In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote "all men are created equal." In 1944 George Orwell wrote "all animals are created equal but some animals are more equal than others."

It has been one year since we started this petition explaining to #Shawn Reilly (shawnr@nyboulders.com and reillys@fortinet.com 845-364-0009) how his Boulder's fireworks are torturing the neighboring animals at Hi Tor as well as upsetting Veterans and others with PTSD.  We are not asking to close the Stadium, or even to stop the fireworks; we are merely asking to switch to noiseless fireworks, drone shows, or another form of entertainment that would not distress the neighboring animals and people.  It should be a no-brainer. Instead Mr. Reilly has increased the number of firework shows (see photo) and has been totally ignoring our phone calls, e-mails and letters.

I met with #Mr. Michael Specht (spechtm@ramapo-ny.gov 845-357-5100)the Supervisor of the Town of Ramapo in Oct. 2021. He told me he would set up a meeting with me and Shawn Reilly. That never happened.  My follow-ups to Mr. Specht went unanswered; until last week when someone from his Office told me I have to talk to Mr, Reilly myself and not involve them. Within the last two weeks a Town Supervisor and someone from a N.Y.S Senator's Office said they would ask Mr. Reilly to talk to us. Obviously he never did.  You may ask why I say Mr. Reilly doesn't want to talk to us, instead of talk to me.  I am one person, but everyone who signed this petition wants the same thing that I do: To help those poor animals.  Shelter life is tough enough without those deafening blasts.   I don't feel Shawn Reilly is just stonewalling me: He is ignoring all of us,  this has been going on since 2011 when the first petition against the Boulder's fireworks was ignored as were all other subsequent efforts by animal lovers,  How can one person go against the wishes of so many?   Although the people of Ramapo overwhelmingly voted down a 2010 resolution for municipal bonds to build the Boulders Stadium, former Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence falsified records and issued them anyway (for which he served a jail sentence). The Stadium opened in June 2011 

You might ask why Hi Tor isn't fighting for the welfare of their occupants.  For years Hi Tor has been plagued by controversy.  On Aug 4, 2021 the Rockland County District Attorney's Office raided Hi Tor.  On Jan 6, 2022 Debbie DiBernardo, the President of Hi Tor was indicted for falsifying records involved with the shelter's operations.  Last year a Hi Tor volunteer told me details about animals being so terrified during fireworks that they had to be sedated so they wouldn't harm themselves.  However, she didn't want to go on record because she was afraid of losing her volunteer job.  What is the alternative?  The Rockland Green Waste Management Group is trying to take over Hi Tor.  Howard T Philips Jr., the Chairman of that group, is the Supervisor of the Town of Haverstraw.  He is the only Rockland County Politician who totally ignores my e-mails and phone calls to help the animals at Hi Tor. It makes no sense.  Michael Specht is a Vice Chairman of that group.  I have contacted almost every politician in Rockland County.  Those who did get back to me said they have no jurisdiction over the Boulders; but a few said the Town of Ramapo does.  Ramapo owns the Stadium and leases it to the Boulders.  Shouldn't a landlord be able to tell a tenant to stop their harmful behavior?  I was also told that each Town or Village has regulations against noise and it is their responsibility to enforce them.

If, as Mr. Jefferson penned in the Declaration of Independence that we are all created equal; one person should not ignore the wishes of over 2,500 people.    I will admit, trying to interact with people who believe what George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, that some animals are more equal than others, our phone calls, e-mails and letters have not been effective.  Our numbers mean nothing to Mr. Specht and some Rockland politicians.  The next milestone in change.org is 5,000 signatures.  I am afraid that also will be ignored. Does anyone have any ideas that might be more effective in stopping the Boulders from terrifying these poor animals?