We Wish our Readers a Very Happy New Year!
Vol. 57 No. 53
Saturday, December 31, 2022
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Window Guard Form & Safety Notice to be Mailed Early Jan.
Excelsior Scholarship Application Open for Spring 2023 BY BRANDON ORTIZ
Shareholders will begin receiving their annual Window Guard form and Safety Notice in the mail early next month, January 2023. In the meantime, copies of both documents will be posted in each building lobby for informational purposes.
academic term. CUNY and SUNY students whose families earn under a certain income threshold are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The application deadline is midnight on February 9.
included in the mailing, and returned to Riverbay Management or phoned in, faxed or emailed as per directions included in the package. The deadline is February 15, 2023. More information will be disseminated as the mailing date approaches, however, for now, shareholders should familiarize themselves with the documents by reading the poster in the building lobby. Please note this is an annual process that must be completed by shareholders every year.
Total household income includes both the student’s income and their parents’ income. Applicants can apply for the Excelsior Scholarship online at the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation website: hesc.ny.gov. (Continued on page 9)
CCPD Annual Holiday Toy Drive
Holiday Closings & CCTimes Deadline Notice for Next Week of New Year’s Day. Because of the holiday-shortened work week, articles, letters and directors’ viewpoints submitted for publication in the Saturday, Jan. 7 issue must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Material received after this time will not be included in the Jan. 7 issue of the newspaper. For emergency maintenance, please call (718) 320-3300, select option 2. For CCPD, call (718) 671-3050; and NYPD, 911. We wish our readers Happy Holidays! Be safe in your celebrations.
See page 2 for more photos.
Photo courtesy CCPD
Year in Review: Part 2 – July-December, 2022 The NYC Board of Standards and Appeals scheduled a virtual public hearing for Tuesday, July 19, on the application for a Special Permit to reduce the required number of accessory off-street parking spaces for an ambulatory diagnostic/treatment facility at 801 Co-op City Blvd. Co-op City residents consistently expressed opposition to the plan which they felt would result
BY ROZAAN BOONE
(The following is an account of the major events occurring in or affecting
JULY Three of the four incumbent members of the Riverbay Board of Re-election to Riverbay the neighboring Co-op City residential buildings. Directors who sought re-election were successful in their bids to Three IncumTwobentsnewWinShare Board; holders Elected A duplicate street sign was presented to the family of the late Jazz return to the policy-making body of Co-op City. They are Rod Saunmusician Onaje Allan Gumbs after a street co-naming ceremony on ders, Michelle Marbury and Monique Coleman. They were joined DeKruif Place. The new sign honors the legacy of Mr. Gumbs who by two new shareholders who were elected to the Board this year. The new Board Directors are Lynette Wright and Jacqueline Smith. Tuesday” outdoor summer concert series in 2015. The New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted 5-4 to raise At the July 13th Open Board meeting to seat the newly elected the rent of regulated city tenants by 3.25% for one-year leases and members of the 2022-2023 Riverbay Board of Directors, the Board 5% for two-year leases – the highest increase since 2013 when elected Director Sonia Feliciano as the new Board president. one-year leases went up by 4%, and two-year leases by 7.78%. The Riverbay Grounds department continued work to clean up and While these increases do not directly affect Co-op City, Manageprepare a section of Co-op City property in Section 5 for a waterfront ment and residents can relate to the higher cost of providing serpromenade for the enjoyment of community residents. vices expressed by landlords and building owners in rent stabiA Co-op City resident was arrested for stabbing and killing a 54-yearlized buildings across the city, and for goods and services includold guest inside his apartment and then leaving the scene. He was arrested later ing fuel and insurance. New York’s June Primary election took place on Tuesday, June 28, and the The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National SuiCo-op City Times listed election night results in statewide and Bronx County cide Prevention Lifeline, went live on July 16, 2022. Individuals can henceraces as posted on the NYS and NYC Board of Elections websites. Governor Kathy Hochul reminded gun owners across the state that the U.S. NYS Dept. of Transportation advised Co-op City residents that the eastbound Supreme Court’s decision regarding individual handgun rights does not immePelham Parkway entrance ramp to the northbound Bruckner Expressway would diately change the current guidelines and restrictions in place in New York. be closed from Monday, July 25, until around August 5, for reconstruction of Locally, the JASA Bartow Older Adult program announced that beginning the northbound Bruckner Expressway/I95 Interchange as part of DOT’s projin early July, the center would change its daily operating schedule to facilitate ect to enhance safety and mobility on the northbound Bruckner and northbound dinner service Tuesdays-Saturdays. The schedules of JASA Einstein and DreiHutchinson River Parkway. ser Centers were not affected. The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) held an online An in-person Open Board meeting was announced for Wednesday, July 13, review and public hearing session on Tuesday, July 19, and determined they for shareholders to witness the swearing-in of members elected in the 2022 Riving facility at 801 Co-op City Boulevard. The BSA reported that the applicaCovid-19 subvariant BA.5 became the source of the latest surge in Covid-19 tion would close at a hearing to be held in September. infections across New York City. Newly-elected Riverbay Board President Sonia Feliciano addressed the new Riverbay Senior Attorney Michael Munns retired after 27 years of service. Board, Management and Co-op City shareholders, expressing her expectation His colleagues shared their memories and respect for his professionalism, knowledge and camaraderie during his tenure at the corporation. (Continued on page 3) Vol. 57 No. 27
Rod Saunders
BY ROZAAN BOONE
Michelle Marbury
Saturday, July 2, 2022
Monique Coleman
Three of the four incumbent members of the Riverbay who sought re-election were Board of Directors ing body of the Co-op City successful in their bids to return to the policy-makcommunity, and two new join the Board. members were elected to
This year, there were couple of candidates who two slates of candidates in the election along with ran independently. “Spirit incumbent directors Michelle of Co-op City” consisted a of Marbury and Monique Coleman, new shareholders, Aisha as well as three The “Stronger Together”Hernandez Ahmed, Ezekiel Springer Jr and Ivy Gaynor. team was led by incumbent included shareholders Lynette director Rod Saunders and Wright, Blossom Incumbent director Mary Pearson ran independentlyJohns and Jacqueline Smith. Tirado, a former Board member. as did shareholder Raymond Incumbent Rod Saunders of the “Stronger Together” vote-getter in the 2022 team was the top Board election with 2,969 votes. Teammates Lynette votes, respectively.
NYC Rent Guidelines Board Approves 3.25% Increase for Rent Stabilized Tenants
Co-op City Also Faces Increases
BY ROZAAN BOONE
Due to Pressures on Operations
Budget
Last week, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board rents of rent regulated tenants voted 5-4 to raise the by 3.25% for one-year leases year leases – the highest and 5% for 4%, and two-year leases increase since 2013 when one-year leases went twoup by by This increase will affect7.78%. leases that begin between September 30, 2023. October 1, 2022 and creases of 2.7%-4.5% for one-year leases, and 4.3%-9% At a raucous meeting held on Tuesday, June 21, the for two-year leases. narrowly passed the unpopular Rent Guidelines Board increases which both tenant and landlord groups has devastated their lives and livelihoods and they for rent. They call the increases cannot afford to pay any more unconscionable. On the other hand, landlords
Bartow Older Adult Program Expands and Adds Dinner Menu
Starting Tuesday, July Older Adult program will5, the JASA Bartow have a new operating schedule: Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Activities and a dinner menu will be offered. Dinner will be served from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. inon Tuesdays to Fridays Room 31, and lunch from noon - 1 p.m. on Saturdays in Room 28, both in the Bartow Center. JASA Dreiser and Einstein Older Adult Program schedules remain Fridays, 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. the same: Mondayslunch from noon-1 p.m. to offer activities, and The cost of meals remains the same, $2.
(Continued on page 4)
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Lynette Wright
Jacqueline Smith
Incumbents Michelle Marbury (2,681 votes) and Monique votes) of the “Spirit of Co-op Coleman (2,572 City” team won the second respectively. and third place spots,
held in Room 31 in the Bartow will each serve 3-year terms. Center on Wednesday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m. They After the new Board is seated, the members will elects the chairpersons of the Audit and Cooperator continue their work throughout Appeals committees which the summer.
seated on the Board in October 2021 when then-Director signed her position. Ms. Coleman Cheryl Jenkins rethen had to run in this year’s Board election to
NY Primary Election Results
BY BRANDON ORTIZ
New York’s June primary took place Tuesday, Tuesdayelection Below is a rundown of 28. the election night results both statewide and age of election districts reporting as of July 1, according to both and NYC Board of Elections the NYS Democratic Primary websites. Governor: Statewide (97.8% of polls reported) Kathy Hochul: 66.49% Jumaane Williams: 19.01% Thomas Suozzi: 12.83% (Continued on page 5)
Riverbay Holiday Closing
(Continued on page 2)
State Reminds Gun Owners Supreme Court Ruling Does Not Change Current Guidelines
BY BRANDON ORTIZ
Governor Kathy Hochul recently issued a reminder to gun owners statewide that the U.S. Supreme decision regarding individualCourt’s handgun rights does not immediately change the current guidelines and restrictions New York has in place. Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that New York’s for individuals to carry requirement a concealed
constitutional. More specifically, (Continued on page 9)
& CCTimes deadline notice
Riverbay Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. For emergencies, contact: MAINTENANCE – 718-320-3300, press PUBLIC SAFETY – 718-671-3050option 2 Because of the shortened work week, all club articles and directors’ viewpoints must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, in order for publication in the Saturday, to be considered July 9, 2022 issue of the Co-op City Times. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a safe Fourth of July weekend!