I :
Inside: &ani adopts new :refrigemtø:r plan •..... page 2
local officiais ren Stare of coostmction woos.. page 3
15œnts
Satmday, Feb:ma:ry 9, 1980
YAC maral captures spirit of youth
page 21
li • IS By Peter Grad
Riverbay Attorney Matthew Lifflander charged that Co-op City residents are the "disaster victims" of a "$100 million scandal" brought about by the improper site selection for the community's construction and "a massive failure of construction supervision" by State agencies, contractors and officials. In remarks before an Assembly Sub-Committee on Mitchell-Lama Housing which is examining construction problems in Co-op City, Lifflander declared that the selection of "filled-in
marshland" as the site for Co-op City "will probably turn out to be the worst single decision in the the history of the American construction industry." Lifflander outlined several areas of construction defects which have cost Ríverbay management over $.5 million to repair . over the last two years. The attorney was one of several witnesses called to testify before the assembly panel which, conducted hearings by City Hall for nearly seven hours last Friday. Also appearing before the
ousing head questions State blame for Ric Wil Ills
scan
committee were Acting Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR)Commissioner Jay Goldman, Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Director Robert Steves, Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon, Councilman Stephen Kaufman and several Co-opCity cooperators. HousingDivision responsible Armed with several dozen photographs of flagrant construction deficiencies and summaries of the toll such defects have had on the community, Lifflander declared Co-op City residents "have been plagued by structural defects for a d~cade" and now face the burden of paying for re-
Riverboy Attomey Matthew Lifflander displays photo' of construction defect site at Assembly Mitchell-loma hearing. Photo was taken from videotape of proceedings.
Steves asks 'clear policy' r State defects funding
pairs. The attorney spoke of crum-
tlement but that such a practice By Perer Grad is "inconsistent" with HFA Housing Finance Agency Exblingboiler piers, corroded water corporation resolutions. ecutive Director Robert Steves line systems, faulty rooftops and "It is presumptuous for the called upon the State legislature inefficient brickwork, an of to establish a "clear policy" of HFA to continue to fund such Acting Housing Commissioner held at City Hall offices last F,ri- which he said would not have repairs through ad hoc, back Jay Goldman said last week that day. occurred had there been proper funding construction defect re- door means," Steves asserted. pairs for Mitchell-Lama projects Co-op City's problems with faulty supervision by the Division of "What is needed is a workable at a housing committee hearing Co-op City's 32 mile underrooftops and its underground Housing. legislative program which will last week. water system can be attributed to ground Ric-WH system, which Zeroing in on power plant deSpeaking before the Assembly definitively define State policy provides water for kitchen and improper maintenance on the fects, Lifflander said "Our engi- Mitchell-Lama Sub-committee (Continuedon page 12) part of Riverbay rather than to bathroom sinks, and carries neering consultants tell us that last Friday during a day-long freezing water in the summer for faults in construction. the concrete in the piers holding hearing, Steves said continued air conditioning and hot water The commissioner's comments our 90 ton boilers does not meet State financing of Ríverbay's during winter months for heatdrew some jeers and laughter test standards," He explained debt service charges (withheld Centen Closed for from an audience of Mitchell- ing, requires insulation to prethat while piers were supposed to mortgage payments) would be vent corrosion. Larna cooperators as he testified be able to withstand 3,000 pounds "highly irresponsible" and said Unmln 's Birthday In recent years, however, the before the Assembly Mitchellsuch a practice "seriously hurts (Continœd on page 14) (Contim:øed on page 45) Larna Sub-Committee hearings AU Community Centers will the credit of the HFA." be closed on Tuesday, FebruUnder the Statement of Unders.ry 12 and Monday, Febma:ry standing which ended Co-op 18 for Lioooln's and WashingCOMMUNITY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT City's rent strike in 1977, Rivert.on's Birthdays. bay . was allowed to deduct exThe Administration and penses for construction defects MamreœnS offices will also from its monthly mortgage paybe closed on Monday, Febmments to the HFA. Such deficits ary.18 fo:r Washmgt.on'sbirthwere made up to the HF A by day. state appropriations, known as Becaase of the holiday, "moral obligation" funding. deadline for the February 23 Steves said the HFA had acted 'iBle of the Co-opCity Times as an interim financier for the will be Friday, February lá at construction defects as part of 5p.m. the court sanctíoræd strike set-
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D AT CAREY'S
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RATi FFICE, CITIB
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Wednesday, February 13 at 12:30 P.M.
Cooperator tax deduction - 1979
HERE'S WHAT WE SAID. HERE'S WHAT WE MEANT. Help deliver the 1 O, 000 petitions you signed Buses leave at 10:30 PM Bartow Center at library Einstein Center at Co-op Market Dreiser Center at Amalgamated Bank
PETITION
l98C
WHEREAS the people of co-op City bave· endured close to 1001 in rent increases since 1970, and vhereH the people of ~ City ho.ve endured construction defects which have made our financial picture poorer than it· is presently and 'HBEREAS, we reject as callous indefensible .and wholly unacceptable, the Housing Pina.nee At¡encyefforts to !'mtiosea 701 rent increase over a. 3-yeer period. THEREFORE, Be it ReBolvcd that the underai9'f'OO, united in our determination to keep our homes and to maintain an integrated and viable community,· hereby demand the following:-
a,
RENT INCREASES NO HIGHER THAN 121 OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD
2,
PAYMENT OF J\LL CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS BY THE STATE NO REDOC'l'ION IN SERVICES GOVERNOR CAREY itEAFPlRM HIS POSITION ON BILL fSl 735
3. 4.
If you're in midtown during lunch hour, join your neighbors at Carey's· office (56th St. and 6th Ave.) and Citibank (53rd St. and lex. Ave.). !Buses will return after the Rally.
Jlt.NOABr
Nl\ME
Dear Stockholder: The Internal Revenue Code provides that each tenant/ cooperator may deduct his proportionate share of payments made by the housingcorporation which represent real estate taxes and interest expense. These deductions are available only if the taxpayer itemizes his/her deductions and does not elect to claim the standard deduction. The share of interest and real estate taxes paid by the· corporationwhich are deductible by each cooperator is determined by the total carrying charge paid by him/her during 1979. You should oot include as carrying charges: garage fees, appliance fees, hall closet rentals, reserve payments (50 cents per room per month) and surcharges. The deductions available to each tenant - cooperator for 1979 are:
ADDRESS
REAL ESTATE TAXES INTEREST
6.76% of rent paid for 1979 5U18% ot rent paid for 1979
EXAMPLE: If a cooperator paid a total of $2,000 rent during 1979, he/she
Fl
AH
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.
wouldcompute his deductions as follows: Real Estate Taxes: $2,000 x 6.76% or a deduction of $135.20 Interest: $2,000 x 51.98% or a deduction of $1,039.60 .