Vol. 53 No. 28
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Anonymous Reporting ‘Whistleblower’ Hotline Opens The vast majority of employees report to their jobs each day and carry out their work assignments in an honest and professional manner. The nearly 1,000 employees of the Riverbay Corp., just like the workforce in companies across the nation, behave in an ethical manner while providing the services that make Co-op City a great place to live for shareholders. But in any business, there are opportunities for some employees to break the rules and harm the company. “The Riverbay Corporation has developed a Whistleblower Policy to encourage employees, members of the board of directors, and other persons or entities affiliated with Riverbay, to report to responsible persons possible violations of federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations, accounting irregularities, or other suspected wrongdoing, including their own harmful violations,
BY JIM ROBERTS
45th Precinct Neighborhood Policing Kick-Off Interested Co-op City residents are invited to attend a “meet and great” event hosted by the 45th Precinct at 7 p.m. this Tuesday evening, July 17th at Edward R. (Continued on page 6)
before such violations can disrupt Riverbay’s business operations,” said Averil James-Bonnette, Riverbay director of Internal Audit. “The goal of this policy is to discourage and discover illegal or dishonest activity and business conduct that damages Riverbay’s good name, corporate interests, and its relationships with shareholders, vendors, sponsors, and the community at large.” Riverbay hired Lighthouse Services, a prominent company that provides whistleblower reporting programs to many of the leading corporations in the nation, to establish the Riverbay program. The phone number to report a complaint is 833-290-0009 and the website is www.lighthouseservices.com/riverbaycorp. While internal controls and audits can catch these actions, there is no better way for a company to ensure (Continued on page 4)
$1.25
Evolution of Co-op City President’s Message
Linda Berk President
Recently I was speaking with a shareholder about the excitement of celebrating Co-op City’s 50th anniversary and all the reasons we had to celebrate. Sometimes when we’re in the trenches working to overcome obstacles, we forget the long view of the accomplishments over time. As I shared with this shareholder the successes of the recent past, the resident and I were both were taken aback by the progress that has been made. We all know that there is still much work to be done, but when the new Board was elected in 2014, we made some head-spinning changes and have not looked back.
Why are we celebrating 50 years of Co-op City? Because Co-op City stands as a beacon to our nation and the world as the largest, affordable, diverse, cooperative housing community. We can say this despite the construction defects, a thirteen-month rent strike, gross management negligence, corruption, loss of $100 million on our parking garage rehab, and over $100 million in other grafts, power plant errors and irregular change orders! We withstood a lot and we are still standing. This is a testament to the many shareholders who were engaged, got involved and tire(Continued on page 2)
Riverbay Providing Free Transportation To BP’s Public Hearing On Animal Shelter Riverbay is providing free bus transportation to and from the Bronx Borough President’s public hearing Thursday evening, July 19, on the city’s proposal to build the Bronx Animal Care Center on the lot at 2050 Bartow Avenue. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. at the Borough President’s office, 851 Grand Concourse, room 600. Residents interested in going to the hearing via the bus must register in advance by calling the Riverbay Board office at (718) BY BILL STUTTIG
320-3351. Seating on the bus is limited and residents interested in attending the hearing are asked to call as soon as possible. Those who reserve a seat on the bus are asked to begin boarding at 4 p.m. sharp Thursday evening. The bus will be leaving from the front of the former Bingo Hall on Bartow Avenue shortly after 4 p.m.
It’s A Dance Party!!!
The hugely popular Tunes on Tuesday summer concert series, sponsored by the Riverbay Fund and City Councilman Andy King, got off to a rousing start this week as the disco/funk band GQ performed their hits including Boogie Oogie Oogie. Hundreds got up to dance including Councilman King himself (center). The fun continues this Tuesday evening at 7 on the Greenway with Malika Mo and the Band of Soul. Photos by Leandra Alexander Peterson
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Board Affirms Ban On Attachments To Apartment Door After evaluating Management’s report, the Riverbay Board has decided there should be no exemption for surveillance cameras from the Occupancy Agreement’s prohibition on unauthorized hardware, signs or any other items being exposed on, or attached to, entrance doors. Management recommended that no exception be made since there is no demonstrated need, as well as privacy concerns of neighbors and a report from the door manufacturer that unauthorized hardware may cause the doors to lose their NYC Board of Standards & Appeals fire rating. Residents who may have installed such devices must remove by them no later than July 31, 2018. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a community complaints. —Riverbay Management