Understanding and Combating Elder Abuse Public Safety Report

Elder abuse is a pervasive and deeply troubling issue that affects a significant portion of the global population. As societies age, the vulnerability of older individuals increases, making them susceptible to various forms of mistreatment. As we enter a New Year, we aim to shed light on the different dimensions of elder abuse, exploring its prevalence, types, risk factors, and the crucial steps that must be taken to prevent and address this widespread problem.

mistreatment

Elder abuse encompasses a range of intentional actions or negligence that result in harm or distress to an older person. This mistreatment can manifest in various forms, including physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect. Recognizing the diversity of elder abuse is essential for developing effective prevention strategies and support systems for victims.

Understanding the prevalence of elder abuse is challenging due to underre-

Public Safety Blotter

December 17 – December 23, 2023

December 17, 2023

2440 Hunter Avenue

A cooperator was arrested by an outside agency for assaulting a female. The cooperator was issued a Community Complaint for Anti-Social Behavior by CCPD.

December 18, 2023

120 Bellamy Loop

CCPD responded to a call about a tree that fell on top of an unoccupied vehicle due to high wind conditions. The registered owner was contacted by CCPD and responded to the scene.

140 Elgar Place

CCPD responded to debris flying in the air and landing on the ground due to high winds from a storm. Upon investigation, CCPD observed a terrace to be damaged by the storm with an unauthorized propane gas grill being stored on the terrace. The cooperator was issued a total of four Community Complaints by CCPD.

2063 Bartow Avenue

CCPD responded to RiteAid where a store employee reported that two suspects removed items from the shelves without paying and left the scene in an unknown direction.

120 Aldrich Street

CCPD responded to a call for a group loitering in the 7th floor stairwell. Upon arrival, CCPD observed one male and one female cooperators loitering. While one cooperator resides in the building and the other cooperator resides in another building. A Community Complaint was issued to the residing resident and a second Community Complaint was issued to the cooperator of record for the non-residing resident.

2063 Bartow Avenue

CCPD responded to RiteAid where a store employee reported that a suspect removed a pair of headphones from the shelf without paying and fled the establishment toward the BX12 bus.

100 Benchley Place

CCPD responded to a call about mailboxes that became dislodged from the wall. The United States Postal Service was notified along with Maintenance for repair of the mailboxes.

December 19, 2023

4220 Hutch. River Parkway E.

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was re- moved from in front of his apartment door by an unknown individual.

120 Alcott Place

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from the lobby by the mailbox by an unknown individual.

December 20, 2023

140 Asch Loop

CCPD responded to a call of a suspicious individual riding up and down on the elevators. The suspect was stopped and questioned by CCPD and could not give a reason for being in the building. The suspect was placed under arrest and charged with trespassing.

120 Aldrich Street

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from in front of her apartment door by an unknown individual without her permission and was captured on her Ring camera.

4100 Hutchinson Parkway

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from in front of her apartment door by an unknown individual without her permission.

December 21, 2023

100 Casals Place

A cooperator reported that her confirmed delivered package that was later discovered in the lobby of her building was empty with its contents missing.

December 23, 2023

150 Dreiser Loop

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from the lobby area by an unknown individual without her permission.

4120 Hutch. River Parkway E.

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivery was removed from in front of her apartment door by an unknown individual without her permission.

Side of 21B, Adler Place porting, societal stigma, and a lack of standardized reporting mechanisms. Research suggests that elder abuse occurs across different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and geographic regions. Statistics vary, but it is widely acknowledged that the problem is more pervasive than commonly believed.

A cooperator reported returning to his parked vehicle and observing that various items were removed from the vehicle by an unknown individual without her permission.

4160 Hutch. River Parkway E.

A cooperator reported that a confirmed delivered package was removed from the lobby by an unknown individual without his permission.

Types of Elder Abuse

Physical abuse involves the use of force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. This can include hitting, slapping, pushing, or any form of violence that causes harm to an older person. Signs of physical abuse may include unexplained bruises, fractures, or injuries. Emotional abuse refers to the infliction of mental anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or non-verbal acts. This may involve threats, insults, isolation, or intimidation, leading to emotional suffering. Detecting emotional abuse can be challenging, as the signs may be subtle and include changes in behavior or mood. Financial exploitation occurs when someone misuses or takes advantage of an elderly person’s financial resources for personal gain. This can involve theft, fraud, coercion, or deceptive practices, jeopardizing the financial security of older individuals. Signs of financial exploitation include sudden changes in banking activity, missing funds, or unexplained financial transactions.

Sexual abuse involves non-consensual sexual contact or coercion against an older person. This form of abuse is often underreported due to shame, fear, or cognitive impairments. Signs of sexual abuse may include unexplained genital infections, bruises, or emotional withdrawal. Neglect occurs when caregivers or family members fail to provide the necessary care and support required for an older person’s well-being. This can involve inadequate food, shelter, medical care, or assistance with daily activities. Physical and emotional signs of neglect may include malnutrition, untreated medical conditions, or social withdrawal.

Understanding the risk factors associated with elder abuse is crucial for developing targeted interventions and prevention strategies. Some common risk factors include:

Social Isolation: Older individuals who are socially isolated are more vulnerable to abuse as they may lack a support network or regular contact with others who could identify signs of mistreatment.

Dependency on Caregivers: Elders who are dependent on caregivers for daily activities are at an increased risk of abuse, especially if the caregiver is overburdened, stressed, or lacks the necessary skills and knowledge.

Cognitive Impairment: Conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can increase an individual’s susceptibility to abuse, as they may have difficulty recognizing and reporting mistreatment.

Financial Dependency: Elders who are financially dependent on others are at risk of financial exploitation. This can occur within familial relationships or through scams targeting older individuals.

History of Violence or Trauma: Individuals with a history of violence or trauma, either as victims or perpetrators, may be more prone to engaging in abusive behavior or becoming victims of abuse in later life.

(Continued on page 22)

OPPORTUNITIES AT CO-OP CITY

For informaton on CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES ONLY, please contact: Lenya Garcia at Lgarcia@riverbaycorp.com; and Anatoliy Budnitskiy at abudnitskiy@riverbaycorp.com. Please note: emails should be sent to both partes. Please DO NOT email resumes for EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to the aforementoned emails. For EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, please see below for specific directons.

Contract Opportunities

There are no contract opportunites to list this week. Please check back.

Employment Opportunities

For employment opportunites, please search “Riverbay Corporaton” at the following sites: www.Indeed.com • www.Glassdoor.com

Candidates may review full positon descriptons and apply at either site

Current Riverbay employees should submit a transfer request and resumé directly to the HR department.

Thank you for your interest in working for Riverbay Corporaton.

We reviewed a lot of resolutions during our board meeting on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Now, do I think that the resolutions that we voted on were good for our community? Well, you be the judge.

Resolutions With Terrible Solutions

According to NYS law, “Virtually all employers must provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides cash benefits and/or medical care for workers who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job.”

In 1914, the NYS Insurance Fund was established “to guarantee the availability of workers’ compensation and disability insurance with the lowest possible cost to New York employers while maintaining a solvent fund.”

Now, please go slow and read this next section carefully. Ready? Employers can easily go online, get quotes, and then purchase insurance from the NYS Insurance Fund. Thereafter, again, they are guaranteed to get the lowest possible cost for insurance

So, based on these facts, can other insurance companies compete with the NYS Insurance Fund in terms of insurance costs? No! Therefore, does it make sense to go out and spend a lot of money on a broker to get quotes from other insurance companies? No!

Well, take a guess what Riverbay did. That’s right, Riverbay hired a broker “to conduct a marketing program for the renewal of our Workers’ Compensation policy.” Then, this broker went out and compared the rates from other insurance to the rates from the NYS Insurance Fund. Thereafter, take a guess what this broker did. Well, he recommended that Riverbay buy insurance from the NYS Insurance Fund.

Amazing, huh? Yes. But, we’re not finished with this incredible transaction. You see, we had our last board meeting of the year on December 20, 2023. And, our present insurance policy was going to expire on December 31, 2023. So, there was only a very short period of time to renew our insurance policy. Plus, get this, this broker was going to make $82,500 just from this outrageous transaction.

Regardless, the majority of the board voted yes to approve this transaction. And, I voted no to send a message about this extremely bad way of conducting business here.

Bottom line: What are your thoughts about this transaction and this $82,500 broker fee? How do you feel about getting a carrying charge increase on April 1, 2024 and your money being wasted in this way?

Sidewalk Contractors

Riverbay has an obligation under the Mitchell-Lama regulations to include minority and wom- en-owned businesses in reference to our contracts. So, why aren’t minorities and women-owned businesses receiving big contracts here?

For instance, a $600,000 contract was just approved for a contractor to repair our sidewalks. So, Riverbay should publish a response and let this community know if minority and women-owned businesses were considered for this project.

Bottom line: Look, as a minority, there is no way that I will support this type of nonsense to go on in our community. Furthermore, I believe that our cooperators should speak out when they see that we don’t have a sufficient number of contracts being awarded to minority and women-owned businesses.

Can minority and women-owned businesses repair a sidewalk? Of course! So, the big issue is why are these types of contracts going forward and getting approved? Please think about this matter.

Deferred Equity Program – Discontinued on January 1, 2024

Effective January 1, 2024, the Deferred Equity Program will be cancelled. Now, when you really think about it, you have to ask yourself some big questions: Why does a housing company that makes $273 million a year need this type of program here? If housing companies are not supposed to touch this money, then does it make sense to charge a lot of money for the use of an apartment?

Is the apartment fee of $7,500 per room too high? Does it make sense for a housing company to burden their shareholders down with paying monthly carrying charges plus a large payment for a Deferred Equity Plan? In my opinion, the answer is no.

Similar to other co-ops, prospective shareholders must be able to pay a fee that they can afford for the use of an apartment. Thereafter, they should be able to comfortably pay their monthly carrying charges. If not, then applicants should consider other possible housing options. But, the most important concept to understand is that we should never set applicants up to fail on their payments.

Board Meeting Chaos

On May 26, 2023, the Riverbay Election Committee issued a $1,000 total fine against five board candidates that called themselves the Impact Team. And, the charge

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• was that two individuals acted on their behalf and passed out flyers in a building after the cutoff time of 10 p.m.

Well, during this current meeting, several directors exchanged words over this matter. So, without any order in the room, this meeting was abruptly adjourned. Then, several directors walked out of the room.

Thank you. Close

There will be lots of parties tonight. However, please do not drink and drive a vehicle. Lastly, I hope that everyone will have a Happy New Year.

Thank you.

Contact Information

Please send a letter to: Board Director Daryl Johnson, Riverbay Corporation, 2049 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475. Currently, here is my ONLY email account: djohnson@riverbayboard. com

I will never ask for or accept money from anyone. Therefore, please do not respond to any message with my name on it that requests money, money transfers, gift cards, personal information, or anything from you. And, please do not ever send money or anything to anyone because you saw my name on a false message.

Also, please call me ONLY at 718-671-4544 if you would like to have a brief discussion with me. And, please hang up your phone immediately if someone calls you and says that they’re Daryl Johnson or is associated with me and asks you for money or anything else.

Okay, that’s it for now. So, please have a wonderful week. And, may God bless you and your family. Thank you.

Broun Place Townhouse Association

Hi neighbors, happy new year to you and season’s greetings to all our neighbors. Broun Place cooperators have created a winter wonderland on their patios. They are truly looking holiday sparkly. Broun Place Townhouse Association has also collected a holiday gift for our hardworking Grounds department staff. Neighbors, thank you for your generous donations. We extended our schedule to complete collection as of December 27. We also gave to the Holiday Toy Drive sponsored by CCPD. A photo was published in last week’s Co-op City Times showing President Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar submitting the donation

The document coming through the United States mail service warning you that your “home warranty” is expiring is phony. If you get that piece of mail, ignore it. Co-op City apartments don’t have such a thing.

After being cooperators in Broun Place since 1996, we learned CSO installs safety bars on bathroom walls over the tub. This is great news for those of us over 65 years old. We are getting these hand bars. The bars using suction hold well, but the bars permanently attached are even more secure.

Please note, a new light and new signage has been placed designating the north and south lane entries to I-95 off Pelham Parkway West, plus each has a light. In this way, traffc is controlled. Pay attention and drive carefully. The rain fooded the road to City Island but by the time this is published, the road to City Island should be viable, perhaps even repaired. Changes and updates need to be communicated to Bronxites. Signage is minimal, scarce, and hard to see.

Share your tidings and remembrances here in your townhouse article. Just submit a note to our mailbox and it will be included. Broun Place Townhouse cluster is seeking Broun Place residents to serve on our executive board. Our executive committee is Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar, president; Vivian Burrus, vice president, and Lillian Richardson, treasurer. Join, be part of the Broun Place Association.

An email has been sent to Riverbay Corporation regarding the need for more frequent garbage collection in the Bartow Mall. This needs to be professionally kept up and looking good, especially during the holiday. The basketball court and gutters around Bellamy Loop also need to be swept more regularly. Regarding garbage bins in the dumpster pad, they are assigned as follows: the white bin is paper, the blue and green are designated for house garbage, plastic and glass. Read the signs! Mattress disposal requires covering them to the dumpster pad.

Neighbors, please don’t walk while talking on your cell phones. Parents, teach your children to look before crossing. We are having too many close calls with kids running into the streets, especially at the basketball court. Read the Co-op City Times for our news. Hoping for healthier days for all.

—Eva Kindaichi-Lazaar

Building 13 Association

Today — Holiday Party: The time has come for us to Eat, Drink and Be Merry. This event held after Christmas but before the New Year is our “After and Before” party. Join us on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 7 p.m. with music by DJ VAL in the Association Room. We welcome donations of dishes, desserts and sodas. We just ask that you let us know prior to the event to prevent many duplications. Come get some delicious mac and cheese, candied yams, turkey wings, chicken and oxtails, just to name a few items…while it lasts!

Current world events bring to mind a song we wish for the world, (out of context): Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me, Let There Be Peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

The only way we can have peace in our world is to start with peace in our selves.

Happy New Year to all.

Thank you to Santa and Wendell Mattison for visiting our lobby, taking pictures with the youth and distributing gifts. Hope you were on the Nice list. (See page 13 of this issue for pictures.)

FYI – We have had several attempts by Management to fx our door. Although they are successful, usually another problem arises. They are aware we are currently having more problems with the lobby entrance door. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Building 13 Election: Nomination for offces shall take place at the regular Membership Meeting in February. The Election shall be at the regular Membership Meeting in March. The newly elected offcers’ terms shall commence April 1st following installations and shall be for a term of two years. Guidelines for Eligibility and Election for offce is currently posted on the bulletin board.

The FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit reminds us that the winter holidays are a time for everyone to be aware and take precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones from fres. Make sure to keep burning candles away from curtains, lampshades, blankets, and other fammable objects. Space heaters must be kept no less than three feet away from bedding, drapes, and Christmas trees. If you are using a space heater or air conditioner, make sure to never use extension cords for large appliances. Candles should always be kept away from the reach of children. Stay safe!

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.” –Cesar Chavez

Visit our Facebook Page at: Building 13 Association Inc.–Co-op City. Our website is http://www.bldg13assoc.com or e-mail us at building13assoc@yahoo.com. Contacts: Leslie Peterson, president, at 718-320-1370, or Wendell Mattison, V.P., at 917-330-1380. Thank you for supporting our team.

—Leslie Peterson

Black Forum of Co-op City

Emergency Food Pantry: 920 Baychester Ave., Bldg. 1A (basketball court). The pantry is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:00 a.m.12:45 p.m. for grocery distribution. Guests are eligible to pick up food once a month. Look at the last date on your pantry card. The next pick up would be one month from the last pick up or after. It is a 30/31-day rotation, on average. Black Forum will text registered guests if items outside of regular distribution become available. All guests must present a pantry card to receive food. Remember to bring at least 4-6 clean shopping bags with a handle and a shopping cart. Please do not bring black shopping bags since they pose a health hazard. We require guests to wear masks when visiting the pantry.

Section 5 guests should visit the Co-op City United Methodist Church at 2350 Palmer Avenue to pick up groceries. They open on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Religious affliation is not necessary to receive food.

New Client Registration & Re-Certifcation For Returning Guests: The period of registration and re-certifcation is January 4 through April 2024. Guests must be 18 years or older to apply or recertify. The required identifcation is as follows: NYC I.D. (zip code 10475), NY State Driver’s license, or NY State Non-Driver’s license. Passports, Medicaid and Medicare cards, employment identifcation, and Access-A-Ride identifcation are not accepted. At the time of registration or recertifcation, every member of the household must be present and produce valid identifcation. Every member of the household needs to have the same 10475 address. The intake forms will only include the number of household members who are able to show up in person at the offce. Those living in Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 will register or recertify at the 920 Baychester Avenue location. Those living in Section 5 will register or recertify at the 2350 Palmer Avenue location.

Holiday Closures: On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, the pantry will be closed. We will reopen on Thursday, January 4.

Upcoming Events: In 2024, Black Forum will sponsor an exciting season of events! This is a preview of what’s to come – Saturday, February 17: Winds Creek Casino, Bethlehem, PA; Saturday, April 20: Black Eyed Sally Southern Cajun Kitchen & Bar then MGM Casino; Saturday, June 8: Caesars Atlantic City Casino, NJ; Saturday, August 17: The Nordic then Foxwoods Resort Casino, CT; Saturday, October 19: Black Eyed Sally Southern Cajun Kitchen & Bar then MGM Casino. We’ll have more details about each event soon.

The Emergency Food Pantry has been feeding the community for more than thirty years, and all profts go toward supporting this effort through the Black Forum of Co-op City organization. We sincerely appreciate your unwavering support.

Contact Us: coopcityblackforum@gmail.com

—D. Illis

Leslie Peterson

“Let There be Peace on Earth…”

Happy New Year, Co-op City.

Current world events bring to mind a song I wish for the world, “Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be.” It goes on to say, let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. The only way we can have peace in our world is to start with ourselves, let it begin within you and spread abroad. Again, with that being said, let me extend continued Seasons Greetings to all for a wonderfully fulfilling New Year.

Cannabis Dispensary: In January 2024, a licensed cannabis business is seeking a lease for the outparcel property, former Chase Bank located at 675 Co-op City Blvd. near Peartree Avenue, across from Building 13 and across from the offgrounds Riverbay garbage compound. Tentatively scheduled for January 4, 2024, a Public Hearing will be held regarding the establishment to be operated by “Mello Tymes,” a location I believe currently zoned at C4-1. Is the space still under lease by Chase, mentioned by the business owner or available for lease by the property owner? I am concerned that directly across from the requested location, so close, is a residential building. There is concern from the community because of its close proximity to our buildings and youth and additionally about the possible influx of yet more traffic around and about Co-op City.

Selecting a Bay Plaza location would provide them more security, more foot traffic and still provide access to the community they claim they want to be involved in. We all know how problematic our public transportation is when coming home, so just who is the intended store seeking to be their market purchasers? We were told that the recent meeting was not for the benefit of questions from the public. In the interest of useful dialogue, we recently were able to listen to the owners. Hopefully,

Building 8 Association

Greetings, hoping everyone enjoyed their holiday season.

We would like to thank the shareholders who volunteered to sit in the lobby for donations for the porters’ holiday season. We were able to collect $1200.

We are also thankful that a shareholder posted jobs and events happening in our community.

We need more shareholders to get involved in the Building Association for 2024.

Wishing everyone a happy New Year!

—Azalea McDavid

the community will avail themselves the opportunity to be heard at the scheduled public hearing in January and some of the questions asked, but not answered in the “Chat” on the virtual, can be answered.

Deferred Equity: Recently, the Riverbay Board voted to discontinue the deferred equity program for new shareholders. Banks, once finding they cannot use Riverbay units as collateral upon approving a loan, were not as generous in approving loans. In fact, most had to take out personal loans. Historically, this is a process that Black and Brown people have dealt with for years. The deferred equity did give a younger demographic the ability to purchase an affordable housing unit in a beautiful community.

During a Residential Sales Committee meeting, the discussion around this topic presented the possibility of raising the deferred equity amount from the current 35% to 50% and only offering the deferred if the purchaser shows in good faith, they were unable to secure a loan for their full equity. At the same time, it is understandable that it may be more prudent if we do not play the role of a banker. We will monitor sales and vacancies and act accordingly should the need arise. Through conversation, we were reminded Co-op City was built to be affordable housing to moderate- and middle-income families.

In the interim, we want to increase our productivity, restoring units so that we can get to a place where we are showing units that are for sale, fully restored and ready for occupancy.

Sales and Upgrades: There are many shareholders who have made very beautiful and expensive upgrades to their unit. Last year, we discussed allowing new purchasers the ability to accept those upgrades prior to them being removed from a move out unit. We are going to ask again that this be considered with the proper legal documentation letting the new purchase owner know that they will sign an assumption lease indicating their financial responsibility should they decide to keep the former resident’s upgrades.

Another thing that was discussed was giving shareholders in occupied units the ability to purchase the upgrades being offered in the restored units currently being sold. The hope is that while there will be a cost, it will be less than outside vendors because many of the Riverbay upgrade items are being purchased at bulk rates. Last year, we were not able to complete the request due to illness and election activities and new Management. We hope to get some answers and movement now.

Reparations: The Reparations and Remedies Community Act Bil S1163A, passed in June was signed by Governor Hochul on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023. Many are not aware but second only to South Carolina in ‘The Peculiar Institution” as slavery was called, was New York. Yes, the second largest slave market in the country was in New York City. Slavery existed both in the north and in the south, at times in equal measure. The United States economy is proven to thrive off of the institution of slavery since the beginning of American History.

By signing into effect this Bill, New York State will empower communities to actively participate in shaping the essential path forward toward unity and healing. While most feel we do not need to study the history of slavery, it is important to begin the process and erase misinformation that many think absolve New York and northern states.

Thank you to everyone who made a call, sent an e mail, letter or signed petitions. Together, we made a difference.

“You cannot add more minutes to the day, but you can utilize each one to the fullest.” –Menachem Mendel Schneerson

I am pleased to be of service to the community. I can be reached by e-mail at lpeterson@riverbayboard.com.

Mission Statement: Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. Known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), it profoundly affected the struggle for civil rights and the course of 20th Century American History.

Season’s Greetings and Peace on Earth, Happy and Healthy New Year to all.

Branch T-shirt Fundraiser begins January 2024, link to follow.

Update – The Reparations and Remedies Community Act Bill S1163A was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday, December 19th. Thank you to everyone who made a call, sent an email, letter or signed petitions. Together, we made a difference.

NYS Conference 1st Quarterly Meeting – Saturday, January 13, 2024,10:00 a.m. at the UFT office, 52 Broadway, NY. Members attending, please submit names by January 8th.

Youth Scholarship: The Bronx Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has published their 2024 Youth Scholarship. Applications must be postmarked by February 23rd, 2024. Please share this with anyone you know who may need it. You can find out more by contacting scholarship@dstbx.org

Voting: This election season, we hold the most powerful tool to make democracy work for Black Americans: our vote. The issues that affect our community will make or break how we continue to thrive in this country. We can fix America’s broken democracy, VOTE. For more information on the NAACP’s work to mobilize Black voters, visit naacp.org/vote.

NAACP Office hours – The office is closed for the holiday and will reopen January 3, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-noon. Commemorative Pins and Journals available to purchase.

Follow us on Facebook: Co-op City NAACP.Become a member, gift a membership or upgrade your membership. Join the NAACP to help us do the work. We march to defend democracy. Take your advocacy further by joining in the fight for our sacred right to vote. Annual Adult: $30, & Youth: $10, or Silver Life: $750. Make check/money order payable to: NAACP Co-op City. Mail to:NAACP Co-op City, 135 Einstein Loop, Room 36, Bronx, N.Y. 10475 To leave a message, call the office phone at: 718-320-3210 or email: naacpccity2210@gmail.com or naacpcoopbb@yahoo.com

––Brenda Brown

Building 10 Association

Greetings, fellow cooperators.

New Cooperators – Welcome, all new cooperators. We look forward to seeing you at the next General Membership meeting.

7th Annual Holiday Gift Drive – The 7th annual holiday shelter gift drive was a huge success. Because of your generous donations, we were able to give a gift to every child in the shelter. A special thank you to everyone who donated their bottles to the gift drive. Although we were restricted from purchasing large items due to the shelter’s rules, we were able to purchase fve tablets which we raffed off and many smaller items to ensure we had enough gifts for all the children. Thanks again.

Holiday Gift Collection for Building 10 Staff – The Building 10 Association executive board would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all who contributed to this year’s holiday gift collection for our Building 10 staff. We also thank those who gave generously of their time and energy in support of this effort. Again, thank you!

Ladies Night – Ladies night will be held on January 12, 2024 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. in the Association Room located in the rear of 120 Debs Place. Come out for some laughter and fun. Light refreshments will be served.

If You See Something, Say Something – For emergencies, call Co-op City Public Safety at 718-671-3050 and NYPD at 911. For non-emergencies, call 311. You can also contact CCPD at their anonymous tips hotline: 718-879-6311.

Suicide Prevention – If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or in emotional distress, the number to call for help is 988; you can call or text. Someone is available 24 hours a day.

Questions, Comments and Suggestions – You can contact the Building 10 Association via email at Building10Assoc@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook, “Building 10 “ABC” Association.” Like our page and get notifed of all the happenings in and around Building 10.

We would like to wish all who are born this month an incredibly happy birthday. Celebrating an anniversary this month? Happy Anniversary!!!

To the homebound and sick, we wish you a speedy recovery. To all who have lost a loved one recently, we offer our deepest condolences.

“Be nice to the environment. Be nice to animals. Be nice to people. If you do that, you will leave a mark on the world.” ―Enock Maregesi

Have a wonderful week.

––Jewel Crawford-Duncan

Building 6 Association

Happy Saturday, neighbors. This Holy Day Season has taught us to refect and sprinkle kindness implementing the spirit of Christmas and the traditions of Kwanzaa. On Friday, Dec. 22, the Bldg. 6 Association presented the four porters with their holiday bonuses of which the generous amount collected will be disclosed at the next Association meeting in January.

On Christmas Eve in the Association Room, we had a holiday mixer where neighbors gathered together sharing stories of their living in Co-op City, feasting on the delicious spread provided by Mr. & Mrs. Charles Michie, President Lassiter, Mrs. Joan Murrell; sodas and water donated by Mrs. Etheline Brown, bags of ice donated by Ms. Zo Halton and Mrs. Jackie Paris. Mz. Janine Thomas distributed toys to the building’s children. We want to give a round of applause to Mr. Frank Senior for crooning us with some Holiday Standards. Many thanks to Michael Medina, Jaimie Gilliard; V.P. Gilliard for serving the food to the neighbors. When the mixer was over, treasurer Simon Jaimie G. helped assist the cleanup. Expect many more soirées as we work hard to build this building back better.

In closing, we embark on a new year in a few days. The Building 6 Association wishes everyone great health, happiness and prosperity, and remember, optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. I pray safety over all. God Speed.

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. –Archbishop Desmond Tutu —Lauren K. Lassiter