Mikvot

Question

Sadly the politics and control issues with regard to mikvot are not very different from those in the realm of kashrut. We have encountered a mikva that was completely unacceptable due to degrading fiberglass floating copiously in the basin. (not to mention disgusting and dangerous). The Rav Hamachshir prevented another mikva from being built in the community because it would take away from his parnassa (which he greatly needed). Meanwhile, the nearest proper mikva was 45 minutes away. Is it a shock that as of four years ago in that community only a third of the Orthodox affiliated couples of the proper age use ANY mikve at all??? To this day, ten years after the problem arose, and the Rav acknolwledged that the problem existed there is STILL not a new mikve. Four years ago, the cost of digging a kosher mikveh and putting a shed or lean to around it was about $4,000. a nice mikveh with two prep rooms attached to an existing shul or building was 10k. The solution to the problem in this particular community was to find a Chassidic Rebbe who has Ahavat Yisrael and an aging mikve and to repair and redo it for about $2000. I am not talking about ladies not being permitted to do tevila with nail polish on . I am talking about women who do not meet the "image" of the mikve lady's or the Rav's idea of "frum" being PREVENTED from using the mikve!!! We also have here in our county another mikve that restricts it use to "members" only. You have to join the shul attached to it which is $1000. (AND they don't even give you a cabana, towel or a drink card with it). Sadly, if there is a Kosher Nostra, there is also a Mikveh Nostra and the comments which were posted on the forum board are not atypical of the beliefs and statements of too many Ravs or community members who control the mikvot in our communities. The difference is that while a person can choose a chocolate bar without a hechsher there are not many places where one can choose to use the beach, lake, bay etc as a mikveh year round. What is being controlled in this case is so much more personal that what goes into our mouths and of course the consequences of so many couples who make the choice NOT to keep Family Laws is a tragic state for our people.