Patch Candidate Profile: Diviny Runs For Rockland County Legislature

PEARL RIVER, NY — Election season 2023 election is here and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Thomas F. Diviny, 53, is vying for the District 16 seat in the Rockland County Legislature against Daniel A. Johnson as incumbent Vincent D. Tyer is not seeking re-election.

The Pearl River resident has served on the Orangetown Town Board for 14 years. He earned a BA from Suny Albany and a JD from Suffolk University Law School. He has been practicing law in Rockland since 1998, opening his own practice in 2002. His office is located on Main Street in Pearl River, just 50 yards away from his wife's law office. He is a lifelong resident of Orangetown and a graduate of Pearl River High School.

Campaign website: www.tomdiviny.com

Patch: Why are you seeking this office?

Diviny: As a lifelong Orangetown resident, a husband, a father, an elected official, and a small business owner – I’m deeply committed and have strong ties to our community. My resolute dedication is to tirelessly protect and uphold the values of Orangetown, simultaneously representing its interests in the County Legislature. My record speaks for itself, consistently demonstrating my unwavering commitment to the people's needs, as evidenced by four re-elections to the Town Board.

Patch: What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

Diviny: My extensive legal background, years of governing experience, and demonstrated track record set me apart from my opponent.

Over the course of 14 years, I've faithfully served our community on the Town Board, gaining a deep understanding of Orangetown's challenges, and delivering tangible results. In recognition of my hard work and dedicated service, I am endorsed by the Orangetown PBA, Rockland County PBA, Building and Construction Trades Council of Rockland County, NY, Rockland County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and Rockland County Correction Officer Benevolent Association.

Patch: What is the single most pressing issue facing your constituents and what do you intend to do about it?

Diviny: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the outside interest groups who are trying to destroy the suburban quality of life in Orangetown.

Currently, the Town of Orangetown is entangled in a legal battle due to Mayor Adams' unilateral assertion of authority, whereby he tried to establish a homeless shelter within our town. This action completely disregarded Orangetown's zoning laws and principles of home rule.

Meanwhile, Governor Hochul has made attempts to pass two proposals aimed at superseding local zoning regulations, thereby compelling high-density housing developments in the Town of Orangetown. These measures lack authorization from the New York State constitution and are evidently driven by the aim to erode our cherished suburban way of life.

In response to Mayor Adams' illegal decision, the Town of Orangetown initiated legal action against the hotel owner and successfully secured an injunction to prevent the hotel from functioning as a shelter for the City of New York. A similar approach should be adopted in instances where Governor Hochul exceeds her authority, infringing on NYS municipal home rule, which grants local governments the ultimate authority in shaping their housing and zoning laws.

Patch: How would you address the affordable housing issue in the community?

Diviny: As a member of the Orangetown Board, I have actively backed initiatives for affordable housing, particularly for seniors, such as the Cortwood Village, an independent senior living apartment complex owned by the Town of Orangetown. I've also championed affordable housing for our first responders on Town property located on Blaisdell Road in Orangeburg. My commitment to supporting these initiatives remains steadfast, and I remain open to considering reasonable, modest, and affordable housing options for seniors, first responders, and community volunteers in Orangetown.

Moreover, in acknowledgment of their vital role in the local community, the Town Board updated the Town Code in 2023 to provide revised tax exemptions for seniors and introduce a new tax exemption for volunteers in Orangetown. However, I do not endorse any future projects that involve low-income, high-density housing developments in Pearl River near the train station or at the RPC property in Blauvelt.

Orangetown is a predominantly residential area, and introducing high-density housing projects would fundamentally alter the cherished suburban character of our beloved town.

Patch: How would you protect the drinking water in the community?

Diviny: As a Town Board member, I've actively worked to safeguard Orangetown's water supply and will continue to do so. In 2013, United Water proposed drawing water from the Hudson River for use as drinking water, prompting questions and concerns from numerous residents in both the Town of Orangetown and Rockland County regarding the potential environmental impacts of such a project. It was clear that their voices needed to be heard.

Additionally, I recognized that many residents shared questions and concerns about the Town of Ramapo's historical and ongoing influence on water consumption throughout Rockland County and the Town of Orangetown, driven by the promotion of high-density housing.

In response to these concerns, I cast a pivotal vote in favor of an Issues Conference, resulting in a split 3-2 Town Board decision. Ultimately, this move contributed to the project's defeat.

Going forward, I remain committed to supporting the passage of County laws aimed at preserving our water supply, implementing housing density controls, and securing land acquisition and conservation easements.

Patch: What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Diviny: Moving forward, whether as a member of the Town Board or as County Legislator, I am committed to collaborating on the redevelopment and zoning of the HNA property in Palisades. My goal is to ensure that any property development aligns with the values of our community and adheres to the conservative land use practices of the Town of Orangetown.

One of my proudest achievements during my tenure on the Town Board is the fact that Orangetown has consistently stayed under the tax cap for thirteen consecutive years. As a member of the County Legislature, I will work alongside County Executive Ed Day to maintain the County of Rockland under the tax cap, ensuring that our residents can continue to afford to reside in the Town of Orangetown.

The safety of our children is a paramount concern for me, and it is imperative that both the Town and County take every available measure to protect our children from mass shootings in our schools and combat the influx of fentanyl in our community. We can address this by increasing the presence of SRO officers in schools, as the Town of Orangetown has already done, collaborating with local police on early intervention programs, and fostering continued cooperation with the DEA.

Patch: What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Diviny: Over the past 14 years of serving on the Town Council, here are a few of my most notable accomplishments:

• Enforced the town code and preserved Orangetown's home rule by pursuing legal remedies against Mayor Adams and the City of New York when they attempted to establish an NYC shelter in Orangetown.
• Opposed Governor Hochul's proposal to override local zoning laws for high-density housing projects in Orangetown.
• Successfully passed a new Town law that prohibits short-term real estate rentals for less than 30 days.
• Drafted and implemented a Landlord Registry Law, mandating all landlords in Orangetown to register with the Town.
• Crafted and enacted an Entity Disclosure Law, requiring LLCs that own property in Orangetown to register with the Town.
• Maintained compliance with the NYS property tax cap throughout my entire tenure on the Town Board, limiting the property tax levy to 2% or the level of inflation.
• Passed legislation to establish the Orangetown Land Trust, dedicated to preserving our community's significant land assets and funding the acquisition of threatened properties.
• Successfully attracted and collaborated with entities such as NYC Football Club, Chase, Bloomberg, and other companies to establish a presence in Orangetown.

Patch: What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Diviny: “Do what is right, not what is easy.”

Patch: Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Diviny: I encourage everyone to like and follow my Facebook page. I’m very transparent about where I stand on issues facing Orangetown and Rockland County.