Wednesday June 24 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: 84° Sunny.

9 Tamuz Yahrzeit of Rav Dovid Lipschitz ZT"L, the "Suvalker Rav

9 Tamuz: Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam ZT"L, the Klausenburger Rebbe

On this date 20 wagons loaded with gemaras and commentaries were burned in France, 1244 it was on Friday erev shabbos chukas 

- Keren Olam HaTorah delegation finishing up the campaign tonight in Monsey before heading back to EY

- Tehillim in BMG Botei Medrashim for Rav Avrohom Yehoshua ben Ettil at 7:05pm

- Updated: Reports from Lakewood indicate that ICE agents conducted an enforcement operation today at The Oaxaqueño restaurant and market on Clifton ave and 1st street , with multiple workers reportedly taken into custody. The owners went on social media  that they had no prior knowledge of the raid as people questioned if ICE can just walk into a business. 

- Eight New Jersey residents are among 455 people charged nationwide in what federal officials described as the largest coordinated health care fraud enforcement action in Justice Department history. The defendants including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals — are accused of participating in schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in fraudulent claims, illegal opioid distribution and other health care crimes, according to the Department of Justice.

- PSA: Many parks in and around Lakewood, including several Ocean County parks, have recently been upgraded with beautiful new playground equipment. If you're looking for a fun, free outing with the kids this summer, it's a great time to check them out!

- Hundreds of Talmidei Brisk gathered tonight for an Atzeres Tefillah at the Kosel, they stood near the plaza entrance further from Wall davening on behalf of the Brisk Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, who remains hospitalized and in need of rachamei Shamayim. See video. Below 

- The vehicle protest supporting imprisoned bnei Torah ended after about four hours, with organizers claiming around 10,000 vehicles participated. The event was marked by several violent incidents of Secular Israelis physically assaulting charedim, including a confrontation on Highway 1, an alleged firearm incident, and an assault on the deputy mayor of Beitar Illit, who required medical treatment.

- Camp between camp begins today as regular camps start Monday 

- ICE agents made several arrests this morning on Clifton avenue in Lakewood 

- Giyus: Thousands Depart from 19 Cities Toward Prison 10; Violent Clashes Erupt During Vehicle Protest Thousands of participants joined a large-scale vehicle protest Tuesday, traveling in organized convoys from 19 locations across Israel to Military Prison 10 in support of imprisoned bnei Torah. The demonstration, organized as a show of solidarity with yeshiva students and avreichim detained over the draft issue, drew significant crowds and caused major traffic disruptions. Reports from the scene indicated incidents of violent confrontations between protesters and security forces as tensions escalated during the protest.

- Lakewood BOE meeting tonight on the agenda to place a question on the November 2026 ballot asking Lakewood voters whether to shrink the Board of Education from 9 to 7 members. If approved, only 1 of the 3 expiring seats would be filled this election (the other 2 eliminated), reducing the Board to 7 members starting January 1, 2027. No sitting member would be removed early current members finish their terms regardless.

Doubling the Legal Services budget to $600,000 for 2026-2027. approves a law firm to provide legal services to the Lakewood School District as needed for the 2025-2026 school year, billed at $425/hour, capped at an additional $10,000,

- Property taxes:The 2026-2027 l school tax levy is ($120,736,581) Using the 2025 Lakewood school tax rate of $1.026 per $100 of assessed value, a home assessed at $300,000 would pay approximately $3,078 annually in school taxes. A property assessed at the 2017 median value of $444,600 would pay about $4,561, while homes assessed at $500,000, $600,000, and $700,000 would pay roughly $5,130, $6,156, and $7,182 respectively. A property assessed at $1 million would pay approximately $10,260 in school taxes.

- Trump: Big Rally tonight on the National Mall. Fantastic Music!!! MAGA!!! FUN!!! Be there at 7:00 P.M. President DJT

- Trump: America the Beautiful will NEVER be a Communist Country!!! President DJT

- Ari Fleischer former WH spokesman: Free advice for New Yorkers: get out while you still can. The rise of socialists in NYC will threaten everyone. Mamdani’s power will increase, socialists will gain more seats and they’re coming next for you. Get out now. NYC is going down the tubes.

- Kavod Shabbos: New Jersey state Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood), one of two Orthodox Jews in the Legislature, tells NJ Globe he is prepared to sleep in the statehouse on Friday night in case his Budget Committee vote is needed on Saturday to pass the state budget. Schnall said he would bring his own food and use the stairs rather than the elevators on the Sabbath. He said he would have someone push his vote button under his supervision if necessary to avoid using electronics.

- Supporters of Democratic Socialist candidates celebrated their victories in New York’s primary elections by chanting “Free Palestine” "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free"

following the victory speech alongside Zohran Mamdani

- Trump: Mayor Mamdani pulled through 3 solid Communists, and has received loud and universal applause from the Fake News Media. Congratulations Mr. Mayor! I went 16-0 last night, helping to elect wonderful American Patriots, and the Media doesn’t say a word. Over the last two years, my endorsement has netted 259 Primary WINS, and almost no losses, with Zero media attention!!! FAKE NEWS. President DJT

- Tefillos in Brisk: As concern continues over the condition of the Brisk Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, who remains hospitalized and in need of rachamei Shamayim, tehillim gatherings are continuing throughout the day at Yeshivas Brisk. Tonight, shortly before midnight, a special tefillah gathering will take place at the kever of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, led by prominent Talmidei chachomim and close talmidim of the Brisk Yeshiva, including Rav Dovid Miller, Ponovezh, Rav Yitzchok Dov Schechter, Kol Tora, Rav Meir Kessler, Rav Aryeh Bernstein, Yagdil, Rav Menachem Kraus, Slabodka, Rav Zalman Dovid Zuckerman, Rav Yerucham Poversky, Rav Shaya Gorlitzky, and others, together with current and former students of the yeshiva.(MWeisberg)

- Giyus: Initially Three major chareidi groups Agudath Israel, the Bnei Torah faction Peleg Yerushalmi, and the Eida HaChareidis have joined a large protest, now boosted by the public support and Bracha of Degel HaTorah leader Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch expected to draw thousands more Litvish participants and cause major road disruptions, including organized convoys from places like Rechasim and Telshe Stone. The Gerrer Rebbe, currently at a Tel Aviv hospital for eye treatment, also directed his driver to join the vehicle protest in support of Bnei hayeshiva

- Thousands of drivers are expected to take part this afternoon in a nationwide vehicle protest supporting imprisoned bnei Torah. Convoys will depart from 19 locations across Israel at 4:00 p.m. and travel toward Military Prison 10. The demonstration, backed by numerous chassidic courts, organizations, and the Eidah HaChareidis, is calling for the release of detained bnei Torah, an end to arrests related to the draft issue, and the cancellation of measures affecting lomdei Torah and their families. Organizers say the protest is intended as a show of solidarity and unity, carrying the message: "Enough is enough! There is no path without the path of Torah!" Thousands of participants have already registered for the event.

- An ordinance for township meeting tomorrow carves out a zoning pathway for one or more very large hospital/medical campuses to be built in Lakewood's Airport Business Commercial Zone, with detailed dimensional standards tailored to a major facility It allows a parking garage with 6 floors and up to 765 feet in height!!

- Lakewood watershed report at the township meeting tomorrowThe report introduces a watershed inventory for Lakewood Township, NJ, aimed at supporting sustainable watershed management planning. Lakewood median household income of $69,521, and roughly 20% of residents below the poverty line. Land use data from the 2017 Master Plan shows the township has nearly 26,000 parcels, with residential (Class 2) properties making up the majority of parcels (80.7%) and the largest share of land area (34.4%), followed by public property like parks and open space (21.5%).

Lakewood's flood-prone areas include South Lakewood, Lanes Mill Road near the Brick Township border (which has seen several feet of flooding), and zones along smaller tributaries of the Metedeconk River that back up when the main river is high. While the township overall carries a moderate-to-high flood risk with localized street flooding during heavy rain, data shows less than 14% of Lakewood properties face 100-year storm flood risk notably lower than the New Jersey state average of 23.9%.

- A Lakewood-based developer, 451 Old Lacey Acquisition LLC, has sued Manchester Township, alleging officials changed zoning rules to block townhouse and garden apartment projects on its 25-acre Whiting property. The lawsuit claims the ordinance contradicts the township's own master plan recommendations and unlawfully restricts housing development in the area.

- Prime Minister Netanyahu is holding a flurry of conversations in recent hours with Knesset members ahead of the opening of discussions on the law to cancel arrests of yeshiva bochurim and the Basic Law on Torah Study.

- Trump:The big Oil Companies are not dropping their price at the pump commensurate with the sharply lower prices they are paying for Oil. Those prices are dropping like a rock! In other words, customers are being “gouged.” I have instructed the DOJ to immediately start looking into this. Gasoline prices better start going down a lot faster than what I’m seeing! President DJT

- Elise Stefanik Gotham has fallen.

The mass exodus out of the New York will continue apace. I call it the Blue Exodus. Last night’s sweep of Marxist Socialist candidates will further destroy New York City. The virulent antisemitism in the Socialists’ campaigns is dangerous not only to Jews, but to every American. Because they are attacking the West. If they continue to win, the American Dream and Western Civilization will fall. Wake up.

- Trump: Even though he tried unsuccessfully to prosecute me, and despite the fact that he is a major Slimeball, I feel sorry for FORMER Congressman Dan Goldman. He is wandering aimlessly, together with the former husband of the great Kellyanne Conway, through a large field of Dumocrat Communists, trying so hard to find his way - A very sad finish for a man who has no clue, and never did!!! President DJT

-Trump: Weak and pathetic Congressman Dan Goldman just lost, BIG! I guess people didn’t like him illegally targeting President TRUMP. In any event, this jerk is finally GONE! President DJT

Shtender on roof

Leaving from Yerushalayim 

Slowing down traffic

Brisk talmidim at the Kosel tonight