Co-op City Times 8/14/21

Page 1

Vol. 56 No. 33

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Congressman Bowman’s Funding Requests for NY-16 Community Projects Passed by US House Representative Co-op City Waterfront Access Park to receive $500,000 BY ROZAAN BOONE

Congressman Jamaal Bowman reported last week that the US House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bill which includes funding for 10 community projects in his 16th Congressional District totaling $5.4 million in federal funding. One of those projects is the Co-op City Waterfront Access Park. All 10 of the Congressman’s funding requests were included as key parts of the minibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2022. The Co-op City project is slated to receive $500,000 which would be used to “begin the restoration and revitalization process for a currently polluted, unused strip of waterfront land in Co-op City, which is the largest affordable housing community and the largest Naturally Occurring Retirement Community in the nation,” according to the description in the funding request, and will provide new green space in an area with few public parks and promote environmental resilience in the process. “I’m thrilled that all 10 of our Community Project Funding requests have now passed the House,” said Congressman Bowman. “I had the incredible (Continued on page 4)

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul makes history

BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned after a decade in office as a result of a probe into sexual harassment allegations that led to increased calls for him to step down, and looming threat of impeachment proceedings. On Tuesday, August 10, Gov. Cuomo announced his resignation around midday via a video statement. He said, “I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing.” Cuomo, 63, will leave office in 14 days as of Tuesday. He is a three-term Democrat and spent over 14 years in public service. President Joe Biden commented on the news saying: “I thought he’s done a hell of a job...I mean both on everything from access to voting to infrastructure to a whole range of things. That’s why it’s so sad.” Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul, who’s next in line to serve after Cuomo leaves office, is set to make history as the first woman to become governor in New York State when she is sworn in on Aug. 24 as Cuomo’s replacement.

$1.25

DHCR Sets Virtual Carrying Charge Conference with Shareholders for Sept. 21 to solicit comments on proposed increases Written comments also being accepted BY ROZAAN BOONE

NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has informed Riverbay Board and Management that a virtual carrying charge conference will be held on Tuesday, September 21, for Co-op City shareholders to comment on the 2% carrying charge increase proposed for implementation on January 1, 2022 to maintain a balanced operating budget and cover capital projects over the next two fiscal years of the Riverbay Corporation. The conference will be hosted virtually via Webex on Tuesday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. Shareholders will be able to join the conference virtually by logging on using their computers, mobile devices and telephone. (See log-in information at the end of this article.) DHCR is also accepting written comments from shareholders which can be submitted by mail (postmarked on or before September 21, 2021) or emailed in as follows: George Simon (george.simon@nyshcr.org)

(Continued on page 4)

E-Scooter Pilot to launch in the Bronx Tuesday, Aug. 17 Co-op City chosen as one of phase 1 communities

The city’s e-scooter program will start in the Bronx on Tuesday, Aug. 17, with Co-op City being one of three neighborhoods selected for phase 1. The other Bronx communities are Eastchester and Morris Park. One thousand scooters will be introduced into each of the three neighborhoods before the program expands next year to Throggs Neck and Soundview, the NYC Department of Transportation announced this week. “This is an exciting announcement as we officially bring shared micromobility to the East Bronx community,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “With safety as our top priority, we look forward to a continued collaboration with (Continued on page 9)

Underground Leak Temporarily Interrupts Hot Water Service to Section 5

(Continued on page 2)

Senate Passes Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act BY BRANDON ORTIZ

America’s infrastructure may never be the same again following Senate approval of the historic $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Tuesday, Aug. 10. The bipartisan legislation passed with a 69-30 vote, a much wider margin than the 1956 US Interstate Highway Act. Various facets of the nation’s aging infrastructure will be modernized under the new act with many projects centered around clean and sustainable energy to reduce America’s future impact on climate change. “We’re on the cusp of an infrastructure decade that I truly believe will transform America,” President Joe Biden said to reporters on Tuesday. The President expanded on his optimism calling the act “a historic investment in the nation’s roads, highways, bridges and transit, in our drinking water systems, in broadband, clean energy, environmental clean-up and making infrastructure more resilient.” Below are some highlights from the new legislation, according to an official statement release by the White House: • $115 billion, the largest Federal investment in public transit in American history, will be used to upgrade transit and rail networks across the country. The upgraded networks will offer healthy and sustainable transportation options while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (Continued on page 9) • $109 billion would be allocated to modernize

Riverbay’s Power Plant personnel discovered an extensive leak in Section 5 on Tuesday, August 11, in the underground high-temperature pipe that provides hot water to residents in the area. Due to the magnitude of the flooding, hot water service was shut down as staff worked quickly to remedy the problem. The Power Plant team and contractors drained the pit, identified the pipe, made repairs, and reversed the water shutdown sooner than anticipated. According to the Power Plant Assets Manager Anthony Ligato: “The outage was completed in record time by Power Plant staff and contractors. The hot water service was shut down at approximately 11:30 a.m. and service was restored by 5:00 p.m.” While repairs have been made to restore hot water service, more extensive work will be done when the Power Plant conducts its heat change over operations in the Fall. The site will remain fenced as mandated by the city’s Local Law guidelines. –Reporting and photo by Toriea McCauseland


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Co-op City Times 8/14/21 by Co-op City Times - Issuu