Times Herald-Record
pbrooks@th-record.com
Town of Shawangunk — Watchtower Farms wants to add millions of dollars worth of living, parking and support space to its massive complex on Red Mills Road.
The Jehovah's Witness organization has filed preliminary paperwork with the town of Shawangunk Planning Board. The town wants to be the lead agency on the environmental review of the proposal. The county Planning Board is review that designation at its meeting next week.
Watchtower Farms wants to add 300 living units, a 400-space parking garage and a three-story building for recreation and equipment. It also wants to add to the existing dining room, laundry and dry cleaning facilities, according to the documents.
The expansion, if approved, will not take any of the land out of current agricultural use or take land off the existing tax roll, according to Troy Snyder. He is part of the management team at the farm. This expansion would not impact the school district.
"Some of the residence housing was built in the 60's and 70's, much of it in dormitory style. We are trying to upgrade the living quarters. It's a quality of life issue," he said. The parking and support services go along with that work.
The work would begin next year or perhaps even later. "We haven't gotten to that stage at this point," he said. Snyder did not have an cost estimate yet.
The farm is exempt from property taxes, according to town officials. If the property was taxed, the bill would be about $2 million.
On the other hand, "You can't get better neighbors," said Shawangunk Assessor Curt Schoeberl. Watchtower has helped the town build a park and rail trail. When winds downed trees all over town, Watchtower sprung into action with its equipment and people to help, Schoeberl said.
Such religious and other groups are under heightened scrutiny from town officials. A recent court ruling allows governments to reject the property tax exemptions in some cases. Assessors will be taking another look at some organizations as a result, Schoeberl said.
This is a perfect example of them having a double standard: one for them, one for the rank and file. Jehovah's Witnesses have for decades, been told not to do every day normal things, such as getting a decent education, buying a home, having children or saving for retirement. This was all said because 'The End' was right around the corner and to make any kind of long term plans was viewed as being 'spiritually weak' or 'lacking in faith', no matter how much you might believe this was 'the Truth'. Yet at the same time they're telling others not to make long term plans in this 'System of Things', they're doing exactly that. If they truly believed that the Great Tribulation was imminent, they most certainly would not be making plans like this, plain and simple, regardless of how practical a move it is.
12 comments:
"Town of Shawangunk — Watchtower Farms wants to add millions of dollars worth of living, parking and support space to its massive complex on Red Mills Road."
You are complaining about a farm and a religious printery??
Say what?
"This is a perfect example of them having a double standard: one for them, one for the rank and file."
Oh really? Or that you are judgmental.
" Jehovah's Witnesses have for decades, been told not to do every day normal things, such as getting a decent education, buying a home, having children or saving for retirement. "
You liar.
We have not been told that. We do get decent educations. We are just told to scale down and simplify.
" Yet at the same time they're telling others not to make long term plans in this 'System of Things', they're doing exactly that. If they truly believed that the Great Tribulation was imminent, they most certainly would not be making plans like this, plain and simple, regardless of how practical a move it is."
What difference does it make. When the end comes we will still be here and have that already built to continue one. But will you be here?
Thier actions are not just inconsistent from what they teach because of the long-term planning aspect of this project. But also, the rank and file are taught not to get involved in civic projects. It is not the job of a JW to help the poor or non witness neighbors, because Jehovah will take care of that later. The best thing we can all be doing is preaching. Yet it seems like the farm is looked upon as this great asset to the community because of how they helped the community with the park and rail and assisted with downed trees, etc. Typically if you heard that about a religious group you'd think that it made sense - religious people taking the lead in the community to help everyone (not just those of the same faith), but we know that the rank and file are told that such efforts or fruitless and that the best thing we could be doing is preaching, not helping a neighbor.
@ GBL: the time between your articles becomes longer and longer and the quality of it worse every time. What's wrong? No more stones to throw?
I can't remember that it was ever said that you should not have a condo because the end is near. off course you can! and they are doing the same in shawangunk.
is that really all you can complain about?
@ charlie: I think you are wrong. what do you think that preaching means? it does not only mean going from door to door distributing magazines. it also means to be truely interested in people and help them if it is possible. Christians should be freindly and cooperative!
A recent 2008 Watchtower study article said that the new system is VERY NEAR!
(As has been commented so often, the WTS has it's own definition of the English language.)
If that's REALLY REALLY TRUE (that the end is VERY NEAR), why the need for expansion???
Ronde,
Since you feel impelled to constantly spout your mouth on the internet I would like to direct a thought or two your direction.
In defense of JW's I would like to state the following from my personal experience of over 30 years in the organization.
First, in general JW's are NOT nuts or crackpots. Second they are by nature not illogical people. Yes they are misled, believe lies, and teach them unknowingly. Yes, they are a cult.
However many are very intelligent, likeable logical people. The vast majority does not go on the internet against the direction of their organization and argue with so called apostates.
Most JW's give the org a fairly good name by their moral values; they are hard working and honest people.
Yes some are jerks. What org doesn't have jerks?
So, you say that you are defending them. NO you are defending YOU. You like to spend hours on the internet counting your time. Thinking Jehovah is going to give you a big hand. Sorry your JW God says stay off these sites. Your JW God says go out in field service. Your JW God says get off the fence and quit taking what you want from the org and throwing out what you don’t want. Let’s face it you are a weak JW. If you got off the internet you would do more good defending them than you ever could posting.
You are clearly an idiot and give the impression by defending JW's that they are all idiots. They are not. So keep running your mouth. Just remember you do way more damage than good to the organization you think you are defending.
If you want to be an idiot, go ahead be one. But for heavens sake quit lying to yourself and others pretending to be and informed person and a JW. You are neither.
-J
Ronde
Your an idiot
Thank you so much J SAID for that excellent summation of JW's and Ronde.
I couldn't have said it better... thanks for taking the time to write this honest appraisal.
That double standard has always bothered me and I just kept a lid on that curiosity, sorta speak.
It is amazing how they put so many limitations on the followers of the Watchtower/JW's, but yet they continue to get bigger and richer and expanding and of course, making FUTURE plans. Double standard for sure.
I believe they do it this way to keep the followers/JW's so busy in fear of not doing enough sacrificing life's pleasures and pursuits only to BENIFIT the Watchtowers ADVANCEMENT. That is then explained off as evidence of God's blessing on the org.
It is today's form of SLAVERY under the umbrella of organized religion, and the Watchtower has it figured out and is a successful Corporation because of this and it is perfectly legal.
Come on people/JW's wake up before it is to late and you have lost your whole life to this trap.
charlie said:
"Thier actions are not just inconsistent from what they teach because of the long-term planning aspect of this project."
Your statement is absurd. If people did not plan longterm, then it would be like building and not being able to complete because of no preparation.
" But also, the rank and file are taught not to get involved in civic projects. It is not the job of a JW to help the poor or non witness neighbors, because Jehovah will take care of that later. "
You are part wrong and part right. It is up to the individual as to whether to get involved in civic projects. But it is not the job of the JW to do those things as the job of the JW is to preach. But there is nothing against JWs doing those things.
Oh shut up Judas.
Everything needs updating due to the fact that all material things degrade in time. All things eventually need fixing, reworking and redone. Newer and better materials are used and that is always better.
As for new and better homes, JW's have always been told to keep their homes neat and clean, painted and repaired as the condition of the homes reflect on our God, Jehovah. So does our car, our dress, our language, our hair color, our jewelry.
Just because you post these lies doesn't make you anything but what you are.....a liar and a Judas.
You are so full of it
The only lies I see are by the active JWs. Of course, they believe they are telling the truth, just as I believed it before I left the so-called 'Truth'.
'@ GBL: the time between your articles becomes longer and longer and the quality of it worse every time. What's wrong? No more stones to throw?'
If you look at the figures for the months postings, I think you will find that GBLs postings have steadily increased every month.
Also, I think that there is quite enough evidence presented in months past to condemn the JW faith as false, even if the current postings are perhaps more in the way of musings.
And that is his prerogative. IT IS HIS BLOG.
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