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Vot 13 No. 10
15 cents
Saturday, Feb:rœry 16, 1900
52 pages
State sets te for rent hike hearin The State Housing Division has set March Tl as the tentative date for a hearing on proposed rent increases for Co-op City residents. Acting upon a request by Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Robert Steves, the Division ordered the hearing as a preliminary step towards eventual increases. Steves applied for a rent increase request late last month after negotiations with Riverbay proved fruitless. The HF A has asked for a series of increases over a five year period which would have amounted to more than 70 percent. Riverbay, however, has stuck to its request that the State adhere to the concept of a twelve percent increase over a· three
period which Governor Carey himself endorsed just last year. Negotiations between Riverbay and the State, though, have not stopped and Goldman this week left sorne hope for a negotiated settlement, saying ongoing talks "may make the (rent increase hearing) meaningless .. '' Riverbay President Charles Parness two weeks ago stated that "political reality" indicates that the twelve percent figure is dead. He said the Riverbay negotiating team, comprised of several Board members, "will continue to seek a program of rent stability that the residents can afford and a comprehensive plan of construction defect repairs." Expressing some optimism, Parness added "In the long run, we shall prevail." - MPG
Kau anseekstorestore ucation funding adult
re , % rent By Peter Grad Co-op City residents demonstrated at two Manhattan sites last Wednesday to publicize their demands that the State honor its previous commitments to restrict any forthcoming rent hike to twelve percent and to support legislative financing of extensive construction defects. Several dozen members of the Coordinating Council of Committees (CCC) and the Council of Community Organizations (COCO) marched peacefully in front of Governor Carey's Manhattan offices at 56th Street and
Board Meeting Time Delayed The Boo.rd of Directors meeting scheduled for this Wednesday, Febnm.ry 20, wm begin at 8 p.m. instead of 7 p.m, as origimHy anooooS d, fu allow the Boo.rdfu meet in executive session before the genen.I meeting.
Centen Closed AH Commwüty Centers and the Admmistratiooand Mamteœooe offices will be closed
oo Moods.y, February 18 for Washington's birthday. Only emergency service will be
available.
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Goldman said he "appreciates" the cooperators' concerns and said he would bring the petitions to the governor's attention. One of the demonstration organizers explained the rally's purpose was to "reinforce" the community sentiment for adherence to the 12 percent rent hike concept. "The twelve percent figure will remain alive as long as people talk about it and actively support it," said Mitch Berkowitz, a COCO executive member. "If we stop talking twelve percent, then it dies." - Demands oot amrea.soœble Berkowitz said "the twelve percent figure is not unreasonable," recalling that cooperators were subjected to a 20 percent rent hike Tl months ago. "Adding to that increase an We can'"f·,:a,U~;d8®% additiona! twelve percent would As he turned the petitions over surpass the rise in costs due to to Goldman, Co-op City Council inflation," Berkowitz said. Financial Secretary Carl Trost •'We 're going to continue fighting stated "We can't afford the enoroutrageous increases and with mous increases being asked of us 55,000 people we can win." by the Housing Finance Agency Riverbay President Charles to the tune of 80 percent and we Parness recently suggested that won't pay those increases." "although we'd like to see the Trost said Co-op City residents twelve percent figure accepted," are willing to pay their fair it appears to be "politically unshare, . but he noted that rents achievable" due to economic have virtually doubled since the conditions. early 1970's. "The members of the legisla"After all we've paid, for the ture must answer to their constíHFA to now ask for a 70 percent (Continood on page S) increase is wrong," Trost said.
Avenue of the Americas while a similar number appeared at Citibank headquarters at 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Citibank was targeted because it is the trustee for Co-op City's bondholders. Several officers stood guard at the governor's office as the noontime demonstration proceeded. Demonstrators also turned over petitions with over 10,000 signatures to Acting Housing Commissioner Jay Goldman. The petitions outlined four demands: a reiteration of the 12 percent/3 year rent hike limit, state financing of defect repairs, maintenance of current service levels and a reaffirmation by Governór Carey of his position on the Engel-Bernstein rent cap bill. . ~,.
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By Peter Grad Councilman Stephen Kaufman has announced he will seek to reverse a Board of Education directive which could force the shutdown of adult education programs throughout the city when he meets with Schools Chancellor Frank Macehiarola some time next week. A telegram issued by Deputy Executive Director of High Schools Mal Cutler two weeks ago to all adult education program directors stated that the Board of Education will no longer pay salaries for custodians who work for the evening centers. Thus, adult education programs, which are funded entirely by class registration fees, would have to substantially boost those fees to pay the $300,000 custodial salary tab or else terminate their programs. The sudden announcement left · many directors bewildered and. so far, centers have remained opln. Councilman Kaufman empha-
sized that the adult education programs, as wen as recreation centers for youths also affected by the order, are all self-sustaining. "Approximately $100,000 in custodial fees is needed to keep the centers in the Co-op City area functioning," Kaufman said. "In light of the Board of Education's $3 billion plus budget, an expenditure of this kind does not seem out of line." The programs offer a wide variety of courses in such subjects as English, psychology, art, dance, electronics, typing and secretarial skills courses. According to North Bronx Adult Education Center Principal Dr. Nieto, such programs "are important to community life." "These centers play a vital role in saving New York," Nieto said. "We're offering adults an opportunity to educate themselves, prepare for jobs and to better themselves within their family (Continued on page 3)
Inside this week Last call for window guards NCNW Brotherhood Program Sunday Monitoring our money: Ríverbay's accountants at work ;
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President's Report .•••••. page 2 Senior Topics .•..•.•.••••. page 38 Letters ro the Emfu:r •••• page 6 Bulletin Boo.rd•.•••••.•.•. page .39 Manager's Desk .•••.•.••. page 8 Happenings .••.••.••...••• page 40 Consumers Come:r••••••. page 12 This Week •..•.•..••••.••. page 44t Focus •.•••..•.••.•...•.•••. page 22 Religious News••.•.•.•••• page U Metroviews •••••••.••••.•• page 23 F.n.te:rœl ••••••••••••••••• page 44 Ed Pa:rk News..•••••.•••• page 32 Sports •.•••.•.•••••.••.•••• pa.ge 48 Classifieds •••.•.•••••.••.•
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