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Co-op City Times / November 2, 2019
MTA’s Final Bus Plan For Co-op City Director’s Viewpoint
Daryl Johnson The article in last week’s edition of the Co-op City Times had some of the information about the changes for our bus service in Co-op City. So, I’ve included some additional information along with a link so that you can review the final version of the bus report for the entire Bronx and our community. Limited Service It’s apparent that some of our residents have some serious concerns about our bus service. Therefore, to address some of these concerns, I would like for you to go online and type: ‘MTA final bus plan for the Bronx.’ Or, you can go to this address: https:// new.mta.info/bronxbusredesign. This way, you can see the final bus plan for the entire Bronx. Previously, some residents were upset because the Q50 was supposed to start and stop its route at the Pelham Bay train station. However, here is the new schedule for the Q50 bus: “The Q50 Limited will now operate to and from Co-op City during weekday peak hours only (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) During off-peak hours, the route will only operate to and from the Pelham Bay Park 6 Station.” Here are some changes for our other buses: 1. The service will remain the same for the Bx12 SBS bus. But, do you honestly think that the frequency of service is 4 minutes in the a.m. hours, and 5 minutes in the p.m. hours? Impossible. 2. The route for the Bx26 will not change. But, the frequency of service will be “reduced” to 17 minutes in the a.m. hours, and 18 minutes in the p.m. hours. 3. The MTA is going to eliminate 17 percent of the stops on the Bx28 route. The frequency is 10 minutes in the a.m., and 11 minutes in the p.m.? Really? 4. Do you actually believe that the frequency of service for the Bx23 bus is supposed to be increased
to 6 minutes in the a.m. and p.m. hours during the week? Well, we’ll see. 5. The Bx30 will not operate on East Gun Hill Road. Instead, this bus will go from Conner Street to Pelham Parkway’s train service, 2/5. The frequency of service is supposed to be 8 minutes in the a.m. But, 9 minutes in the p.m.? Never. You’ll regret missing this bus during the p.m. hours. 6. The Bx38 was supposed to have been eliminated. However, the MTA now says that, “The Bx38 routing will not change.” But, the frequency of service is supposed to be 10 minutes in the a.m., and 11 minutes in the p.m. A stretch? This bus is completely packed out in the p.m. hours. Bottom line: Can you imagine how things will be if you miss a bus and it’s freezing outside? So, my suggestion is to get a bus app for your phone. This way, you can get a reasonable estimate when a bus will arrive. Watch it, Criminals A lot of residents have expressed their joy over the fact that they can now place cameras on their front door. That’s right! As expressed in my viewpoint last week, “Riverbay is going to allow cooperators to place a Ring Doorbell device or a similar type device on their apartment door.” This announcement was made during our board meeting on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. While discussing a management report, our executive general manager made a positive announcement concerning these doorbell devices. Thereafter, a flyer entitled ‘Riverbay Video Doorbell Requirements’ was distributed to our board members. And, here are the exact word-for-word requirements: 1. Location: On apartment door within 2 inches on either left or right side of the existing peephole and doorbell. Device must not block or cover peephole, doorbell or apartment number. 2. Installation: No drilling or use of screws allowed. Use double sided tape. 3. Power Source: Must be battery operated. No hard wiring allowed. 4. Stickers: No sticker or signs may be affixed to door or wall. Previously, some cooperators posted devices on unapproved surfaces outside of their apartment door.
African-American Association
AAA’s Watch Party Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, at 7 p.m. Seating is limited, so plan to get there early. If you missed the African-American Association’s first-ever swearing in ceremony, you missed an event that was not only historic, it was educational, emotional and enlightening. Noel Ellison shared information that only a former president could share, from way back when the organization was called the Black Caucus, and founding members and former presidents Stuart Edwards and William Craft shared priceless memories of battles they fought to preserve the right to conduct meetings in room 15 and other anecdotes that are part of the AAA history. All of this will be experienced again, including the beautiful procession of a packed house into the newly restored room 15 a.k.a. the African American Association. Set your phone reminders and mark your calendars. You don’t want to miss this momentous event again. Relive the majesty with us on Monday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. sharp. Join the AAA today; $15 single membership or $25 for families. Email: aaaccpower@gmail.com, The African American Association of Co-op City, P.O. Box 702, Co-op City Station, Bronx, N.Y. 10475. The AAA sponsors the following programs for your participation: Belly dance classes: Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Dreiser Center, room 2. For a nominal fee, you will have fun and stay in shape. Call Xonia, 646-301-9438. Evening line dance classes: Dance to soul, Latin and gospel music Thursdays, 7 p.m. in Dreiser Center, room 2. Also first and third Tuesdays in Einstein Center, Section 5, 6 p.m. Fees are minimal. Call Cynthia, 917-903-7073. Salsa class: Saturdays, 10 a.m., Dreiser Loop, room 1. Call Keith, 917-561-6211.
Thereafter, they received community complaints and legal notices about those devices. So, those cooperators had to remove those unapproved devices. But, now, cooperators have clear requirements for these doorbell devices. Nevertheless, should cooperators try to go around these requirements and mount cameras wherever they want? No. Example, Riverbay must legally provide a peephole and fire-rated apartment doors here. So, do you think that legal problems will arise and community complaints be issued when a cooperator makes unapproved changes to their peephole and their firerated door? Absolutely. Do you think that it makes sense for anyone to drill a hole through a fire-rated door to run wires for a camera system? Again, a fire-rated door? The answer is no. So, please consider this matter before you buy a camera system. Bottom line: We’ve come a long way just to get to this point with these camera systems. So, let’s see if everyone can work together in a peaceful and a positive manner with these camera systems. Thank you. Close Previously, I posted a lot of rough cases about homeowners using the Ring Doorbell device to see burglars breaking into their house. Thereafter, they called the police and those burglars were arrested. Similarly, we’ve had burglaries in our community. And, unfortunately, the cooperators didn’t have a camera device on their front door. However, now it’s time that these crooks get exposed and arrested. So, please call Public Safety at 718-671-3050 if you check your phone and you see someone committing a crime. Thank you. Questions or comments? Please send a letter to Daryl H. Johnson, Riverbay Board Director, c/o Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. Also, please call me ONLY at 718-671-4544 if you would like to have a brief discussion with me. Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.
Yoga and Zumba Classes with Meena: Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. in Dreiser Center, room 2. Healing drum circle with Toni Roberts: Saturdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Dreiser Center, room 15. The African-American Association requests a $3 donation from each drummer to cover rental costs for the room. This will be collected at the door each Saturday. Please, do not stay away because of lack of funds! No one will be turned away! So bring your drums and other instruments and let’s make some joyful, healing noise every Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come join us. Share the joy and just as Toni Roberts does, maintain body-mind-soul-health far into what used to be old age. —Michelle Marbury