6
Co-op City Times / January 13, 2024
The Co-op City Times welcomes issue-oriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be signed by the writers and include their addresses and phone numbers, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the authors. Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Letters cannot exceed 350 words. Ideally, they should be typed. All letters must be in the Co-op City Times office in Room 21, Bartow Community Center, by 3 p.m. every Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Views and opinions expressed in letters are solely the writer’s and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times or Riverbay Corp.
– • Letters to the Editor • –
Cannabis Dispensary Battle Now Lies with the State To the Editor: On Jan. 4, 2024, Community Board #10 voted not to open weed shops on Tremont Ave. and in Co-op City. This was a victory for our community. Let me make note that the room was full of cooperators showing concern for our community. The next step is the proposal going to the state. So now, the battle really begins. I urge all to call, write or text. Let the powers that be know your feelings on this matter. Talk about it with your neighbors, in your churches or on the bus. Don’t argue, inform. We must educate each other. Read your Co-op City Times. Stay woke. —Margaret Chinnery
Grateful To the Editor This letter is a thank you to the Board member/s who personally attended the hearing and provided testimony on January 4, regarding the Cannabis Dispensary application pending for 675 Co-op City Blvd. I would like to further thank our Community Board #10 for disapproving the application. We still have to wait for the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to make the final determination. I would like to thank our Co-op City Times for covering this story, keeping the community informed. We are so fortunate to have our own newspaper; at times, we take this for granted. It is always my hope more members of our community would read the paper and provide written comments. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge and commend Director Joshua Blake, Janitorial department, and his staff. Director Blake was informed of some concerns in our laundry rooms and those issues were addressed expeditiously. All the hard work is greatly appreciated. Starting the New Year feeling grateful provides the path for positivity for the rest of the year. —Ruth Sharma
Stay Alert To the Editor: For 50 years plus, Co-op City has been a lovely, peaceful community, but we are again in a fight to maintain our quality of life. There was standing room at the Jan. 4th CB #10 Public Hearing. Many speakers opposed an application for a cannabis retail license at 675 Co-op City Blvd. My statement was as follows: To those who may not be aware, Co-op City is a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), consisting of a large percentage of older adults who moved here, aged gracefully, blessed to retire and live independently and peacefully. This is also a working class, low crime environment. The future of our school kids (preK-high school) must be protected. Many shareholders shared the same opinions and concerns regarding cannabis, marijuana/weed (drugs) – calling it for what it is. We, as shareholders, did not move here to Co-op City because it was a vacancy, it cost us. Therefore, we are here to protect our interest. The facts are the same, whether illegal or legal, license or no license, cannabis can have various mental and physical effects, altered state of mind, short term memory; long term effects may include addictions and bring crime to our community as a result of undesirable behaviors. The effects can last 2-6 hours more or less; I believe this could possibly explain why the city is experiencing all kinds of strange automobile accidents. Plus, there are accesses to several highways and byways which will bring unwanted traffic into our community. If robbery occurs, there are safety concerns; criminals are in the vicinity of a shopping mall and several high-rises which could place our shareholders in harm’s way. Unquestionably, to install retail shops to sell drugs does not improve nor protect the quality of life and is not in the best interest of our community, period. We applaud the Community Executive Board 10 for acknowledging the concerns and wishes of the Co-op City community and supporting our opposition for licenses to set up a cannabis retail shop in the midst of our lovely quiet and peaceful community. ––H. Overman
Dr. King’s Legacy of Leadership & Perseverance To the Editor: Had he lived, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 95 years old on January 15th (1/15/29-4/4/68). He was a great leader, husband, father, scholar, orator and negotiator. Dr. King followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father in the family’s long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. He attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at 15, received the BA degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, and a graduate studies degree at Boston University in 1955. In Boston, he met and married Coretta Scott. They raised four children. In 1954, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. As a leader in the NAACP, he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 382 days. On 12/21/56, the Supreme Court declared that Negroes and whites could ride the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse. Nevertheless, he emerged as a respected Black leader. In 1957, King was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, formed to provide new leadership for the civil rights movement. He took the ideals for this organization from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. He also wrote five books and numerous articles. King led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, which inspired his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” stating that freedom, justice and equality could not wait. Dr. King advocated for freedom, justice and equality, which is outlined in his “I have a Dream” speech at the
8/28/63 March on Washington. On 4/4/68 in Memphis, Tennessee, King was assassinated when fighting for better working conditions for 1,300 African-American sanitation workers, as part of his Poor People’s Campaign. Dr. King leaves a legacy of leadership and perseverance. Please teach your children and grandchildren about this great prophet. With the powers that be attempting to eliminate the history of people of color and rejecting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, concerned folks must endeavor to teach our families, friends and acquaintances about the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. —Francine Reva Jones
Submit to Co-op City Creatives! BY P.M. CAMPBELL
With thousands of residents from all across the globe, Co-op City is home to artists of all kinds. Shareholders have written books, performed poetry, directed films, created murals, and they all deserve a spotlight. The column, “Co-op City Creatives,” serves not only to analyze shareholders’ art from Sections 1-5, but to also take a deep dive on what makes that artist unique. If you consider yourself an artist, regardless of age, medium, or education, send your work to cctimes@riverbaycorp.com with the subject “Co-op Creatives” and include your phone number so you’ll have the chance to be interviewed and your work displayed in the Co-op City Times.
Co-op City Times Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. (718) 320-3300, ext. 3375 cctimes@riverbaycorp.com
Rozaan Boone Editor-in-Chief
Jennifer Piovanetti Operations Manager
Ralph Henriquez Production Manager
John Crow New Media Producer The Co-op City Times welcomes issue-oriented letters to the editor to be considered for publication. All letters, in prose, not poetry, must be addressed to the editor, not to third parties. All letters must be signed by the writer and include their address and phone number, which will be kept confidential, so that the editor can verify the authenticity of the author. Writers will be limited to one letter per topic. Anonymous or unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Letters cannot exceed 350 words. Ideally, they should be typed. All letters must be submitted to the Co-op City Times by 3 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication in that week’s edition. Email cctimes@ riverbaycorp.com or mail to 2049 Bartow Ave., Room 21, Bronx, NY 10475. Views and opinions expressed in letters and Directors’ Viewpoint are solely the writer’s, and not necessarily shared by the Co-op City Times or Riverbay Corp. Advertisements and classified advertisements in the Co-op City Times do not necessarily reflect an endorsement from Riverbay Corp. of goods and services, but present greater options to cooperators of products and services available. The Riverbay Corporation does not assume any responsibility nor is it a party to any contract or agreement between the cooperator and the vendor. All matter published herein is copyrighted by the Co-op City Times. Permission for reprints of advertising or editorial contents produced by the Co-op City Times must be obtained in writing from Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Ave., Bronx, New York 10475.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We welcome letters to the editor, only from Co-op City shareholders, at cctimes@riverbaycorp.com. Letters should address issues of interest to the Co-op City community. Comments should be fact-based and responsible. Letters should not personally attack others and must be written in a respectful manner. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. The Co-op City Times does not publish anonymous material. Submissions must include the writer’s address and phone number – which will be kept confidential – so authenticity and residency of the writer can be verified. Thank you for your cooperation.
