve
core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states. "The
need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of shutdowns of the
yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the Jewish overnight
camps."
More for you
State investigating camps
near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus...
Brendan J. Lyons
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an order
denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
In a parallel legal battle, the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme Court a month ago asking
a judge to order the camps to shut down and alleging they are operating in violation of local zoning laws
and also the state's coronavirus orders governing occupancy and health safety measures.
The town argues, in part, that the facilities are permitted to operate only as "overnight" camps and are
violating their permits by hosting day camps — with hundreds of children bused in and out each day, and
the failure to follow social distancing and other requirements.
The camps this summer obtained "temporary residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of
Health, and have asserted that those permits allow them to operate. But Kaplan, the attorney for the camps
who is also the mayor of the nearby Village of Ellenville, said those permit were used at the camps where
parents and their children are staying in bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
6/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
The town, in its court petition, contends a temporary residence use "must be a permitted use for the Zoning
District in which the parcel is located and the property owner must receive the required approvals from the
town Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals along with any necessary certificates of occupancy
and/or building permits from the Town's Building Department." They said that has not been done.
The town's court petition includes an affidavit from Arkady Aleksandryants, a neighbor of Camp Rav Tov,
who said that the camp's buses frequently park illegally on his property and that he has observed hundreds
of children at the camp throughout the summer and buses "literally loaded with children."
"I have observed the children not wearing masks and not engaged in any social distancing,"
Aleksandryants said in the affidavit.
Attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on Friday. A spokesman for the state Department of Health could not be reached for comment.
With the pace of the court system slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's possible the case in state
Supreme Court, in which the town is seeking a permanent injunction shutting down the camps, may not be
resolved before they close for the season at the end of the month.
Sign up for the Daily Brief newsletter
As the Capital Region reopens, we're delivering stories that keep you safe, informed.
Enter your email
SIGN UP
By subscribing, you agree to our
our Terms of use
use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our
our Privacy Policy.
Policy.
Written By
Brendan J. Lyons
Reach Brendan J. on
Brendan J. Lyons is a senior editor for the Times Union overseeing the Capitol Bureau and Investigations. Lyons joined the Times
Union in 1998 as a crime reporter before being assigned to the investigations team. He became editor of the investigations team
in 2013 and joined the Capitol Bureau in 2017. You can reach him at
at blyons@timesunion.com
blyons@timesunion.com oror (518) 454-5547.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
7/7
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus violations
Health Department steps into case where camps alleged to be violating COVID-19 regs
By Brendan J. Lyons Updated 3:56 pm CDT, Tuesday, August 25, 2020
ALBANY — The state Department of Health is investigating the practices at multiple summers camps in
Ulster County that local officials have asked a judge to shut down due to allegations they may be
violating zoning laws and COVID-19 restrictions.
The camps, which are exclusive to Jewish children, have been operating as day-only facilities, although
some residents who have followed the buses that transport the children to and from the sites said they
are staying overnight at camps and residences in neighboring Sullivan County.
The state's intervention comes weeks after the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme
Court asserting that the facilities pose a health risk to the people at the camps and residents in that
area.
"Even though it’s late in the season, any help would be appreciated. … Let’s just hope the Health
Department is serious about investigating," said John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town of Wawarsing.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
1/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
"They certainly have not been in touch with my clients, and my clients could provide them with useful
information."
Steven Barshov, a Manhattan attorney who represents several of the camp operators targeted by the
town's litigation, said they are operating legally, following the COVID-19 regulations imposed by the
state, and have not reported a single case of coronavirus infecting anyone at the camps.
"The Ulster County Department of Health issued permits; those permits remain in full force and effect,"
Barshov said. "I’m not aware of any Ulster County Department of Health action to revoke any of the
permits for illegal operations. As best as I know, everybody is doing what they’re supposed to do."
Previously: Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm also helps represent five of the camps, earlier this
month said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it
was made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no
COVID-19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or
not, they didn’t want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town
officials) are grasping for areas that really weren’t part of the original allegations, and the camps are
doing what they can to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
In the second week of August, police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp
Rav Tov on Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, where Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the
nearby village of Ellenville, wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the
scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced
on those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive
orders from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this
community should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
Bailey, who represents the town in the litigation, said code enforcement officers were denied access to
the camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
2/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
code-enforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating
without an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are many
hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues," Bailey said.
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be
kept separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear
masks.
Ten days after the governor's announcement, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a
directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer because of concerns
about triggering an outbreak of coronavirus.
The town's efforts to shut down the camps were stymied when the operators obtained "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. County officials said those permits
enabled camp employees to stay at the facilities overnight.
“Following the governor’s early June order allowing day camps to operate across New York state, the
county health department — as did the state and other county health departments — processed and
granted camp permits pursuant to that order while enabling staff members to reside on site during the
season," said Carol Smith, the county's health commissioner. "Every day camp is expected to operate
pursuant to all state guidelines prohibiting overnight camps, guidelines for protective measures against
the spread of COVID-19, as well as any other state and local laws and rules they may be subject to."
In June, a group representing many of the camps — the Association of Jewish Camp Operators — filed
a federal lawsuit in Albany challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight camps.
They alleged the governor's order violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and
noted that it was issued "without making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding
that these overnight camps involve core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states.
"The need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
3/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
shutdowns of the yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the
Jewish overnight camps."
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an
order denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
4/4
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside
COVID-19 rules
Brendan J. Lyons
Updated: Aug. 15, 2020 10 21 a.m.
3
1 of 3
A bus, pictured here, is dropping off campers from an Ulster County camp at a location in Sullivan County.
Six Jewish summer camps in Ulster County have been accused by local officials of health and safety
violations.
Provided Photo
ALBANY — Hundreds of children have been packed into buses and brought to more than six Jewish
camps in Ulster County this summer, triggering a drawn-out battle with local code enforcement officials
who have asked a judge to shut down the facilities they allege are operating in violation of zoning laws and
COVID-19 restrictions.
The six camps, both overnight and day camps and at least one that has operated as a school, are in the
town of Wawarsing, a hilly and remote community that's nestled between two state forests about 10 miles
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
1/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
west of New Paltz at the base of the Catskill Mountains.
An attorney for the town said they also have received reports that the buses are driving some campers —
many of them from Brooklyn and the greater New York City metropolitan area — into neighboring Sullivan
County at night, where they are apparently staying at other camps.
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm helps represent five of the camps, said two of the camps
are not hosting children. Rather, there are families — parents and their children — who are staying in
bungalows at those sites.
Kaplan said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it was
made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no COVID19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or not,
they didnʼt want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town officials) are
grasping for areas that really werenʼt part of the original allegations, and the camps are doing what they can
to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
2/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Earlier this week, after police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp Rav Tov on
Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the nearby village of Ellenville,
wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced on
those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive orders
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
3/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this community
should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
On Friday, Mattracion said that he didn't recall how many children were in the groups. He also said that a
rabbi associated with the camp had assured him this week they are following health department guidelines
and are taking the temperatures of the children on the buses. The chief said he had responded to the camp
to assist State Police after a motorist complained a bus had forced his vehicle off the road — and that the
town's supervisor had asked him to document what he saw there.
Houck declined to comment on the litigation and the town's code enforcement efforts, but said the town "is
very concerned about the safety and health of all of our visitors and all of our residents."
John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town, said code enforcement officers were initially denied access to the
camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple codeenforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating without
an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"Initially, it was clear they were going to operate overnight camps, whether they were permitted or not ...
and apparently Mr. Kaplan has admitted (to the Times Union) that there are people sleeping in camps,"
Bailey said. "It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are
many hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues. ... To this day the town has not been provided with their
plan of operation."
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be kept
separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear masks.
Bailey also said that code enforcement officers have had difficulty investigating the situation, in part,
because the operators prevented them from entering the camps' buildings or only consented to an
inspection if they are given a day's notice.
It's unclear how many people are staying overnight at the camps that hold bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
4/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Ten days after the governor's announcement on summer camps, state Health Commissioner Howard
Zucker issued a directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer. Zucker
noted that overnight camps "have congregate settings and sleeping arrangements in close quarters that
present too many risks. In such a setting, even a single positive case in a camper or staff member could
create an untenable quarantine situation and overwhelm camp health personnel that may not be able to
handle a serious infectious outbreak of this nature."
But the camp operators have waged a formidable legal counterattack, including obtaining "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. In addition, a group representing many of
the camps filed a federal lawsuit in Albany in June challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight
camps.
Most Popular
Trial and error on campuses offer clues to COVID-19 prevention
House of the Week: Row house in Albany
Judge in Albany slams DA's office, gives killer 15 to life in murder-for-hire
Columbia High student who took SAT with 300 others tests positive for coronavirus
Prosecutor says man sexually attacked, 'water-boarded' woman in Coeymans
In the federal lawsuit, attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators alleged the governor's order
violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and noted that it was issued "without
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
5/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding that these overnight camps involve
core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states. "The
need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of shutdowns of the
yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the Jewish overnight
camps."
More for you
State investigating camps
near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus...
Brendan J. Lyons
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an order
denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
In a parallel legal battle, the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme Court a month ago asking
a judge to order the camps to shut down and alleging they are operating in violation of local zoning laws
and also the state's coronavirus orders governing occupancy and health safety measures.
The town argues, in part, that the facilities are permitted to operate only as "overnight" camps and are
violating their permits by hosting day camps — with hundreds of children bused in and out each day, and
the failure to follow social distancing and other requirements.
The camps this summer obtained "temporary residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of
Health, and have asserted that those permits allow them to operate. But Kaplan, the attorney for the camps
who is also the mayor of the nearby Village of Ellenville, said those permit were used at the camps where
parents and their children are staying in bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
6/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
The town, in its court petition, contends a temporary residence use "must be a permitted use for the Zoning
District in which the parcel is located and the property owner must receive the required approvals from the
town Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals along with any necessary certificates of occupancy
and/or building permits from the Town's Building Department." They said that has not been done.
The town's court petition includes an affidavit from Arkady Aleksandryants, a neighbor of Camp Rav Tov,
who said that the camp's buses frequently park illegally on his property and that he has observed hundreds
of children at the camp throughout the summer and buses "literally loaded with children."
"I have observed the children not wearing masks and not engaged in any social distancing,"
Aleksandryants said in the affidavit.
Attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on Friday. A spokesman for the state Department of Health could not be reached for comment.
With the pace of the court system slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's possible the case in state
Supreme Court, in which the town is seeking a permanent injunction shutting down the camps, may not be
resolved before they close for the season at the end of the month.
Sign up for the Daily Brief newsletter
As the Capital Region reopens, we're delivering stories that keep you safe, informed.
Enter your email
SIGN UP
By subscribing, you agree to our
our Terms of use
use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our
our Privacy Policy.
Policy.
Written By
Brendan J. Lyons
Reach Brendan J. on
Brendan J. Lyons is a senior editor for the Times Union overseeing the Capitol Bureau and Investigations. Lyons joined the Times
Union in 1998 as a crime reporter before being assigned to the investigations team. He became editor of the investigations team
in 2013 and joined the Capitol Bureau in 2017. You can reach him at
at blyons@timesunion.com
blyons@timesunion.com oror (518) 454-5547.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
7/7
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus violations
Health Department steps into case where camps alleged to be violating COVID-19 regs
By Brendan J. Lyons Updated 3:56 pm CDT, Tuesday, August 25, 2020
ALBANY — The state Department of Health is investigating the practices at multiple summers camps in
Ulster County that local officials have asked a judge to shut down due to allegations they may be
violating zoning laws and COVID-19 restrictions.
The camps, which are exclusive to Jewish children, have been operating as day-only facilities, although
some residents who have followed the buses that transport the children to and from the sites said they
are staying overnight at camps and residences in neighboring Sullivan County.
The state's intervention comes weeks after the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme
Court asserting that the facilities pose a health risk to the people at the camps and residents in that
area.
"Even though it’s late in the season, any help would be appreciated. … Let’s just hope the Health
Department is serious about investigating," said John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town of Wawarsing.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
1/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
"They certainly have not been in touch with my clients, and my clients could provide them with useful
information."
Steven Barshov, a Manhattan attorney who represents several of the camp operators targeted by the
town's litigation, said they are operating legally, following the COVID-19 regulations imposed by the
state, and have not reported a single case of coronavirus infecting anyone at the camps.
"The Ulster County Department of Health issued permits; those permits remain in full force and effect,"
Barshov said. "I’m not aware of any Ulster County Department of Health action to revoke any of the
permits for illegal operations. As best as I know, everybody is doing what they’re supposed to do."
Previously: Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm also helps represent five of the camps, earlier this
month said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it
was made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no
COVID-19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or
not, they didn’t want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town
officials) are grasping for areas that really weren’t part of the original allegations, and the camps are
doing what they can to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
In the second week of August, police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp
Rav Tov on Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, where Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the
nearby village of Ellenville, wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the
scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced
on those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive
orders from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this
community should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
Bailey, who represents the town in the litigation, said code enforcement officers were denied access to
the camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
2/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
code-enforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating
without an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are many
hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues," Bailey said.
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be
kept separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear
masks.
Ten days after the governor's announcement, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a
directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer because of concerns
about triggering an outbreak of coronavirus.
The town's efforts to shut down the camps were stymied when the operators obtained "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. County officials said those permits
enabled camp employees to stay at the facilities overnight.
“Following the governor’s early June order allowing day camps to operate across New York state, the
county health department — as did the state and other county health departments — processed and
granted camp permits pursuant to that order while enabling staff members to reside on site during the
season," said Carol Smith, the county's health commissioner. "Every day camp is expected to operate
pursuant to all state guidelines prohibiting overnight camps, guidelines for protective measures against
the spread of COVID-19, as well as any other state and local laws and rules they may be subject to."
In June, a group representing many of the camps — the Association of Jewish Camp Operators — filed
a federal lawsuit in Albany challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight camps.
They alleged the governor's order violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and
noted that it was issued "without making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding
that these overnight camps involve core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states.
"The need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
3/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
shutdowns of the yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the
Jewish overnight camps."
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an
order denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
4/4
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside
COVID-19 rules
Brendan J. Lyons
Updated: Aug. 15, 2020 10 21 a.m.
3
1 of 3
A bus, pictured here, is dropping off campers from an Ulster County camp at a location in Sullivan County.
Six Jewish summer camps in Ulster County have been accused by local officials of health and safety
violations.
Provided Photo
ALBANY — Hundreds of children have been packed into buses and brought to more than six Jewish
camps in Ulster County this summer, triggering a drawn-out battle with local code enforcement officials
who have asked a judge to shut down the facilities they allege are operating in violation of zoning laws and
COVID-19 restrictions.
The six camps, both overnight and day camps and at least one that has operated as a school, are in the
town of Wawarsing, a hilly and remote community that's nestled between two state forests about 10 miles
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
1/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
west of New Paltz at the base of the Catskill Mountains.
An attorney for the town said they also have received reports that the buses are driving some campers —
many of them from Brooklyn and the greater New York City metropolitan area — into neighboring Sullivan
County at night, where they are apparently staying at other camps.
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm helps represent five of the camps, said two of the camps
are not hosting children. Rather, there are families — parents and their children — who are staying in
bungalows at those sites.
Kaplan said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it was
made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no COVID19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or not,
they didnʼt want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town officials) are
grasping for areas that really werenʼt part of the original allegations, and the camps are doing what they can
to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
2/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Earlier this week, after police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp Rav Tov on
Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the nearby village of Ellenville,
wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced on
those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive orders
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
3/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this community
should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
On Friday, Mattracion said that he didn't recall how many children were in the groups. He also said that a
rabbi associated with the camp had assured him this week they are following health department guidelines
and are taking the temperatures of the children on the buses. The chief said he had responded to the camp
to assist State Police after a motorist complained a bus had forced his vehicle off the road — and that the
town's supervisor had asked him to document what he saw there.
Houck declined to comment on the litigation and the town's code enforcement efforts, but said the town "is
very concerned about the safety and health of all of our visitors and all of our residents."
John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town, said code enforcement officers were initially denied access to the
camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple codeenforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating without
an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"Initially, it was clear they were going to operate overnight camps, whether they were permitted or not ...
and apparently Mr. Kaplan has admitted (to the Times Union) that there are people sleeping in camps,"
Bailey said. "It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are
many hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues. ... To this day the town has not been provided with their
plan of operation."
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be kept
separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear masks.
Bailey also said that code enforcement officers have had difficulty investigating the situation, in part,
because the operators prevented them from entering the camps' buildings or only consented to an
inspection if they are given a day's notice.
It's unclear how many people are staying overnight at the camps that hold bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
4/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Ten days after the governor's announcement on summer camps, state Health Commissioner Howard
Zucker issued a directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer. Zucker
noted that overnight camps "have congregate settings and sleeping arrangements in close quarters that
present too many risks. In such a setting, even a single positive case in a camper or staff member could
create an untenable quarantine situation and overwhelm camp health personnel that may not be able to
handle a serious infectious outbreak of this nature."
But the camp operators have waged a formidable legal counterattack, including obtaining "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. In addition, a group representing many of
the camps filed a federal lawsuit in Albany in June challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight
camps.
Most Popular
Trial and error on campuses offer clues to COVID-19 prevention
House of the Week: Row house in Albany
Judge in Albany slams DA's office, gives killer 15 to life in murder-for-hire
Columbia High student who took SAT with 300 others tests positive for coronavirus
Prosecutor says man sexually attacked, 'water-boarded' woman in Coeymans
In the federal lawsuit, attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators alleged the governor's order
violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and noted that it was issued "without
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
5/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding that these overnight camps involve
core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states. "The
need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of shutdowns of the
yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the Jewish overnight
camps."
More for you
State investigating camps
near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus...
Brendan J. Lyons
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an order
denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
In a parallel legal battle, the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme Court a month ago asking
a judge to order the camps to shut down and alleging they are operating in violation of local zoning laws
and also the state's coronavirus orders governing occupancy and health safety measures.
The town argues, in part, that the facilities are permitted to operate only as "overnight" camps and are
violating their permits by hosting day camps — with hundreds of children bused in and out each day, and
the failure to follow social distancing and other requirements.
The camps this summer obtained "temporary residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of
Health, and have asserted that those permits allow them to operate. But Kaplan, the attorney for the camps
who is also the mayor of the nearby Village of Ellenville, said those permit were used at the camps where
parents and their children are staying in bungalows.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
6/7
9/6/2020
Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
The town, in its court petition, contends a temporary residence use "must be a permitted use for the Zoning
District in which the parcel is located and the property owner must receive the required approvals from the
town Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals along with any necessary certificates of occupancy
and/or building permits from the Town's Building Department." They said that has not been done.
The town's court petition includes an affidavit from Arkady Aleksandryants, a neighbor of Camp Rav Tov,
who said that the camp's buses frequently park illegally on his property and that he has observed hundreds
of children at the camp throughout the summer and buses "literally loaded with children."
"I have observed the children not wearing masks and not engaged in any social distancing,"
Aleksandryants said in the affidavit.
Attorneys for the Association of Jewish Camp Operators did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on Friday. A spokesman for the state Department of Health could not be reached for comment.
With the pace of the court system slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's possible the case in state
Supreme Court, in which the town is seeking a permanent injunction shutting down the camps, may not be
resolved before they close for the season at the end of the month.
Sign up for the Daily Brief newsletter
As the Capital Region reopens, we're delivering stories that keep you safe, informed.
Enter your email
SIGN UP
By subscribing, you agree to our
our Terms of use
use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our
our Privacy Policy.
Policy.
Written By
Brendan J. Lyons
Reach Brendan J. on
Brendan J. Lyons is a senior editor for the Times Union overseeing the Capitol Bureau and Investigations. Lyons joined the Times
Union in 1998 as a crime reporter before being assigned to the investigations team. He became editor of the investigations team
in 2013 and joined the Capitol Bureau in 2017. You can reach him at
at blyons@timesunion.com
blyons@timesunion.com oror (518) 454-5547.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kids-packed-into-Jewish-summer-camps-operating-15483924.php
7/7
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged
coronavirus violations
Health Department steps into case where camps alleged to be violating COVID-19 regs
By Brendan J. Lyons Updated 3:56 pm CDT, Tuesday, August 25, 2020
ALBANY — The state Department of Health is investigating the practices at multiple summers camps in
Ulster County that local officials have asked a judge to shut down due to allegations they may be
violating zoning laws and COVID-19 restrictions.
The camps, which are exclusive to Jewish children, have been operating as day-only facilities, although
some residents who have followed the buses that transport the children to and from the sites said they
are staying overnight at camps and residences in neighboring Sullivan County.
The state's intervention comes weeks after the town of Wawarsing filed a petition in state Supreme
Court asserting that the facilities pose a health risk to the people at the camps and residents in that
area.
"Even though it’s late in the season, any help would be appreciated. … Let’s just hope the Health
Department is serious about investigating," said John W. Bailey, an attorney for the town of Wawarsing.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
1/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
"They certainly have not been in touch with my clients, and my clients could provide them with useful
information."
Steven Barshov, a Manhattan attorney who represents several of the camp operators targeted by the
town's litigation, said they are operating legally, following the COVID-19 regulations imposed by the
state, and have not reported a single case of coronavirus infecting anyone at the camps.
"The Ulster County Department of Health issued permits; those permits remain in full force and effect,"
Barshov said. "I’m not aware of any Ulster County Department of Health action to revoke any of the
permits for illegal operations. As best as I know, everybody is doing what they’re supposed to do."
Previously: Jewish summer camps alleged to be operating outside COVID-19 rules
Jeffrey Kaplan, an Ellenville attorney whose firm also helps represent five of the camps, earlier this
month said the town's enforcement efforts have wandered from one issue to another, including after it
was made clear that children are not staying overnight at the camps. He also said there have been no
COVID-19 cases reported at the camps.
He said the town's "sort of goal from the beginning was that, whether it was authorized by the state or
not, they didn’t want anyone in these camp properties. They're not doing overnight camps. (Town
officials) are grasping for areas that really weren’t part of the original allegations, and the camps are
doing what they can to resolve any concerns or complaints being raised."
In the second week of August, police responded to a complaint at one of the largest day camps, Camp
Rav Tov on Ulster Heights Road in Wawarsing, where Phillip S. Mattracion, the police chief in the
nearby village of Ellenville, wrote a letter to Wawarsing town Supervisor Terry Houck describing the
scene.
"Upon arrival I observed numerous school buses coming and going out of the entrance and dropping off
hundreds of people to the camp," Mattracion wrote. "The people were walking together in large groups,
they got off the buses which were filled to capacity, and no one had masks on, or were social distanced
on those buses. At a time when the pandemic has taken hold of our society, and we have executive
orders from the governor of this state, this camp put hundreds of lives at stake, and the safety of this
community should the people venture out into the nearby areas."
Bailey, who represents the town in the litigation, said code enforcement officers were denied access to
the camps earlier this summer and the town obtained a court order to gain entry. They found multiple
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
2/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
code-enforcement problems, he said, including inoperable smoke detectors, a cooking stove operating
without an exhaust system and barricaded doors.
"It's clear from observations made by code enforcement officers and citizens that there are many
hundreds of children being ferried around Ulster County jam-packed in buses without the proper
distancing ... and there are mask-wearing issues," Bailey said.
On June 2, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that day camps could open on June 29, but only if they
were following occupancy guidelines and implementing social distancing, hand-washing and the use of
face coverings. However, the guidelines do not require children to wear masks, although they must be
kept separated in groups of no more than 15 and counselors and other employees are required to wear
masks.
Ten days after the governor's announcement, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a
directive that overnight camps would be prohibited from opening this summer because of concerns
about triggering an outbreak of coronavirus.
The town's efforts to shut down the camps were stymied when the operators obtained "temporary
residence" permits from the Ulster County Department of Health. County officials said those permits
enabled camp employees to stay at the facilities overnight.
“Following the governor’s early June order allowing day camps to operate across New York state, the
county health department — as did the state and other county health departments — processed and
granted camp permits pursuant to that order while enabling staff members to reside on site during the
season," said Carol Smith, the county's health commissioner. "Every day camp is expected to operate
pursuant to all state guidelines prohibiting overnight camps, guidelines for protective measures against
the spread of COVID-19, as well as any other state and local laws and rules they may be subject to."
In June, a group representing many of the camps — the Association of Jewish Camp Operators — filed
a federal lawsuit in Albany challenging Cuomo's order shutting down overnight camps.
They alleged the governor's order violates their constitutional rights, including religious freedom, and
noted that it was issued "without making any exceptions for Jewish overnight camps, notwithstanding
that these overnight camps involve core religious exercise."
"The success of Jewish overnight camps is owed to their immersive experience that separates children
from the outside world and envelops them in an enclosed, safe society," the federal complaint states.
"The need for Jewish overnight camps is particularly true this summer, after several months of
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
3/4
9/6/2020
State investigating camps near Catskills for alleged coronavirus violations - Alton Telegraph
shutdowns of the yeshiva schools, to provide for the structured Jewish learning and living offered by the
Jewish overnight camps."
The federal lawsuit is pending, but on July 6 U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby issued an
order denying the camps' request for an injunction overturning Cuomo's order.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/State-investigating-summer-camps-near-Catskills-15512728.php
4/4