Vol. 54 No. 45
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Elevator modernization begins in new round of buildings Co-op City’s elevator modernization project is entering the fifth phase as the contractor prepares to address the next round of ten buildings. This project is the largest in Management’s 5-year capital projects plan. The next ten buildings to have their elevators addressed will be Buildings 12, 29B, 22B, 10C, 26B, 35, 20B, 21C, 6 and 13. To prepare for the upcoming elevator shut downs in these buildings, there will be brief electrical disconnect periods between the hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on specific days in each of the buildings. This time period was chosen because it will allow for the morning rush to subside and minimize disruptions to shareholders’ routines. The service interruptions will take place according to the following schedule: Building 12 – Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 Building 29B – Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 Building 22B – Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 Building 10C – Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 Building 26B – Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 Building 35 – Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 Building 20B – Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 Building 21C – Monday, Nov. 18, 2019 Building 6 – Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND
Ad hoc committee members celebrate victory in restoring bus service in Co-op City The temptation to declare victory and depart the field can be great when a specific goal is achieved, and for the Co-op City Ad Hoc Committee on MTA Buses, its specific goal — opposing and counteracting a drastic reduction in public bus service for the community — has been achieved. Be that as it may, there are those who remember and realize just how long a journey the road back to serviceable bussing has been, and the opportunity to relish achievement in a matter related to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is one to which they’ve long looked forward and are savoring now. Ad hoc committee members and Riverbay Board vice presidents Bernard Cylich and Rod Saunders are two such men. “For over nine years, our community has been demanding the full restoration of Bx26 and Bx28. Those bus services were cut in June of 2010,” Mr. Cylich told the Co-op City Times this week. “We rallied – over 600 in Bartow Center in April 2010 and again in Dreiser Center in September and October of that year; demonstrated and picketed in front of MTA headquarters; collected 8,000 signatures for full bus services restoration. The Co-op City delegation delivered those petitions to an MTA board meeting and submitted copies of the same to Kathy Hochul, New York State Lieutenant Governor, at a public meeting in February of last year. All to no avail.” With the 2010 cuts in place long enough to be considered the new normal, the MTA proposed further, more drastic cuts to
BY JASON CHIREVAS
Phase five of the elevator modernization project will result in cabs in the next ten buildings being stripped down to their frames and completely rebuilt with enhanced features, a more contemporary look and illuminated push button panel.
Nov. 5, 2019 election results yield no major upsets in local races (Continued on page 2)
Ballot proposals pass
Local New York State elections held Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 recorded no major upsets and all five ballot proposals easily passed in this historic election where roughly 60,000 residents took advantage of early voting – a first in the state. Incumbent Jumaane Williams won re-election for New York City Public Advocate with 73% of the vote while his Republican challenger, Staten Island Councilmember Joe Borelli, received 25%. As for Bronx County, incumbent Darcel Clark won re-election for Bronx District Attorney. She ran unopposed. Also on the ballot were five questions and each included potential proposals for changes to the City Charter. With at least 70% of the vote and 80% of precincts reporting, each measure was approved by New Yorkers, according to Ballotpedia. The first ballot question focused on elections, beginning with ranked-choice voting. Essentially, with ranked-choice voting, voters have the choice of ranking five candidates and the candidate who receives a majority of first-choice votes, wins. If there is no majority winner, then one is decided by eliminating the candidate who received the least amount of first-choice votes. Voters who had the eliminated candidate as their first choice then have their vote transferred over to their second choice and this process is continued until only two candidates remain. Once there are only two candidates remaining, the one with the most votes is the winner. The point of this proposal is to effectively eliminate separate run-off primary elections for the offices of Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller. In addition, the first ballot question had a proposal to extend the amount of time between the vacancy of office and a special (Continued on page 4) election for that position. Originally, special elections BY BRANDON ORTIZ
$1.25
(Continued on page 4)
Celebrate Veterans Day in Co-op City with the Commander’s Ball
Veterans in Co-op City will mark Veterans Day 2019 with a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Legion at the Commander’s Ball Sunday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. in room 45 of the Einstein Center. Admission is free. Sponsored by the American Legion Post 1871 in Co-op City, the event will serve not only as commemoration of the end of World War II, but also an opportunity for veterans to look back at the legacy of the American Legion’s 100 year history and to embrace the future of the organization. Commander Adeyemi Toba of Post 1871 encourages all veterans to attend and be recognized for their service. WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE!
Riverbay Corporation & the community centers will be closed on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2019 in remembrance of Veterans Day. For emergency services, please call:
Maintenance: 718-320-3300, press option 2 Public Safety: 718-671-3050