Co-op City Times 12/12/2020

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Vol. 55 No. 50

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Co-op City’s COVID test site now offering Flu vaccine as well

BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND

New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation has announced the availability of Flu shots at patient care sites across New York City, including the COVID test site in Dreiser Center in Co-op City. The Health + Hospitals Corporation, which manages New York City’s public health system, urges all New Yorkers over the age of six months to get the Flu vaccine “to further avoid risks associated with influenza viruses and potential coinfection of COVID-19.” New Yorkers are amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Flu season, which runs from October through May. With the Coronavirus vaccine on the heels of a global release, there’s only one sure way to defend oneself from the “highly contagious” Flu, according to NYC H+H, and that’s by getting the Flu vaccine. Many children and adults worldwide suffer from hospitalizations and sometimes even death due to Flu viruses, making it essential to get yearly vaccinations to protect oneself. Once vaccinated, protection from the Flu can take up to two weeks to be fully effective. Most importantly, not getting vaccinated leaves those most vulnerable at risk for serious illness. According to the CDC: “Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine.” As of now, health experts say there is no evidence that getting a flu vaccine increases your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus. However, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flu shot is critical to get this year to help reduce the risks associated from the Flu and further fight against a potential co-infection of

$1.25

Early Voting for Special Election in the 12th Council District begins today BY BRANDON ORTIZ

Early voting begins today, Saturday, December 12, 2020 for the special election to fill the vacant seat of former Councilman Andy King in the 12th Council District. The early voting period ends Sunday, December 20, but voters have the option to also send in an absentee ballot which can be applied for online at nycabsentee.com. Voters can check the status of their absentee ballot also at nycabsentee.com. December 15 is the last day to postmark an absentee ballot application and the last day to request one online. December 21 is the last day to apply (Continued on page 2)

Holiday lights!

(Continued on page 2)

Trees New York gives back to Co-op City

The three community centers in Co-op City have been decorated and adorned with holiday lights to help usher in the spirit of the holiday season. The Riverbay Grounds department completed decorating the Bartow Center this week in time for the annual Riverbay Tree Lighting Ceremony which was held on Thursday night, Dec. 10, 2020. The event was live streamed on Facebook by the Riverbay Community Relations department. See pg. 5 for more photos from the Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo by John Alexander

Ashleigh Cibelli-Pettus, a former resident of Co-op City, and Operations Manager & Environmental Educator at Trees NY, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “Plant, preserve and protect New York City’s urban forest through education and community participation,” oversaw the planting of new trees around the neighborhood on Thursday, Dec. 10. Thanks to a grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), along with the help of Urban Arborists, Inc., Ms. CibelliPettus and her team planted 37 trees throughout Co-op City. Hit hard by recent storms, Ms. Cibelli-Pettus noticed Co-op City lost many of its trees. She then made it her mission to give back to the community once possible through the grant from NYSERDA, to plant trees in different regions throughout the Bronx, including in Co-op City. She said, “One of my passions is to come back and replant some of the dead and damaged trees here.” Residents can expect to see a variety of newly flowering trees in the Spring, as well as beautiful fall colors in the fall.

Reporting by Toriea McCauseland Photos by John Alexander

Carrying charge increase takes effect January 01, 2021

An Order of the Commissioner of the state Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), dated August 13, 2019, authorized carrying charge increases to be implemented as follows: 1.9% increase effective September 1, 2019 and another 1.9% increase effective September 1, 2020. As is the case worldwide and certainly here in the United States, the Coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted everyone’s life, including the residents of Co-op City. Shareholders experienced loss of incomes as well as devastating impacts on their health and family lives since the pandemic began earlier this year. As a result, in June 2020, the Riverbay Board of Directors, after consulting with the Deputy Commissioner of HCR and his staff, approved emergency resolution #20-23 to defer a 1.9% carrying charge increase which was supposed to have been implemented on September 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. Due to the carrying charge increases, the surcharges based on the 2019 income affidavits, will be adjusted. While the current surcharges may remain the same for some shareholders, others may receive a lower surcharge or no surcharge at all as a result of the carrying charge increase. The upcoming carrying charge increases and new surcharges will be reflected in the January 2021 carrying charge statements. —Riverbay Finance Department


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