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Vol. 55 no. 34
Saturday, august 22, 2020
$1.25
Installation of Boiler #2 in Riverbay Power Plant is now complete Since 2012, Riverbay’s Power Plant has had its share of issues to deal with when it came to replacing Boiler #2, as the boiler was deemed uncompliant by local and state government agencies. Fast forward several years, new personnel, contractors, new management, and many challenges later – Riverbay finally gets its win in the matter. On August 4, 2020, Riverbay received a letter of completion from the Bronx Borough Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for Boiler #2, also known as the Victory boiler. The letter was the final approval needed from the DOB in a long and complicated installation process. According to Riverbay’s Executive General Manager Bob Klehammer, when he first arrived at Co-op City four years ago, the boiler was still shrinkon august 4, 2020, riverbay’s Power Plant received letter of com- wrapped and stored in the Power pletion for Boiler #2 from the Bronx Borough Commissioner of the Plant’s backyard for over a year. Mr. By toriea McCauSeLand
new york City department of Buildings.
Photo courtesy of Riverbay’s Power Plant
Landscape improvements begin in Section 5
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Fines could become reality for those ignoring face mask ordinances By Brandon ortiz
Riverbay Corporation is continually committed to the effort of maintaining a sanitary and safe environment for all shareholders, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an equally important responsibility of self-monitoring on shareholders as well. Currently, it is mandated by Governor Cuomo that masks must be worn in common areas in residential buildings in addition to public spaces. As it concerns Co-op City specifically, common areas include laundry rooms, elevators and community centers, to name a few. The Co-op City Times has been publishing reminders to shareholders about the mask ordinance in effect for everyone’s protection because of increased reports of masks not being worn and some becoming confrontational when asked by fellow shareholders to wear one. Reminders are also on the Riverbay (Continued on page 2)
USPS: Mail-In or Absentee Ballot will count By Brandon ortiz
Completion of Local Law 11 work on Buildings 26, 30 and 31 in Section 5 has resulted in removal of scaffolding and sidewalk bridging from around these buildings and Section 5 shareholders will soon see marked improvement in their landscape. Mike ambo, director of the riverbay Grounds department, reported this week that his staff, supplemented over the last several weeks by about 40 community interns, will completely revamp the curb appeal of the area. “We will be removing any and all damaged trees and shrubs from these areas,” said Mr. ambo. “in addition, we will be removing some of the old pine trees that have been there for decades creating an unsightly picture and replacing them with better looking, flowering trees and shrubs. a deep pruning will be done throughout the areas surrounding these three buildings. after the clean-up is complete, new trees and hedges will be planted, all flower beds and gardens will be given a facelift and the chain and post fencing in certain areas will be removed and replaced with beautiful hedges, and most of the damaged or weed infested lawns will be turned over and re-seeded.” although this project has already begun at Building 31, it is expected to continue into Spring 2021. Photo by Grounds Dept.
Recent turmoil surrounding the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its financial situation has many Americans worried about whether their mail-in or absentee ballots would be counted this fall. In a press release posted Tuesday on the USPS website, President Trump appointee, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, tried to reassure Americans that, “the Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall.” DeJoy went on to say in the press release on the USPS website, “I want to assure all Americans of the following: “Retail hours at Post Offices will not change, mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are, no mail processing facilities will be closed and we reassert that overtime [for employees] has, and will continue to be, approved as needed.” There is no indication, however, that DeJoy will remedy the removal of blue mail collection boxes and more than 670 mail sorting machines that have already been removed from postal offices throughout the country, predominantly in critical (Continued on page 4)
Census takers begin door-to-door visits
Census takers are canvassing the community to reach those who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. Responding to the census is simple and safe. It is also the law! (See page 9 for more information.)