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Co-op City Times 05/11/2024

Page 1

2024 Riverbay Board of Directors Election Supplement, pgs 23-32

Vol. 59 No. 19

Saturday, May 11, 2024

$1.25

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First 2024 Candidates’ Forum to $51M Allocated in NYS Budget Co-op City be Held in Dreiser Auditorium, Funds Earmarkedfor for Capital Projects; $1M for Operations BY BRANDON ORTIZ Saturday, May 18 State Assemblyman Michael BeneBY ROZAAN BOONE

The first Candidates’ Forum of the 2024 Riverbay Board Election will take place on Saturday, May 18, at 3 p.m. in the Dreiser Auditorium. Shareholders who would like to submit questions for the candidates have three options to do so: 1. The form, printed on page 6 of this issue, can be cut out, filled in, placed in a sealed envelope and delivered to your respective CSO before the close of business on Tuesday, May 14. 2. You may email the 2024 Election Committee at Riverbay2024Election@ riverbaycorp.com. (Those utilizing options 1 & 2 above must include their full name, building # and apartment, and the question to be asked.) 3. You may also complete the form electronically at https:// forms.office.com/r/CSwDH3EBNA, or use https://tinyurl.com/ ycy7e4rd or scan the QR code at right. The 2024 Election Committee, chaired by Board Directors Anika Green-Watson and Claudia Sampson, encourages shareholders to submit questions for the May 18th forum. “Greetings, neighbors! The Riverbay Board Election season is upon us and with the start of campaigning underway, the Committee has been hard at work,” said Director Green-Watson. (Continued on page 4)

Electrical Fire in Building 3B

Photo by Brandon Ortiz

BY DANIELLE CRUZ

An electrical fire broke out in an apartment in Building 3B on Saturday, May 4, causing extensive damage to apartments, hallways and two elevators. Two individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment. Firefighters arrived on the scene at approximately 11:41 p.m. and were able to get the fire under control by 12:30 p.m. According to Riverbay Safety Director Anthony Barzelatto, smoke from the fire, which started in an apartment on the sixth floor, traveled all the way up to the 24th floor. Two elevators also sustained water damage during the fire; it was deemed unsafe to recall the elevators at the time. According to Mr. Barzelatto, one elevator has already been repaired while the other elevator was destroyed and will need to be replaced. The apartment where the fire originated took the brunt of the damage with the hallway, stairway and multiple surrounding apartments being impacted by smoke and water damage. (Continued on page 9)

detto and other local and state elected officials announced the allocation in the New York State budget of $51M for Coop City, the bulk of it for capital projects and $1M for operations. At a press conference held in Co-op City’s Dreiser Auditorium on Thursday, Jamaal Bailey, State Assembly May 9, Assemblyman Benedetto was Senator Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblyman Mijoined by NY State Assembly Speaker chael Benedetto display check for $51M Carl Heastie, NY State Senator Jamaal that has been allocated for Co-op City in Bailey and NYC Councilman Kevin Ri- the NYS Fiscal 2024/25 budget. ley to deliver the news to the Riverbay Photo by Brandon Ortiz Board, Management and shareholders. Of the $51M set aside for Co-op City, $50M will be earmarked for “capital expenses” and the remaining $1 million will be used for “operating expenses,” according to the state officials. Assemblyman Benedetto kicked off the May 9th press conference by acknowledging that the funding would not be possible without a concerted team effort from various levels of the NYS government, particularly from Assembly Speaker Heastie. “There is one main person that we have to thank – that Co-op City has to say – Mr. Speaker, you have given us a great lifeline here in this New York State (Continued on page 9)

Open Board Meeting Tuesday, May 21, Dreiser Auditorium The Riverbay Board of Directors will conduct its business meeting in open session on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. in the Dreiser Auditorium and shareholders are invited to attend and to address the Board during the Gallery Session. From 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Riverbay department heads will be available to meet with shareholders who would like to discuss pertinent matters. The Gallery Session will be followed by the Board meeting. This meeting will be broadcast live on the Riverbay Crawler, channel 12 (MATV) and channel 591 (Altice/Optimum). See Agenda on page 11.

2024 Riverbay Board Election: How to Submit a Question for Candidates’ Forum #1 There are three options for shareholders to submit questions to be asked of the candidates at the May 18th forum. 1. The form, printed on page 6 of this issue, can be cut out, completed, placed in a sealed envelope and delivered to your respective CSO before the close of business on Tuesday, May 14. (Continued on page 10)

Interview with Sean Mehta, Riverbay’s IT Director – See page 3

State Funding Will Help Ensure Affordability of Our Homes President’s Report

Sonia Feliciano Dear fellow shareholders, Greetings to you and your family. Hope everyone is doing well. On Thursday, May 9, 2024, our electeds held a press conference in Dreiser Auditorium B to announce the allocation of $51M to the Riverbay Corporation, a Mitchell-Lama cooperative for fiscal year 2024-2025 for capital projects for our development. The $50M was allocated to capital projects with an additional $1 million to operating expenses. We cannot thank the very people who made it happen enough – New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblymember Michael Benedetto, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and Councilmember Kevin Riley. We also thank the young men and women who work for the elected officials (Continued on page 2)


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