Honoring the struggles, achievements and history of African-Americans
Vol. 59 No. 6
Saturday, February 10, 2024
MTA Hosts Informational Session in Einstein Community Center BY BRANDON ORTIZ
07$ DQG 0HWUR 1RUWK RI¿FLDOV JDWKHUHG RQ :HGQHVGD\ QLJKW )HEUXDU\ in Room 45 of Einstein Community Center to answer questions and provide updates on the Metro-North Penn Station Access Plan. Riverbay Board President Sonia Feliciano kicked off the event by expressLQJ KHU JUDWLWXGH WR WKH 07$ RI¿FLDOV LQ DWWHQGDQFH DQG WKDQNLQJ WKHP IRU being available to answer questions from shareholders. Joe O’Donnel, director of Government and Community Relations for MTA Construction and Development, then began the discussion by reviewing the Metro-North Penn Station Access Plan overall, and detailing the latest updates on project construction. Since the new Metro-North stations will be using Amtrak’s Hell Gate Line to deliver service, a key aspect of the plan involves revamping that line “to a state of good repair,” as described by O’Donnel. Integral to those efforts will be improving Amtrak’s existing catenary system, which powers Amtrak trains, and modernizing the various bridge structures along the Hell Gate Line such as the Pelham Bay Bridge. O’Donnel also touched on how the upgrades to Amtrak’s Hell Gate Line will deliver electrical upgrades, an improved signaling system and a state-of-the-art communication system. In areas where tracks reach close to the surrounding water table, such as the marshlands that surround Co-op City, O’Donnel exSODLQHG WKDW FRQVWUXFWLRQ ZLOO LQFOXGH ³VLJQL¿FDQW HQKDQFHPHQWV WR VWRUPZDWHU management including new drainage.” (Continued on page 4)
Applying for SCRIE and DRIE BY ROZAAN BOONE
Senior shareholders 62 years and older, and shareholders who are disabled may be eligible for the city’s SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) or DRIE (Disability Rent Increase Exemption) program. Those who qualify may be minimally affected by the proposed 2.1% carrying charge increase to be implemented on April 1, 2024, pending approval by Co-op City’s state-supervisory agency, New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). At the Tuesday, January 30th DHCR Carrying Charge conference, the agenF\ LQIRUPHG VKDUHKROGHUV WKDW D SURMHFWHG LQFUHDVH PD\ EH QHFHVVDU\ WR KHOS WKH KRXVLQJ FRPSDQ\ PHHW LWV ¿QDQFLDO REOLJDWLRQV IRU LWV operations H[SHQVHV 7KH +&5 &RPPLVVLRQHU ZLOO PDNH WKH ¿QDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RQFH feedback and comments from shareholders as well as other factors have been reviewed and taken into consideration. Shareholders already receiving SCRIE or DRIE do not need to reapply. Riverbay will submit the paperwork when the increase becomes effective. (Continued on page 3)
NYC Summer Youth Application Now Open The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development’s 2024 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Application for young people 14-24 years of age is available online at https://application.nycsyep. com. The application deadline is March 1, 2024. This program offers career exploration, project-based learning, work experience, community building and the opportunity to earn money. Selection is based on a lottery, and submission of an application does not guarantee an offer of summer employPHQW 7R ¿QG RXW PRUH DERXW 6<(3 FRQWDFW &RPPXQLW\ &RQQHFW DW 246-4646.
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Riverbay Management Meets with Building Presidents for Discussion on Apartment Repairs Process BY LAURETTA JAYSURA
On Thursday evening, February 9, in Co-op City City’s Dreiser Auditorium, Riverbay Executive General Manager Marvin L. Walton and his executive management team consisting of Mr. Cary Smith III and Mr. Warren Mitchell held a very important meeting exclusively for the 35 high rise building presidents or their representatives in Co-op City. On Tuesday evening, February 6, a similar meeting was held in the Bartow Center’s Room 31 with the presidents or designated representatives of the townhouse associations. These meetings were called to discuss the apartment repairs process and to brainstorm possible solutions. Thursday’s meeting was called to order by Mr. Walton, who quickly noted that, unfortunately, he had to say “no” to the many requests Building and Townhouse Association presidents were he received asking if others called to a special meeting this week with Executive could come. Management to discuss the Apartment Repairs pro“This meeting has been set cess and ideas to make the process more efficient. Photo by Charlotte Okoro
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Completed Window Guard Forms Due on Thursday, Feb. 15 Completed Window Guard forms are due by this coming Thursday, FebruDU\ 6KDUHKROGHUV DUH UHTXLUHG WR ¿OO RXW WKH UHVSRQVH FDUG WHDU LW RII place the completed card into the pre-paid envelope and drop it in the mail. You can also respond by phone, online or by faxing the completed card back. Please follow the instructions included in the mailing.
3XEOLF 6DIHW\ 2I¿FHUV $SSUHKHQG 3DFNDJH 3LUDWH 2Q 0RQGD\ )HEUXDU\ DW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ S P 2I¿FHUV from the Co-op City Public Safety Department (CCPD) responded to Building 31A and arrested a 52-year-old male for package theft. The male is suspected of dozens of package thefts in Co-op City. Additionally, he has an extensive criminal record involving property crime and violent crimes against persons. He was last arrested by CCPD in September of 2022 for the same offense. The suspect is not a Co-op City resident. CCPD reported that the suspect gains entry by piggy backing into buildings. At approximately 3:15 p.m. on February 5, CCPD received a call from a shareholder who reported receiving an alert on their Ring camera and observed a male removing a package from their apartment door. The shareholder immediately called CCPD’s emergency number to report the theft. 7KH UHVSRQGLQJ 2I¿FHUV LQLWLDWHG DQ DSSUHKHQVLRQ SODQ DQG VWUDWHJLFDOO\ UHsponded to the incident. The suspect was observed coming out of the rear lobby VWDLUZHOO ZLWK D VKRSSLQJ FDUW ¿OOHG ZLWK WKH VWROHQ SURSHUW\ KH KDG UHPRYHG IURP PXOWLSOH ORFDWLRQV RQ PXOWLSOH ÀRRUV ZLWKLQ WKH EXLOGLQJ &&3' 2I¿FHUV stopped the male at the rear exit of the building and placed him under arrest. The CCPD Detective Squad recovered empty boxes and packages that were left in the stairwells. Every empty box was indexed with a shareholder victim. Every victim was contacted by Public Safety Detectives to obtain a detailed inventory from each package. Every empty box that had an item removed (Continued on page 5)