Co-op City Times 06/03/17

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Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2017 Co-op City Times

City Comptroller Scott Stringer Meets With Co-op City Community Leaders, Promises Help Vol. 52 No. 22

Saturday, June 3, 2017

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer met with Co-op City leaders Wednesday afternoon in Dreiser Community Center and promised help with a number of issues including looking into the feasibility of having the community’s shareholders receive some compensation for the cost of the community managing and paying for its own policing and sanitation services. At the one-hour round table discussion, several of the attending leaders – which included building association and community organization presidents, several Riverbay Board directors, General City Comptroller Scott Stringer (center) met with Manager Noel Ellison, more than 40 Co-op City community leaders at a Director of Special Projround table discussion Wednesday afternoon in ect Joe Boiko and State Dreiser Center. Joining Comptroller Stringer was Senator Jamaal Bailey – State Senator Jamaal Bailey (l.) and Jessica Sil- brought up to the compBY BILL STUTTIG

ver from the comptroller’s office. Photo by Bill Stuttig

(Continued on page 2)

SCRIE/DRIE Applications

Shareholders 62 years of age and those with qualified disabilities who meet all of the criteria for the Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs are reminded that if they have not yet applied for these programs, they must wait until after the carrying charge increase order has been received from the commissioner of the NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR). Applications must be completed using income data from your 2016 federal and state tax forms. Shareholders are also advised NOT TO apply for SCRIE or DRIE online via the NYC Department of Finance website, although the application can be downloaded online. Completed applications must be mailed to the address provided on the application form.

Australian TV Features Co-op City In Affordable Housing Report There is a big debate now raging in Australia about housing affordability, with many people there looking at alternative models around the world, including housing specifically targeted for middle- and lower-income workers. With a median home price of nearly one million dollars, Sydney, Australia faces a housing crisis that seems to have no solution. The Australian Public Broadcasting Network set out to travel the world to find answers and their journey brought them here to Co-op City last month. Correspondent Conor Duffy filmed a piece examining the success of Co-op City in providing affordable housing for nearly 50,000 residents here and left impressed with what he discovered. Other reporters for Australian TV went to London, Copenhagen, Barcelona and Tokyo to explore affordable housing options. Duffy, the US reporter, chose to explore New York and he found Co-op City. “We’ve been blown away by the scale of the place and been really impressed,” Duffy said. “We’ve had a great time being here and generally people seem pretty happy.”

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2017 Election Committee Notice Riverbay Board Election Continues

A total of 4,815 votes were cast in the current election for directors to serve on the Riverbay Board of Directors, 221 votes short of the number required for the election. Riverbay’s by-laws provide that at least one-third of Riverbay’s resident shareholders must vote in order for the election to be completed. (Vacant apartments cannot vote, and only one vote is allowed for each unit occupied by a shareholder). Under the Election Rules, adopted by the Board, the official Election Committee has the authority to extend the voting period to obtain the required number of votes. Accordingly, the Election Committee has extended the voting period until June 13th, 2017, or until a quorum is achieved, whichever occurs first. By Friday, June 2, 21 additional ballots were received by Election-America, bringing the number of votes needed for a quorum down to 200. Shareholders who have not cast a vote for the election of Directors are urged to do so. Shareholders may vote online or by mailing in their ballots. Voting by mail can be completed by filling out the ballot you recently received in a bright yellow envelope and by depositing the pre-paid and preaddressed return envelope in any mail box. Online voting may be done on any computer, mobile electronic device or phone. In addition, Riverbay has placed a kiosk in the Bartow Center, the Dreiser Center and the Einstein Center to allow shareholders who do not have an electronic device to vote. Election-America staff will be onsite at the Bartow Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to assist shareholders in voting. Shareholders who discarded, or cannot find their ballot, may contact ElectionAmerica by calling 866-384-9978 to request a replacement ballot or code for electronic voting. Upon confirmation that the individual is a shareholder of record who has not voted, a replacement ballot or code will be issued. —Claudia Sampson Chair, 2017 Election Committee

Public Safety Officer Honored By New York State For Anti-Bullying Efforts

Public Safety Officer Edwin Feliciano Jr. learned about the cruelty of bullying at the age of 11 as schoolmates began teasing him after his mother was left paralyzed by a sudden and terrible accident in the community where he grew up – Kingsbridge. Many, many children who face similar bullying either become withdrawn or they strike out against their tormentors leading to a lifetime of bitterness and, in some cases, violence. Officer Feliciano did neither. He channeled his experiences and his hip-hop songwriting talents together to create an anti-bullying message and song which later was produced into a video. In the years since, (Continued on page 3) BY BILL STUTTIG

Memorial Day Celebrated In Co-op City

BY JIM ROBERTS

(Continued on page 4)

The American Legion Post 1871 and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 1871 in Co-op City hosted the Annual Memorial Day celebration last Sunday, May 28, at the Harley Moseley Veterans’ Memorial Park at the corner of Asch Loop and Bartow Avenue. During the ceremony, Ladies Auxiliary Post 1871 member Olive Glasgow (second from right) was honored as the Ladies Auxiliary of the Year by State Senator Jamaal Bailey (right). They are joined by (from left) Toba LaCrown, Commander of the American Legion Post 1871 and Councilman Andy King. Photo by Leandra Alexander-Peters


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