Vol. 58 No. 48
Saturday, December 2, 2023
CB #10 to Reschedule Meeting on Cannabis Retail Application for 675 Co-op City Blvd. BY ROZAAN BOONE
The applicant for a cannabis retail license for the property at 675 Co-op City Blvd. in the Peartree Mall cancelled attendance at the Wednesday, Nov. 29th meeting of CB 10’s executive board. Currently, there are two pending cannabis retail applications before the community board. One from Mello Tymes Cannabis Dispensary potentially for the Co-op City Blvd. location, and another from Groovy Vibes for 3395 East Tremont Avenue. Community Board #10 informed Co-op City shareholders about the application for 675 Co-op City Blvd. on Nov. 17, pointing out that although the community board is allowed 30 days to review, the board will most likely seek an extension to deliver their advisory opinion “as per the State of New York Office of Cannabis Management.” Last week, the community board informed stakeholders that a meeting of its executive board would be held on Wednesday, Nov. 29, and although Co-op City shareholders were invited to join the meeting virtually, the community board advised that the Nov. 29th meeting was not a public hearing though the board may entertain some questions from the public. “The public hearing will occur at a later date,” said District Manager Matt Cruz. According to Section 76 of the New York State Cannabis Law, not less than 30 days or more than 270 days before filing an application for licensure as an adult-use dispensary or registered organization adult-use cultivator processor distributor retail dispensary or an on-site consumption licensee, the applicant shall notify the municipality (in this case, the local community board) in which the premises is located of the applicant’s intent to file such an application. “Applicants for a microbusiness authorized (Continued on page 4)
Happy Hanukkah Dec. 7–Dec. 15, 2023
$1.25
Riverbay’s Fiscal Year 23/24 Comprehensive Budget Update Management Report
Marvin L. Walton Riverbay Executive General Manager The budget summary below gives a snapshot of Riverbay Corporation’s Comprehensive Budget vs. actual performance for the first six months, April to September 2023, of Fiscal Year 23/24. (Continued on page 2)
City Provides Update on Severe Mental Illness Plan BY BRANDON ORTIZ
The city provided an update on their plan to address mental illness and homelessness on Wednesday, Nov. 29. New York City Mayor Adams first announced the plan in November of 2022, when he explained that the plan was designed to connect homeless individuals with severe mental illness to the resources they need for a healthy and more stable life. Specifically, the Mayor’s directive gives police officers, outreach workers and other emergency medical personnel legal authority “to provide care to New Yorkers when severe mental illness prevents them from meeting their own basic human needs to the extent that they are a danger to themselves,” according to the Mayor’s Office. On Wednesday, Mayor Adams announced that his plan has helped more than 50 of the top 100 hardest to reach New Yorkers, which is a list of individuals “who have been on the Coordinated Behavioral Health Task Force’s two ‘Top 50’ lists, many of who are known or believed to have severe mental illness,” as explained by the Mayor’s Office. Specifically, the Mayor highlighted how his plan has helped (Continued on page 4)
Bartow Underground Pipe Upgrade
On Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, upgraded underground pipes were installed in front of the Bartow Center to facilitate better drainage and help alleviate flooding conditions that occur outside of the Riverbay administrative office building when it rains heavily. On site were crews from Express Plumbing, the contractor performing the work; and staff from Riverbay Construction and Maintenance departments, and Parking, Leasing & Storage. Photo by Rozaan Boone