"God Is Gonna Take You Down, Girl!" — A South Blooming Grove meeting
Even more election fraud detected in South Blooming Grove — when will Attorney General Letitia James act?
Before we begin, I’d like to issue a challenge to State Sen. James G. Skoufis.
In 2025 alone, Skoufis received almost $335,000 in campaign contributions.
Many of those contributions came from political action committees — RPAC of NYS, the Real Estate Board PAC and the New York Apartment Association PAC — which advocate on behalf of the real estate industry and your landlords, not you.
Others came from major players in the real estate industry (Chezkel Swimmer; Gary and Ayala Barnett) and from individuals with ties to South Blooming Grove and Kiryas Joel (Moishe Elya Ostreicher; Mayer Gross; Herman Goldberger; Moses Jacobowitz; Miriam Landau; Isaac and Menna Walter).
If you follow the news, you know that more than 1 million New Yorkers will lose SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) coverage because of the passage of the MAGA Murder Bill, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill, which passed the U.S. House the first time by one vote — cast by Mike Lawler of Rockland County.
Of those New Yorkers affected, 363,000 are children.
More than 2.93 million New Yorkers receive SNAP benefits, and despite what you hear on Fox News, CBS and other media outlets aligned with the regime, the majority of SNAP recipients are not “able-bodied men who don’t want to work,” “illegals” or anyone who isn’t white. The majority of SNAP recipients in New York are children, the elderly and the disabled — by a wide margin.
Our friends and neighbors need help given the government shutdown and the Trump regime’s active attempts to deny them SNAP benefits.
Here’s the good news: According to Kathleen R. McGrath, director of public information at the New York State Board of Elections, “Per E.L. § 14–130, contributions received by a candidate or a political committee may be expended for any lawful purpose.” McGrath added an example: “Contributed to a charity recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, but not where the filer or a member of the filer’s family controls the charity or has decision‑making powers therein.”
That means Sen. James G. Skoufis can donate those campaign funds to local food banks in Orange County that are properly registered with the IRS.
We’re challenging him to do so to aid his constituents during this national crisis.
Please consider sending this email to skoufis@nysenate.gov:
Subject: Help your constituents
Body: In 2025 you raised more than $335,000 in campaign contributions from the real estate industry, landlords, and those connected to both. Meanwhile, your weekly newsletters have said nothing about the national emergency affecting neighbors who depend on SNAP. It’s time to put your money where your mouth is and demonstrate you work for the people, not the real estate industry. I ask that you donate those funds to food banks across Orange County to help constituents in need.
Results, not rhetoric, right James? So, let’s see if you can walk the walk and help our brothers and sisters in need.
(Your name here)
This article picks up where we left off on South Blooming Grove’s illegal village election. If you’re just joining us, I recommend you read the previous article before proceeding.
The Attorney General’s office says it is investigating the allegedly illegal election held in South Blooming Grove late last month. I wouldn’t get too excited: Letitia James was taken to court for her alleged failure to act after the non-election in South Blooming Grove in 2024 and again in March 2025. I have some small hope — given that she was indicted (an action of vindictive lawfare by the same people who complained about a “weaponized DOJ” under President Biden) — that the New York attorney general will take this matter more seriously. But if you think James will criminally charge Joel Stern or Isaac Ekstein, I have a bridge over the Hudson I’d like to sell you.
Remember: James is up for re-election in November 2026. Her lack of corrective action on behalf of students and families in the East Ramapo school district suggests how she handles criminal incidents involving Haredi communities. In short: she does not act.
Here’s How to Contact The FBI
At long last, after years of documented criminal wrongdoing in South Blooming Grove — beginning with the (still active) FBI investigation into Isaac Ekstein’s alleged attempt at voter fraud in 2021 — State Sen. James G. Skoufis told News 12 that the Investigations and Government Operations Committee, which he has chaired for some time, is finally investigating South Blooming Grove.
Whether the committee actually is investigating remains unclear. You can’t FOIL much from the state Senate, so Skoufis can tell News 12 he’s taking action and the public must assume he’s doing so — not merely stalling or pretending — when the matter involves two of his largest individual political donors, Joel Stern and Isaac Ekstein.
There is very little transparency in New York State government. But assume he’s telling the truth: Skoufis says he has requested documents, yet much of what he requested is — as previously reported by yours truly — missing.
South Blooming Grove residents are encouraged to contact me at bjmendelson@duck.com if they want to sue the village over this alleged illegal election.
I also urge all southern Orange County residents to contact the FBI field office in Albany and ask that the 2021 voter-fraud investigation, which the FBI says remains open, incorporate new information about the alleged stolen 2025 election. Taken together, the evidence shows a consistent, documented pattern of alleged voter fraud by Joel Stern, Isaac Ekstein, and their associates, dating back to 2021.
You can report this situation to the FBI by visiting https://tips.fbi.gov/home, then clicking or tapping on “Federal Election Crime” then “Voter / Ballot Fraud” then select yes, then enter the following information:
Joel M. Stern, 1/15/86, sternym@gmail.com, 12 Holland Court, South Blooming Grove, NY, 10950 (Note that this is information provided by Joel Stern in his sworn testimony which can be read here.)
You’ll also want to select the business and then enter:
The Village of South Blooming Grove, 811 Route 208, Monroe NY 10950 845-782-2600, clerk@vosbg.com
Next, you’re going to click “Specific Date” for when the crime occurred, and select October 22nd, 2025
How did you discover the election fraud? You enter: Local media (News 12, Monroe Gazette.)
What false information was provided? You enter the following: “No notice to residents of election, no law passed to change election date from March 2026 to October 2025, no law filed with NYS Department of State to confirm election date change"
Then select:
Did the individual receive something in exchange for their illegal voting activity? Unknown.
Did the subject vote multiple times or vote when ineligible to vote? Unknown
Did an election official violate a voting law? Yes. (This refers to Kerry Dougherty, Joel Stern, and Isaac Ekstein.)
Were ballots from the election destroyed? Unknown (Reader note: The Monroe Gazette has FOIL’ed for the ballots.)
Were the Vote Totals falsified? Unknown.
Was there a voting machine/tabulation/reporting software malfunction? No. South Blooming Grove did not request voting machines be provided for this election.
Provide a brief description of the incident. Enter the following:
“No notice to residents of election, no law passed to change election date from March 2026 to October 2025, no law filed with NYS Department of State to confirm election date change, Mr. Joel Stern accused of inviting his business associates at the last minute to Village Hall on 10/22/25 without informing them why, when they were arrived, they were told a village election was being held. No request to Orange County BOE for voting machines. Unnamed Village Deputy Clerk (believed to be Isaac Ekstein) requested signature book from Orange County BOE. Residents concerned Mr. Stern and Mr. Ekstein may have forged signatures. No petitions or nominating ballots for candidates. No proof George Kalaj (mayor) lives at his provided Fort Worth Place address. Ekstein is linked to previous 2021-2022 FBI investigation into voter fraud. Also note that South Blooming Grove illegally skipped previous 2024 election and March 2025 election. Claims to have changed the date of 2025 election in June but there are no minutes demonstrating that and it does not appear on any agenda.”
Then you enter your information (as much or as little as you want) so the FBI can contact you.
The FBI will then ask if any other agency is aware of this situation. I selected no since there’s no evidence that Letitia James’s office or Skoufis’s committee is actually looking at this . So I can’t say for sure if there are any agencies actually looking at this. Neither can you.
Even More Voter Fraud From South Blooming Grove
Before we move on, I want you to go back and check out our 2025 Orange County Election coverage.
You’ll note that we mentioned Stephanie Powell lost to Michael Essig in the new 5th Legislative District by 94 votes (1,801 to 1,895).
That 5th Legislative District also happens to be home to South Blooming Grove, and guess what?
We’re starting to receive multiple, still unconfirmed, reports that just like Isaac Ekstein did in 2021, there are 107 votes attributed to one home in South Blooming Grove; and 64 from another home. These numbers come from a source familiar with the matter who cannot speak publicly at this time.
If these numbers true, and since those votes were all for Michael Essig, that would mean Stephanie Powell is actually the winner of the 5th Legislative District race.
But before you ask, “Gosh. Will re-elected District Attorney David M. Hoovler investigate this instance of potential voter fraud in South Blooming Grove?” I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news …
That’s re-elected District Attorney, David M. Hoovler (left) with Isaac Ekstein next to him, Joel Stern on the right, and re-elected County Executive Steve Neuhaus. The photo was taken at Steve Neuhaus’s election night party on November 4th in Chester.
And let’s not forget, Mr. Neuhaus and Orange County are actively in litigation with Mr. Stern and Mr. Ekstein at the time this photo was taken.
This photo appeared in this week’s edition of The KJ Weekly. Both Stern and Ekstein are referred to as “mayors.”
Notes From The Post-Illegal Election South Blooming Grove Meeting
Above: Video of the full Village of South Blooming Grove Board of Trustees meeting, recorded Nov. 3, 2025, by Bonnie Rum of Preserve Blooming Grove.
I decided to go in person to the November 3rd, 2025 South Blooming Grove Village Board meeting and get my questions answered by “the mayor” Joel Stern.
Below are questions that every South Blooming Grove resident, and those concerned about the illegal election, can send to Village Clerk Kerry Dougherty at Clerk@vosbg.com.
The questions in bold are the ones I asked Real Mayor Joel Stern, Fake Mayor George Kalaj, and Village Clerk Kerry Dougherty on November 3rd. I gave the name Petroleum V. Nasby, and my address as Anchorage Alaska because, fun fact, in New York State you are required to provide a name and an address for public comment, but you are not required to give your real name and address. (The confused look on Scott Ugell’s face when I gave this name was priceless.)
And, no, despite saying she would email us, The Monroe Gazette has not heard back from Mrs. Kerry Dougherty since we reached out for comment on the election on October 23rd.
After the meeting ended I continued to ask Mr. Stern questions. His only response to me was “If you get a South Blooming Grove mailing address and pay village taxes, I’ll answer your questions.” I then stood outside on the porch while Mr. Stern hid in his office until I left, so that I couldn’t ask him any more questions.
Questions Everyone Should Be Asking
What process was utilized to make sure the people who vote on October 22nd were actual residents of South Blooming Grove and not just Joel Stern’s business associates and friends?
Who has access to the email address: SBGDeputyClerk@SBGNY.GOV
Mr. Stern testified that the Mayor’s term was up in March of 2026, did Mr. Stern lie under oath to Orange County, just like he did in Union Township New Jersey?
Did Mr. Stern push up this election because he was afraid of being removed from power by Joseph Landau and his associates?
Have Mr. Stern or Mr. Ekstein abused their position in Village government to only grant permits to projects associated with Avrom Bur Jakobowitz? Is that why Mr. Landau and others wanted to have a new mayor elected?
Kerry was recorded saying the Department of State was notified of a local law and referendum changing the time of the election from March of 2026 to October of 2025. The Department of State has said they have no such law on file. Mrs. Dougherty, is the Department of State lying? (Reader note, after asking this question, Mrs. Dougherty decided to flip me off.)
Please identify the day and date that Local Law 5 of 2024, which extended the terms of office for the Trustees and Mayor, was passed by this Village Board.
Please identify the day and date that the June 2025 local law was alleged to be passed that changed the time of the election from March 2026 to October 2025.
Why does this local law not appear on any agenda in the month of June or through any of the 2025 agendas?
Why are no minutes posted for any meeting since May of 2025?
Would Mr. Stern or Mr. Ekstein like to explain their $10,000 donations to State Senator Skoufis in May of 2022? Has either man spoken to the State Senator about the concerns involving this October 2025 election, which the State Senator shared on News 12.
Why did Joel Stern use his Gmail account to take out an ad in the Mid-Hudson Valley Times for this election? Why did Mr. Stern use his United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove email to request a list of all registered voters in South Blooming Grove? Doe Mr. Stern routinely conduct village business from his personal emails? If so, why have these emails not been made available in FOIL requests?
Where are the ballots that were used in this election? Where is the poll book that Mr. Ekstein requested? What was the process to make sure the signatures that were used to sign the pollbook were valid?
When was Mr. Ekstein appointed Deputy Clerk? Was Mr. Ekstein then responsible for conducting this election? (This is the only question that received an answer. “Mayor” George Kalaj claimed to have appointed Isaac Ekstein Deputy Clerk “a few months ago.” No other information was provided.)
Did anyone verify if Mayor George Kalaj actually still resides at 58 Fort Worth Place? (Mr. Kalaj did not answer this question when asked.)
Did Mr. Kalaj, Abraham Weiss, and Mr. Feldman provide their signatures to get on this ballot? If not, how were they placed on the ballot?
The voting totals were: 129 votes for Mayor Kalaj, 132 votes for Abraham Weiss, 130 votes for Yitzchok Feldman. Who tabulated these results?
There are roughly 3,000 residents of South Blooming Grove. Why weren’t voting machines requested from the Orange County Board of Elections?
Where else was this election noticed beyond the Hudson Valley Times? It does NOT appear on any bulletin board or the Village website.
Are you aware that it is illegal to destroy records once a FOIL request has been made. For example. Have you preserved the security camera footage for Village Hall for October 22nd as requested by The Monroe Gazette?
Bonus Questions:
I did also ask Mr. Scott Ugell if it was true that he had an affair with a sex worker named Lenny. You can go back and read that story here.
Of course, The Monroe Gazette will let you know if we get answers to this or any other questions. We’ve put in a bunch of FOILs concerning this election, and will share what we learn as we get them / if we get them. I suspect we’re going to have to take the Village to court to get a bunch of these.
More soon.
Oh, and you should know: The title of today’s article came from Mrs. Kelly Parzer, shouting at Kerry Dougherty — who WAS brave enough to leave the office while I was waiting to ask questions — “god is going to get you, girl.” And while I can’t speak to what Hashem has in store for our friends in South Blooming Grove, with enough pressure, we can at least get one of these law enforcement agencies to act.