Vol. 57 No. 27
Saturday, July 2, 2022
$1.25
Three Incumbents Win Re-election to Riverbay Board; Two new Shareholders Elected
Rod Saunders
Michelle Marbury
Monique Coleman
BY ROZAAN BOONE
Three of the four incumbent members of the Riverbay Board of Directors who sought re-election were successful in their bids to return to the policy-making body of the Co-op City community, and two new members were elected to join the Board. This year, there were two slates of candidates in the election along with a couple of candidates who ran independently. “Spirit of Co-op City” consisted of incumbent directors Michelle Marbury and Monique Coleman, as well as three new shareholders, Aisha Hernandez Ahmed, Ezekiel Springer Jr and Ivy Gaynor. The “Stronger Together” team was led by incumbent director Rod Saunders and included shareholders Lynette Wright, Blossom Johns and Jacqueline Smith. Incumbent director Mary Pearson ran independently as did shareholder Raymond Tirado, a former Board member. Incumbent Rod Saunders of the “Stronger Together” team was the top vote-getter in the 2022 Board election with 2,969 votes. Teammates Lynette votes, respectively.
Co-op City Also Faces Increases Due to Pressures on Operations Budget BY ROZAAN BOONE
Last week, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted 5-4 to raise the rents of rent regulated tenants by 3.25% for one-year leases and 5% for twoyear leases – the highest increase since 2013 when one-year leases went up by 4%, and two-year leases by 7.78%. This increase will affect leases that begin between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. creases of 2.7%-4.5% for one-year leases, and 4.3%-9% for two-year leases. At a raucous meeting held on Tuesday, June 21, the Rent Guidelines Board narrowly passed the unpopular increases which both tenant and landlord groups has devastated their lives and livelihoods and they cannot afford to pay any more for rent. They call the increases unconscionable. On the other hand, landlords (Continued on page 4)
Starting Tuesday, July 5, the JASA Bartow Older Adult program will have a new operating schedule: Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Activities and a dinner menu will be offered. Dinner will be served on Tuesdays to Fridays from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. in Room 31, and lunch from noon - 1 p.m. on Saturdays in Room 28, both in the Bartow Center. JASA Dreiser and Einstein Older Adult Program schedules remain the same: MondaysFridays, 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. to offer activities, and lunch from noon-1 p.m. The cost of meals remains the same, $2.
Jacqueline Smith
Incumbents Michelle Marbury (2,681 votes) and Monique Coleman (2,572 votes) of the “Spirit of Co-op City” team won the second and third place spots, respectively. held in Room 31 in the Bartow Center on Wednesday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m. They will each serve 3-year terms. After the new Board is seated, the members will elects the chairpersons of the Audit and Cooperator Appeals committees which continue their work throughout the summer.
seated on the Board in October 2021 when then-Director Cheryl Jenkins resigned her position. Ms. Coleman then had to run in this year’s Board election to (Continued on page 2)
NYC Rent Guidelines Board Approves 3.25% Increase for Rent Stabilized Tenants
Bartow Older Adult Program Expands and Adds Dinner Menu
Lynette Wright
NY Primary Election Results BY BRANDON ORTIZ
New York’s June primary election took place Tuesday, Tuesday 28. Below is a rundown of the election night results both statewide and age of election districts reporting as of July 1, according to both the NYS and NYC Board of Elections websites. Democratic Primary Governor: Statewide (97.8% of polls reported) Kathy Hochul: 66.49% Jumaane Williams: 19.01% Thomas Suozzi: 12.83% (Continued on page 5)
State Reminds Gun Owners Supreme Court Ruling Does Not Change Current Guidelines BY BRANDON ORTIZ
Governor Kathy Hochul recently issued a reminder to gun owners statewide that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding individual handgun rights does not immediately change the current guidelines and restrictions New York has in place. Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that New York’s requirement for individuals to carry a concealed constitutional. More specifically, (Continued on page 9)
Riverbay Holiday Closing & CCTimes deadline notice Riverbay Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. For emergencies, contact: MAINTENANCE – 718-320-3300, press option 2 PUBLIC SAFETY – 718-671-3050 Because of the shortened work week, all club articles and directors’ viewpoints must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, in order to be considered for publication in the Saturday, July 9, 2022 issue of the Co-op City Times. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a safe Fourth of July weekend!