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The World is coming to Co-op City… let’s get ready Co-op City Times / September 7, 2013
vacancy rate testifies to the It seems that the northeast Bronx has fact that the primary goal of become the ‘land of opportunity’ with the Director’s Viewpoint affordable housing is being Co-op City community sitting at the center of achieved. a ‘gold rush’ of financial opportunities. The First Vice President Another Director refuses Mega-Mall under construction in Bay Plaza to look beyond one specific promises great marketing opportunities, as area for the establishment of a facility for the commuwell as challenging issues that require careful nity’s youth. In addition, that Director suggests that review and intelligent planning. The installaRiverbay operate or co-operate the facility. With every tion of a Metro-North train station in Section youth facility, there are regulations and legal responsiFive will bring the convenience of enhanced bilities that must be met including – but not limited to public transportation to and from the city and – staff licensing, requisite insurance, various agency points north, but it also promises to seriously clearances, etc., etc. increase problems with traffic congestion and Riverbay Corporation is a housing company. Again, parking in an already overcrowded area. good business sense must be applied. Riverbay Planning is critical; without it, both the Corporation must first keep itself financially stable and Mall and the Metro-North station could negatively impact healthy to be able to continue to provide viable opportunithe overall quality of life for cooperators through signifities and benefits to existing cooperators. cantly increased traffic passing through local streets and I am one-hundred percent in favor of establishing a heightened security concerns. facility for youth within our residency, one with all of the Put the Brake on the Verbal Spinning necessary legal issues resolved, operated by a licensed staff, Over the past couple of months, the language and focus and supported with appropriate funding. I believe that the in some Directors’ Viewpoints have increasingly troubled majority of the Board and Management recognize that me. Although I don’t doubt the sincerity of their assertions, there is a dire need for a youth center – especially for teens. I wonder at their intolerance for differing opinions and a A diligent effort is underway to establish a youth facility. In hardened narrow focus concerning provision of a youth the meantime, all viable options should be considered and facility. carefully examined. One Director has advocated that Riverbay Corporation Getting Back to Work make special consideration (and arrangements) for cooperThe Board sets policy and provides that policy to manators, who are unemployed, temporarily out of work, have agement. Committee recommendations to the Board are limited benefits, or child care and/or child support conthe base upon which policy is constructed. I am the cerns. That same Director laments about a 1% carrying Chairman of two committees: the IT (Information charge increase applied over a two-year period, saying that Technology) Committee and the Contracts Compliance Riverbay needs to cut overall expenses. Committee. Director Leah Graham is the co-Chair of both Riverbay Corporation is not a philanthropic trust, nor is committees. it a charitable organization. Riverbay Corporation’s manThe IT Committee: The IT Committee monitors the date is to supply affordable housing to middle- and lowdata handling operations and processes of Riverbay income families. To do that, the corporation must utilize Corporation to support maximum benefit to all corporation good business practices. Certainly, on a case-by-case basis, business processes. The committee examines network considerations should be given to cooperators in special ciroperations, training, data processing, and security and subcumstances. But the focus must remain on supplying mits findings and recommendations to the Board for affordable housing for all. The current extremely low
Khalil Abdul-Wahhab
review, discussion, and approval. The first IT Committee meeting was held on Thursday, September 5th. The committee meets on the first Thursday of each month. The Contracts Compliance Committee: The job of the Contracts Compliance Committee is to establish and maintain contract processes that support the Riverbay Corporation’s requirement to carry out well-organized business procedures that sustain affordable housing for all cooperators. The committee endeavors to achieve that goal by ensuring that the Riverbay Corporation’s contract process is of the highest integrity, is transparent, and is dedicated to providing effective business handling for the Coop City community. The first Contracts Compliance Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, September 12th. The committee meets on the second Thursday of each month. I am the co-Chair of the Construction Committee. Al Shapiro is the Chair. The mission and the meeting schedule for that committee will be provided in a subsequent Viewpoint. The establishment of a collaborative, team-spirited atmosphere is at the heart of every successful corporation. An environment that supports receptive idea sharing and respectful discussion of differing opinions is the keystone of success. Co-op City’s continued progress is assured if Board members can maintain respectful and objective attitudes towards different opinions. To maximize our harvesting of the benefits of the oncoming opportunities being presented to our community, we must come together and function as a bloc. We need to show the various agencies and our political representatives that we are a community that is learning to stand together and work for the common good of all residents. When we do, the world will come to understand that a sleeping giant has awakened. Please take time to vote on September 10. If you see something, say something. Share your suggestions, complaints, or special concerns with me. Address letters to Khalil Abdul-Wahhab, c/o Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Ave. Bronx, NY 10475, call 718-3320-3300, Ext. 3351, or e-mail kwahhab10475@hotmail.com.