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Co-op City Times

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Find out what’s going on in Co-op City here...

Free Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic

Church of the New Vision is partnering with “Amen Ministries, Inc. Blueprint for Wellness,” to host a Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 115 Einstein Loop North, Bronx, NY. In addition to cines for ages 12 and above, boost patient education and much more will be available.

Appointments are not required, walk-in’s welcome. Registration is required at registration.empass. com/registration, or scan the QR code here.

For more information, contact Church of New Vision at (718) 671-671-2623, or info@churchnewvisionbx.org.

Baychester Library closed for renovations

Baychester Library is currently closed for renovations. “Holds” can be picked up at the Eastchester Library, 1385 E. Gun Hill Rd., Bronx, N.Y. The library is expected to reopen in February. To locate other NYPL branches, visit: nypl.org/locations.

Test & Treat Mobile

Van in Co-op City

NYC Test & Treat Corps’ Mobile Test to Treat unit is available daily on a rotating schedule at the three shopping centers, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. as follows next week:

Mon., Tues.: 135 Einstein Loop

Wed./Thurs.: 2049 Bartow Ave.

Fri./Sat./Sun.: 177 Dreiser Loop.

Locations are approximate depending on parking availability.

The mobile van offers PCR, Rapid, Flu and RSV testing.

Anyone who tests positive at the van can speak with an onsite clinician, and, if eligible, receive free Paxlovid anti-viral medication.

Appointments not required. Bring ID and insurance card, if available. Insurance is not necessary; service is open to everyone.

Vehicle ––– (Continued from page 1)

the situation to the attention of Riverbay Board directors several months ago. Her interaction with the state OCM parked in front of HSBC bank on Bartow Avenue and Asch Loop advertising cannabis products. She said she immediately emailed Board members to advise them of the vehicle’s presence in the community and to urge action to get the vehicle removed. However, within a few weeks, Ms. Sharma said the trailer left on its own.

“These products that they are peddling, we don’t know what that is,” said Ms. Sharma. “We are concerned because they are evidently marketing these types of products to young people whose minds are still developing and they don’t need to alter their consciousness with something we don’t even know what it is… That’s what my concern is. It’s really for these young folks.”

In mid-September, Ms. Sharma reported a second vehicle parked at Bartow and Ely Avenues. In this instance, the vehicle had commercial advertising using a character from The Simpsons. Ms. Sharma contacted OCM and began corresponding with an investigator.

“Eventually, I noticed that the vehicle was painted in a different color and they moved it to the opposite side of the street on Bartow Avenue between Ely and Grace Avenues,” said Ms. Sharma. “That vehicle is still there and they are still in operation.”

Ms. Sharma noted that subsequent to that, in early December, she saw a third vehicle, labeled with the name of a business registered in Clermont, Florida, parked in front of Sangria Café in Co-op City. “I took photographs of it and I our Board members to let them know we have to do something about this, we can’t wait because we may see a proliferation of vehicles in our community which is what we do not want,” she said.

During this time, Ms. Sharma said she did quite a bit of information to Director Saunders who informed Assemblyman Michael Benedetto of the situation and requested his help.

Assemblyman Benedetto contacted Capt. Johnny A. Orellana of the 45th Precinct and informed him of the community’s concerns about the vehicle(s) and products being advertised and possibly sold in Co-op City’s residential community.

“He [Capt. Orellana] told me he was aware of it and monitoring the situation,” said Assemblyman Benedetto. “At that particular point in time in the police department, there may have been some uncertainty on how they would proceed with these vans and shops in communities selling cannabis products. Since then, they have been trying to crack down on these entities and they have been watching the van in Co-op City.”

Assemblyman Benedetto said that he learned from the NYPD that persons operating the vehicle produced a valid license to sell hemp products, not marijuana.

Hemp and marijuana are the same plant species of different varieties. Generally, industrial hemp, used to produce a variety of industrial and consumer products, contains less than .3% of delta-9 tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes the user to feel “high.” Marijuana, on the other hand, typically contains 3-15% of THC. These products are regulated and can cause adverse health effects if not manufactured according to established standards and/or used properly.

“I am told they had a valid New York State license but it allows them only to sell hemp products. The police will continue to monitor these conditions,” said Assemblyman Benedetto. “They are aware of the situation, they are trying to make sure everything is being done legally.”

Appearing on CBS-2 News New York on Jan. 4, 2023, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell addressed the topic of illegal dispensaries of marijuana across the city. She said: “We took a number of – we call them weed trucks – off the streets in the city; we just take those because it’s unlicensed vending; we just take them off the street. We are addressing the stores as well … which is a problem. …We recognize that we have to have the law catch up to what we’re doing so we’re able to enforce the sale of marijuana.”

Matt Cruz, District Manager of Community Board 10, pointed out that cannabis products can only be sold from a physical address.

“There is no dispensing or sale of cannabis products unless the vendor has a license from OCM and such sale is from a physical building,” said Mr. Cruz. “Currently, there are only two such locations, both of which are in Manhattan. There are no licenses being issued for mobile sale of cannabis at this time. These products are not safe if not bought from a properly licensed vendor. I encourage community residents to report any such activity immediately to NYPD.”

District Manager Cruz further explained that a Notice to where the vendor intends to conduct business.

“Community Board 10 has the opportunity to review and so the matter will come to the community board before a license is issued,” said Mr. Cruz. “I can report that so far no one has applied to us for an application for siting of a canna one about a public hearing and review.”

Mr. Cruz said that at some point, there will have to be a closer look at more zoning regulations regarding manufacturing and sale of cannabis in local communities, but in the meantime, he credits OCM for their outreach and education efforts and local authorities for working together to address what is a developing situation since recreational marijuana use was legalized in New York in 2021.

Last Thursday, Jan. 12, OCM informed Director Saunders that the vehicle towed from in front of Sangria the previous night was issued a cease and desist by OCM’s enforcement unit and products were seized. The vehicle was towed by NYPD for violating a parking regulation.

That vehicle, according to Councilman Riley, is one of three trucks being operated by the same vendor in the coun tigating pop-up storefronts selling marijuana throughout the city. The councilman and his staff have been working closely with the task force to address the illegal trucks in the 12th Council District, and while it may seem like it is taking an extraordinary amount of time to get the trucks removed, the councilman noted that there are many logistical technicalities being sorted out as the city and state work on enforcement, especially with more and more trucks showing up in communities throughout the city.

“With roll out of any new legislation, there is a process,” said Councilman Riley. “These vans have been slipping under the radar so now that they are becoming more prevalent, the conversation now is how do we address.”

Last April, Councilmember Riley submitted a bill to ness Services on the city level to monitor implementation of New York State’s cannabis regulations, and assist with social and economic equity goals, among other initiatives. Intro. 0285-2022 has the support of 21 other Council members. The bill is laid over in the Council’s Committee on Economic Development. ing up research and preparation for new legislation to regulate cannabis-selling vehicles focused primarily on zoning to ensure safe sale in communities.

“This new legislation will regulate where these trucks can actually park, where they can provide service; how close to a residential community, school, if allowed; as well as hours of operation,” said Councilmember Riley. “It will, in essence, mimic the city’s liquor regulations, so there will be rules about who they can sell to, ID requirement, hours of operation, and so forth. Right now, there is no law that says it is illegal for them to operate so once it is put into legislation, it will be easier to hold these operators accountable as opposed to the current state which is to enforce violations of city ordinances.”

Ms. Sharma said: “The community needs to know that we don’t have to tolerate this in our community. Just because we see this in other parts of the city and we see the proliferation of it, we don’t have to accept that. We have a template now of how to deal with it, we have to complain about them, we have to get our political leadership involved and get the Board involved to see some immediate changes.”