6
Co-op City Times / January 20, 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 • – Vote Now More Than Ever
To the Editor: On this day, January 15, we celebrate the highly esteemed Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. Dr. King walked many miles, endured pain and hate from his fellow citizens, and fought to give us the rights we take advantage of today. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which was voted down by the Supreme Court, is what Dr. King stood for. It did not mean he wanted companies to hire incompetent individuals, but rather they gave a chance to intelligent and well-capable individuals who are commonly
looked over due to their background and/or upbringing. He hoped for a more inclusive society. A well-known billionaire recently linked the safety scandal that grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jets to DEI hiring efforts. This statement, as untruthful as it is, must serve as a reminder that these are the individuals we must outnumber when it comes time to vote this November. I urge us all to remember what Dr. King stood for. We must vote now more than ever! We do not want those who think like that billionaire running this country. —Andrea Mayo
Inclement Weather Safety Tips from Riverbay Safety • Secure outdoor furniture, decorations and objects. These items could pose a risk during storms as strong winds can turn them into projectiles, endangering people, property and even interrupting power supply. • Stay away from all downed wires; they should always be considered live. Stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines. Don’t go near the pole or anything touching the line, and don’t drive over downed wires. Report downed wires and dial 911 if an immediate hazard exists. • Downed wires can potentially be hidden in standing water. Be aware that electric current passes easily through water, so if you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up, and choose another path. • To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or other enclosed space. —Riverbay Safety Department
Better Business Bureau Scam Alert
Don’t Do This Friend a Favor - It’s a Really Clever Scam If a friend asks for a favor, you do it, no questions asked. Right? Time to rethink that policy. In this new con, a scammer poses as a friend asking for a simple favor. How This Scam Works You get an email that appears to be from a friend or family member. The message looks harmless and casual—like something a friend might really write. For example, one version reads: “Hi, how are things going with you? Are you busy? I need a quick favor.” The message even ends with “Sent from my iPhone.” Concerned about your friend, you reply and ask for more details. The “friend” quickly responds that they are trying to buy a gift card for their niece’s birthday. However, they are traveling and having trouble purchasing the card online. “Could you get it from any local grocery store around you?” reads the email. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I am back.” The request sounds reasonable. But if you do buy the gift card, your “friend” will ask you to share the card’s PIN and/or send a photo of the back of the card. Unfortunately, by doing this you are essentially handing money to the scammer. It’s nearly impossible to get the money back because gift cards do not have the same protections as credit or debit cards. How to Avoid Similar Scams Reach out to your friend directly. If you get an unusual request, call or text your friend to confirm their story. No matter how harmless the story sounds, always double-check before sending someone money. Use gift cards wisely. Never do business with anyone who insists on payment with gift cards. Remember, providing the numbers from the back of a gift card is just like sending cash. Red Flags to Know and Avoid Gift Card Scams • Government agencies requesting payment. No government agency ever requests money through gift cards. • Statements that buying gift cards is a safe payment method. Providing the numbers for a gift card is like sending cash, and the money is rarely recoverable. Gift card payment requests are a big red flag for a scam. • Keep the receipt when buying a gift card. Keep the physical card as well. These may help prove that the card
was paid for and activated if problems arise later. • Inspect the card carefully before buying it to be sure it has not been tampered with. Some scammers open the card to get the numbers on the back so they can take the money when the card is later activated. Who to Contact if You Are the Victim of a Gift Card Scam • Victims should immediately notify the organization that issued the card as soon as they realize they have bought gift cards and provided the numbers to scammers or have purchased gift cards with no balance. There is typically a customer service number on the back of the card. • Better Business Bureau – File a complaint with your local BBB if you lost money or report a scam online at BBB.org/scamtracker. • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – File a complaint online at FTC.gov or call 877-FTC-Help. • Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – File a complaint online at IC3.gov/complaint. • Consumer Financial Protection Agency – File a complaint online at ConsumerFinance.gov/complaint or call (855) 411-2372.
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.
