Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2012 Co-op City Times
Vol. 47 No. 24
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Councilman Seabrook retrial to begin on Tuesday BY BILL STUTTIG The long-awaited retrial of Co-op City’s long-time City Council representative Larry Seabrook on felony federal corruption charges is due to begin on Tuesday, June 19, in Manhattan Federal court and if the first trial provides any indication, it could stretch on for weeks before any verdict is reached. At the end of the first trial which stretched from October through December of 2011, Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of the Federal District Court in Manhattan declared a mistrial on December 9th after hearing from the jury foreman that the trial’s 12 jurors remained hopelessly deadlocked on all charges after more than a week of trying to come to a unanimous agreement on Councilman Seabrook’s guilt or innocence on all or some of the 12 specific charges. While the mistrial spared Seabrook from a conviction for the time being, it did not clear him of the serious charges he faces. By not reaching a unanimous verdict, the jury neither convicted nor acquitted Seabrook. It took nearly 21 months for Councilman Seabrook to face his first trial following the original indictment on numerous charges in February of 2010. The second trial is commencing a little more than six months after the first trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial. At this retrial, a new judge will be presiding—Manhattan Federal Court Judge Deborah Batts, and Justice Batts, has already ruled on two court motions filed
in the pre-trial haggling in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s trial According to the New York Times and recent court filings, in one matter, Justice Batts ruled in favor of a filing by Seabrook’s’ defense team asking the court to bar prosecutors from referring to Councilman Seabrook by his last name only during court proceedings. The defense argued that prosecutors, by referring to the defendant by his last name only, were demeaning him in the eyes of the jury. Justice Batts ruled in favor of Seabrook’s defense team in this matter, ordering federal prosecutors to refer the defendant as either “the defendant,” “Mr. Seabrook,” or “Councilman Seabrook,” but not just “Seabrook.” More importantly for Seabrook’s chances of acquittal at least on some of the charges, Justice Batts also ruled that unless prosecution presents “additional proof to support a reasonable inference” that Councilman Seabrook had actual knowledge of an alleged “double-billing” scheme, “then evidence of that scheme shall be precluded at trial,” the Judge ruled, according to court papers. Some witnesses at the first trial testified that the Councilman did not have knowledge of the alleged double-billing reportedly carried out by some of his associates. At a pre-trial hearing held on Thursday, the Judge again called into question the government’s case for proving whether the Councilman actually
HUD loan deal on track to successful conclusion BY JIM ROBERTS By the middle of next month, Riverbay officials expect to have the proposed terms of a final deal from the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency ready for an approval vote by the Riverbay Board of Directors. Negotiations between Wells Fargo bank, representing Co-op City in the proposed $600 million loan refinancing guarantee, and HUD have resolved the outstanding major issues and appear headed for a final signing before a Sept. 15, 2012 deadline. Riverbay and Wells Fargo officials are expected to address a special Directors’ Board Meeting on July 11 to go over the legal and business points of the deal, which will pay off the existing mortgage with New York Community Bank and save shareholders several hundred million dollars in interest payments, according to Herbert Freedman, principal of Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc., the managing agent for Riverbay, and the driving force
behind HUD opening up the 223F program to co-ops and condos. According to Board Director Helen Atkins, that Board meeting would be followed a week later by an open meeting of the Board of Directors in the Dreiser Community Center where the Board would then discuss and vote on the HUD proposal. “The long three-year road that several Riverbay Boards of Directors have traveled, led by the diligent efforts of Marion Scott Real Estate, Inc., is on the path to saving shareholders millions of dollars in annual interest payments,” said Atkins. “We, as a Board, look forward to receiving the terms of the loan guarantee that HUD officials are scheduled to present to us in mid-July and expect to conclude a great deal for all Co-op City residents that will guarantee the financial health of our community for many years to come.” Both July meeting dates are tentative. (Continued on page 2)
Riverbay summer youth lottery Riverbay Corporation will once again be holding a Summer Youth Lottery for positions in Riverbay’s Grounds Department. The lottery is open to Co-op City high school and college student residents. Applications will be available at the Administrative Office Reception Desk, located at 2049 Bartow Avenue, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applications will be only be available until 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 26.
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Courtesy parking in all garages approved by Board BY ROZAAN BOONE The Riverbay Board of Directors approved a resolution on Wednesday night that allows shareholders with valid garage agreements to park in any Co-op City garage from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. for any purpose. Courtesy parking between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. will be subject to the reasonable rules of the Director of the Parking Facilities Department and may be revoked for valid reasons, including, but not limited to, inclement weather, overcrowding, construction, maintenance and/or abuse. According to the resolution, which was submitted by Second Vice President Evelyn Santiago, and seconded by Treasurer Ray Tirado and First Vice President Khalil Abdul-Wahhab, the measure was approved in order to
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improve the quality of life of Co-op City shareholders who have valid garage leases. In addition to Directors Santiago, Tirado and Abdul-Wahhab, the resolution was also approved by Board President Helen Atkins, and Directors Tony Illis, Daryl Johnson, Al Shapiro and Evelyn Turner. Directors Francine Jones and Andrea Leslie voted no and Director Bernard Cylich abstained. Directors Eleanor Bailey, Leah Graham, Othelia Jones and Rev. Calvin E. Owens were absent. This resolution becomes effective thirty days after its approval, so residents will be able to take advantage of courtesy parking in all eight of Co-op City’s parking facilities, as long as they have valid garage agreements, by the middle of July.
Fa t h er ’s Da y Ap p r ecia t ion L u n ch eon
Fatherly fun… The many fathers and grandfathers who attended JASA’s annual Father’s Day barbeque joined with the Project Director of Senior Services for Coop City, Daniela Breton, in gathering for a photo in the middle of the Bartow Community Center outdoor plaza where the festive event was held yesterday. The fathers were part of more than a hundred seniors who attended and enjoyed a traditional barbeque luncheon of hot dogs, hamburgers and all the usual accompaniments. All the seniors enjoyed lunch, dancing, free raffle gifts, ice cream, and many laughs and much companionship as a prelude to this Father’s Day weekend. We wish a Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and their families. Photo by Bill Stuttig