Co-op City Times 2/23/19

Page 1

Vol. 54 No. 8

Public Advocate Candidates Appeal to Co-op City Voters At Forum Co-op City Coalition to Save Affordable Housing, along with the African-American Association and Working Families of Co-op City, presented a forum for New York City Public Advocate candidates who are on the Tuesday, February 26, Special Election ballot. The event took place on Sunday, February 17, in the Bartow Center, where 10 out of the 17 candidates showed up in a last-minute effort to win over Co-op City voters. Out of the 17 candidates who are on the ballot, 10 candidates attended the forum, including (in ballot order): Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake, attorney Dawn Smalls, Queens Councilman Eric Ulrich, Brooklyn Councilman Rafael Espinal, Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams, Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim, Columbia University professor David Eisenbach, attorney Manny Alicandro, educator activist Benjamin Yee, and attorney Jared Rich. Riverbay Board President Linda Berk opened the forum explaining to the audience the role of the Public Advocate (PA) and the importance of the position. Current Fios One News reporter, Bronx resident and forum moderator, Ray Raimundi, followed, introducing the rules for the day’s event: “Each candidate will have two minutes to give their opening statements. After that, there will be three questions, and each candidate will have a minute to respond to those questions. Then, our second round of questions which will be two (Continued on page 2) BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

Saturday, February 23, 2019

New Board Director Seated

election will be seated to finish out Evelyn Turner, who placed sixth the remainder of Mr. William’s three in the 2018 Riverbay Board of –year term which will expire in 2021. Directors election, was sworn in “I look forward to serving cooperand seated as a director on the 15ators again with truth and transmember board that sets policy for parency to the fullest extent possible,” the Riverbay Corporation at the said Director Turner. “I am anxious to share information and work with Wednesday, February 20, 2019 busiDirectors Johnson and Peterson on a ness meeting. new initiative. Cooperators’ vote Ms. Turner replaces former enabled me to again have a voice Director Junius Williams who was and I will always use it in the next voted off the Board for cause earlier months to make sure cooperators are this month. She is a former Board director who ran for re-election last heard.” year and came in 6th in the annual Evelyn Turner being sworn in Other matters before the Riverbay Board election with 2,548 votes, by General Counsel Jeff Buss. Board on Wednesday night resulted just 25 votes behind Director Mary in impactful deliberations and votes Pearson who edged her out for the fifth place seat. that moved a number of significant projects and According to the Riverbay Bylaws [Section 4 issues forward. Vacancies (a)]: “Any vacancy occurring in the Resolution 19-03, which the Board unanimously Board of Directors by reasons of death, resignation, approved with one director absent, is a contract with Landlord Guard, Inc. to screen prospective appliremoval or otherwise of any Director elected by the cants for apartments in Co-op City. The vendor, at shareholders shall be filled until the next annual meeting by the person who received the highest no cost to Riverbay, will conduct credit checks, number of votes in the immediately preceding eleccriminal investigations and home visits. This resolution of directors but who was not elected to a direction, submitted by Director Claudia Sampson and tor’s position. At the next annual meeting of shareseconded by Board President Linda Berk, was holders, successors shall be elected for the unexapproved by Directors Berk, Bernard Cylich, Sonia Feliciano, Cheryl Jenkins, Daryl Johnson, Francine pired term created by any vacancy as provided Jones, Kevin Lambright, Andrea Leslie, Mary Pearherein.” son, Leslie Peterson, Leah Richardson, Claudia As a result, Director Turner will have to run in Sampson, Rod Saunders and Evelyn Turner. Directhis year’s Riverbay Board election. If she places among the top five winners, she will serve a full tor Jerome Rice was absent. three-year term. The sixth place winner in the 2019 (Continued on page 20) BY ROZAAN BOONE

US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Headlines Assemblyman Benedetto's Black History Celebration Two Shareholders Honored

Co-op City residents and friends of the community celebrated Black History Month with New York State (NYS) Assemblyman Michael Benedetto on Wednesday, February 20, in the Einstein Center. Those who filled the packed room attended not only to celebrate Black History, but to celebrate the hard work of two of their peers, Ms. Linda Collins and Ms. Joyce Howard, both Co-op City shareholders. The Guest Speaker was US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. After acknowledging friends in local and state government, Assemblyman Benedetto shared his appreciation for his sponsors for their work in putting together another successful event, Congressman Eliot Engel, the Riverbay Fund, Casa Ready-Mix Cement, A&J Recycling, and DJ Ambulette. (L-R) Councilman Andy King, US Congressman Hakeem Keynote speaker, Jeffries, State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto and U S C o n g r e s s m a n State Senator Jamaal Bailey came out to celebrate H a k e e m J e f f r i e s, Black History Month with the Co-op City community. engaged the audience with his passion and charm. He spoke earnestly about the journey of AfricanAmericans throughout the United States. He said: “We can capture our journey as us having gone through moments of progress followed by moments of backlash.” He then pointed out that different moments of progressive Black history, past and present, followed instances of backlash in America. “We can look to the strength of those who came before us to figure out our pathway forward because we stand on the shoulders (Continued on page 4) BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

$1.25

3 MORE DAYS TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION For Public Advocate, Tuesday, February 26! To Find Your Polling Place Visit: http://voting.nyc/


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.