Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2017 Co-op City Times
Vol. 52 No. 32
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Benedetto Campaigns for de Blasio
25¢
Risk Management Finding Ways To Restrain Insurance Costs BY JIM ROBERTS
It was reported this week that the vast majority of elected officials serving the Bronx were throwing their support behind the incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio, in the upcoming Democratic primaries on September 12th. To do his part, Mike Benedetto, Co-op City’s representative in the New York State Assembly, came to Co-op City’s Bartow Senior Center Thursday afternoon to address the virtues of the Mayor. The assemblyman was quick to point out that he does not support the Mayor on all the issues, but he complimented the Mayor on his work to make Universal Pre-K available to all New York City families, his Vision Zero initiative to make New York City streets and sidewalks safer, and his work to improve senior services and provide additional support for the city’s homeless population. Above all, the assemblyman urged all the seniors to turn out and vote in the primaries on September 12th, no matter who they vote for. Photo by Bill Stuttig
Small Leak To Be Repaired By The End Of The Month BY BILL STUTTIG
A small water leak that was discovered several months ago in the approximate vicinity of the series of problematic leaks behind the Cooper Place townhouses that were repaired last November will be repaired within the next two weeks. Despite the close proximity, Anthony Ligato, Riverbay’s Director of Utility Assets, said this week that the new leak is not related to the leaks that were repaired nine months ago. He stressed that Cooper Place repairs completed last November were successful and continue to hold. The new leak involves a separate system of piping and is much smaller in scope. Mr. Ligato stressed that this leak will be repaired by the end of August. When those repairs commence, probably in the next two weeks, there likely will be a temporary interruption in some water service to the affected
buildings. Residents in those buildings will be notified through multiple means of communication of the repair date and hours so they can adjust their daily routine around any potential interruption in water service. Although problematic and sometimes costly in terms of the lost water, leaks in the massive piping system that runs underneath this huge community do inevitably occur periodically. Last year, beside the series of leaks behind Cooper Place, costly underground water leaks were repaired in Section 4 behind Building 21 and in piping the runs between Section 5 and the Power Plant. All the repairs completed last year, including the extensive Cooper Place repairs, have held. General Manager Noel Ellison, who oversaw much of the repair work, said: “Shareholders should understand
Insuring your home against loss from fire, storms, accidents and lawsuits is a necessary cost for any homeowner. Finding the most cost-effective way to buy the best policy available can save a lot of money over the years. In Co-op City, with over 15,000 apartments, nearly 50,000 residents and a large workforce, the cost of insurance is a big component of each year’s budget. Saving money through efficiency and wise shopping for policies is an important role the Risk Management Department fulfills. Under Risk Management Director John Lowe, Riverbay is constantly seeking new ways to keep costs of insurance under control. “Risk Management helps to create a safer environment by identifying and addressing potential hazards working along with the Safety Department,” Lowe said. “The fewer third-party liability claims we have provides us a better loss history for the company. At renewal time, this positive outlook gives Riverbay the best chance to keep increases in insurance policy premiums to a minimum.” One new initiative Lowe completed recently is reducing the costs of cleaning up apartments after flood and fire damage. Riverbay has hired Maxons Restorations to come onsite to clean up both apartments and commercial spaces following a fire or flood. The company professionally cleans the damage with state-ofthe-art equipment and restores the unit, which then allows Riverbay restoration workers to follow them in and finish all the necessary flooring, plastering and painting work. Using Maxons Restorations to do the initial (Continued on page 6) cleanup work cuts down the time frame when the
Bellamy Courts On Track For Late Summer Opening BY JIM ROBERTS
Work is continuing on the new basketball courts under construction in Section 4 on Bellamy Loop and Co-op City basketball players should be shooting and dribbling there during the day and under the lights next month.
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SCRIE Application Assistance Shareholders who need assistance filling out their Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) applications may go to the JASA Main Office, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475 on Friday, August 18 & 25, as well as on Friday, September 8, 15 & 22, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. No appointment necessary; first come, first served. Personnel from LiveOn NY will be on hand on those specific days to assist you with your applications. You must bring copies of all documents to accompany your application. Proof of age (birth certificate, driver’s license, passport or state ID) and proof of income (all pages of 2016 federal tax return, and proof of all other income for 2016 tax year, such as 2016 SSI, pension, interest, dividends, family contributions, capital gains, Public Assistance, budget letter, unemployment, worker compensation) must be provided.
Contractors continue their work to level the site for Co-op City’s new basketball courts in Section 4 in Bellamy Loop last week. Once the site work is completed, the new basketball surfaces will be applied as the project nears completion. The new courts will be lit for evening play and the bleachers will seat 75. Photo by Jim Roberts
The new Bellamy Loop courts will include three regulation courts and new bleachers that can accommodate up to 75 spectators. Heavy trucks and earth-moving equipment continued their work onsite last week and the blacktop work is scheduled for the next two weeks, according to Mark Warren, Riverbay’s director of construction. The electrical work to operate the scoreboard (Continued on page 2)