Riverbay Election Supplement on pages 23-33
Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2010 Co-op City Times
Vol. 45 No. 19
Saturday, May 8, 2010
City orders building owners to expedite Local Law 11 work; seven Co-op City buildings affected BY BILL STUTTIG In the wake of a Midtown Manhattan balcony railing collapse in March that resulted in a young man falling to his death, the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) has ordered building owners and managers in New York City to expedite and complete all Local Law 11 work or else face a continuing series of fines. Because of the city’s orders, Co-op City is being forced to close off access to balconies in the seven remaining buildings that have not had the balcony restoration work completed as yet. These are Building 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Every apartment with a balcony in these buildings will be
affected, approximately 1000 homes. In the past week, notices were placed under the door of each home affected by the city’s orders and work has been proceeding to provide assistance, where needed, to help residents clear their balconies so the restoration work can proceed as quickly as possible. A specific notice has been sent to the affected residents in Buildings 1 and 2, as well as those affected in Buildings 3 and 5. All four of these buildings have not had the new windows and balconies doors installed yet, so maintenance crews will (Continued on page 3)
Hundreds attend Job Fair at Dreiser BY JIM ROBERTS Youth Program and for construction jobs with the ongoing roof repair project. Opportunity came knocking on “A job fair for kids can change their Thursday at the annual Riverbay Job Fair, and many eager young residents of Co-op (Continued on page 4) City were there to find their chance to gain experience and start future careers. Seventeen vendors set up tables at Dreiser Auditorium on May 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Job Fair, co-sponsored by the Riverbay Fund and the Co-op City Department of Public Safety. Nearly 400 young job seekers from age 16 to 25 attended to fill out applications, ask questions and learn about summer work, part-time and full-time jobs and pathways to lifetime Nearly 400 residents took advantage of the opportuto fill out job applications and interview with careers. Representatives from nities prospective employers at the Annual Riverbay Job Riverbay were there to take Fair on May 4th. Photo by Ralph Henriquez applications for the Summer
H a ppy Moth er ’s Da y, tomor r ow, Su n da y, Ma y 9th
25¢
Board approves $1500 cash voting incentive for 2010 election; First Candidates’ Forum Wednesday BY ROZAAN BOONE On Wednesday night, May 5, the Riverbay Board approved a Voting Incentive of $1500 in cash for shareholders who vote in the 2010 Riverbay Board of Directors election which takes place on Wednesday, May 26, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. By a consensus vote of 10-4, the Board agreed to give three shareholders who are not indebted to the Riverbay Corporation $1,500 each in cash as an incentive to participate in the voting and ensure a quorum on election day, Wednesday, May 26, when shareholders will vote to fill five seats on the Riverbay Board. “It is extremely important that we get a quorum on Wednesday, May 26 so that the election is not prolonged, thereby costing the corporation more money,” said Director Bill Gordon, Chairman of the 2010 Election Committee. “I hope
and trust that residents will keep the importance of this election in mind and make every effort to participate.” Last year, the NYC Board of Elections certified that 5,216 ballots were cast in the 2009 Riverbay Board election. 5,064 votes were needed for a quorum. This year, 5,056 votes are needed for a quorum. To ensure a high turnout of shareholders for the Riverbay Board of Directors election last year, the 2009 Election Committee proposed, and the Riverbay Board approved, offering $500 in maintenance charge reduction to five shareholders—one from each section in Co-op City—who participated in the Board election. After the election, the names of five shareholders who voted were randomly (Continued on page 4)
Election Committee Notice on Candidates’ Forum Wednesday Shareholders who would like to ask questions of the candidates at Wednesday’s Candidates’ Forum held in Auditorium B of the Dreiser Center must arrive early and sign in between 7-7:30 p.m. No names will be accepted once the forum begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Thank you for your cooperation. —R iver b a y E lect ion C om m it t ee
MTA Bus Service to split QBx1 into two separate lines BY BILL STUTTIG The MTA Bus Division released plans earlier this week to split the QBx1 line— which currently takes Co-op City residents to and from Pelham Bay station, with continuing service to Flushing, Queens—into two separate lines, one of which will provide local service from all Co-op City sections to Pelham Bay station and back, and the other will provide limited stops between Co-op City and Pelham Bay with continuing service onto Queens. The plans, which are scheduled to take effect in September – were released in
detail to more than a dozen Co-op City residents and management representatives at a meeting in the offices of Community Board 10 Wednesday evening. The plan, as presented by Norman C. Silverman, Vice President of Operations Planning for the MTA Bus Division, involves creating a new Q50 limited which will provide service between Queens, Pelham Bay Station and all five sections of Co-op City. The new plan, as outlined by the MTA, will involve limited bus (Continued on page 2)