THE COOPERATORS’ NEWSPAPER
Vol. 59 No. 3
March 2022
SERVING OVER 25,000 SHAREHOLDERS IN THE WORLD’S SECOND LARGEST HOUSING COOPERATIVE
NEW PARK HOURS MEANS PEACE OF MIND FOR
ROCHDALE COOPERATORS
Photo Credit : Mikell Richards.
By Olayemi Okeniyi
ROCHDALE PARK GETS NEW CLOSING TIME
R
ochdale Residents, rejoice! Rochdale Park, a municipal community park located on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard will now close at 10:00 p.m. every night. For years, cooperators who live in apartments that surround the Park have experienced a constant barrage of activities as the park stayed open until 1:00 a.m. This became a constant source of concern for Rochdale and people in the surrounding communities as President’s Message - Pg. 2
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the activities in the park did more than interrupt sleep schedules. Community Board 12 made the decision to change the closing time on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, during a zoom meeting led by Chairperson, Rev. Carlene Thorbs. The Committee discussed the closing times for Rufus King Park as well as Rochdale Park before concluding on the new closing time. Rochdale Village Board President, Jean Randolph Castro who serves on Community Board
General Manager’s Report - Pg. 4 |
12 was present on the Zoom call when the decision was made. Speaking on the matter, Castro said the decision which was almost 30 years in the making was long overdue. She praised New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who initially raised the issue of the park at the behest of her Rochdale Village constituents. She added that she was happy to finally bring good news to residents. Chairman of the Rochdale Village Board, Clifton Stanley
Diaz, explained that for years he fielded calls about the park from cooperators living in the group close by. Adding that the concerns about perpetration of “antisocial behavior” in the park were kicked up to Community Board 12. According to Diaz, while an immediate solution was delayed due to COVID-19, he was able to work with Public Safety and the 113th Precinct to help ease community tensions. He achieved this by having cameras and lights (continued on page 20)
Public Safety Report- Pg. 11 | Women’s History Month Highlight - Pg. 16 & 17