Co-op City Times 01/26/1980

Page 1

Assemblyman Eliot Engel (left) said he would hold Governor Carey "personally responsible" for any large rent increase imposed on Co-op City residents at Rent

Stabilization rally held last Monday. Over 1°40.D cooperators turned out for the rally. Co-op City Council member Murray Winkler (right) called for an investigation of

fraudulent practices construction.

undertaken

during

Co-op

City's

Photos by Ira Rich

• I

•I

' · By Peter Grad

There wasn't an empty seat in the hou~last Mønday evening as over 1400 · coopesators jammed Lerner Auditorium to hear community leaêfers and elected officials assess Co-op City's ongoing struggle to win a fair rent increase and to obtain a firm State commitment to finance construction defect repairs. Presiding over the meeting, the largest indoor session since the days of the 1976 rent strike, was Ríverbay President Charles Parness who offered a firm declara-

tíon at the start of the meeting. . "The State recently seems to be suggesting that we're 'free· loaders' and must now pay our dues," Parness said, in reference to the last November's Housing Finance Agency (HFA) request that rents here be hiked by 68 percent. "We've always carried our fair share and we want the State to know that we won't pay twice for the incompetency, the defects, and the cost overruns the State permitted. Governor Carey promised during his campaign that we would not "have to

twice for such defects and we're going to take him at his word." Various issues cevered · Eight speakers focused on various aspects of the cornmunity's legacy of faulty workmanship, deceptive promises and broken commitments. One speaker, Bryce Porter, of the Coalition of Community Organízatíons, ventured that "this is one of the most important meetings occurring in the · United States this evening," supporting his statement by noting that Co-op · Qty is the largest housing development in the nation. "What happens to us is an indication of what could happen to other communities any place else," Porter said. . Senator Abraham Bernstein and Assemblyman Eliot Engel gave differing interpretations of Governor Carey's role in securing financial assistance for ailing IV.litchell-Lama cooperatives, while Co-op City Council executives Ron Meyers and Carl Trost focused on State negligence during Co-op City's construction. Alsö speaking was former Board member Blanche Polovetz and Council member Murray 'Winkler. · Opening the session, Parness denounced the latest Housing Finance Agency (HF A) recommendation that, Co-op City rents be hiked up to 68 percent over a ijve year period. Charging that the agency used

..----. . . . . -------------""""------"111 you have construction defects ln your apartment? A Public Hearing sponsored by . the New York State Assembly Committee on Mitchell-Lama will be held next Friday, February 1, at 10 a.m., 270 Broadwayin Manhattan, concerning construction defect problems in2'MitcheHLama developments. ·· The Legislature should hear testimony from residents who would like to tell their state representative about the construction defects which affect their apartments. If you are interested in testifying at the hearing, please contact Assemblyman Eliot Engel's Office at 320-2314 or 678,;"'.i.~.

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2369. YOUR BOARD OF DŒECl'ORS CANNOT FIGHT ALONE. HELP US TO HELP YOU. CO-OP CITY IS YOUR uoæ·-nom FOR IT!!! Don't forget to call 320-2314 or 678-2369. If you require transportatíen, please let us know.

(P@ntinued o~.~

12)

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I•

9elsáyshe 'rey ;øonsible r rent hikes

1

By Peter Grad Assemblyman Eliot Engel, declaring "the time for excuses is over," · called upon Governor Carey and state housing agencies this week to come through with promised assistance to Co-op City and Mitchell-Lama fiousíng developments. He made his remarks during the rent stabilization rally held last Monday. In contrast to the defense of the governor offered by Senator Abraham Bernstein incomments made earlier that evening, Engel asserted "I will hold the governor personally responsible for any large increase imposed upon the people of Co-op City." Engel was the sponsor of an

assembly bill which would have restricted any rent increase to 12 percent over a three year period. The measure passed the · Assembly last spring but an identical version faultered · in a Senate sub-committee. PE'ople wm resist "Let the governor take notice," Engel said, pointing to the cooperators who comprised one of the largest rallies in Co-op Qty in recent years. "If anyone thinks this community is apathetic, this turnout proves them wrong. The people are united and we will resist any attempt to impose unfair rent Increases." Reciting a list of construction

(Continuedcm page 12)

Inside this week Express Bus fare may go up Co-op Council cannot be in by-laws Mike Bernstein - consumer advocate Youth Benefit Dinner-Dance attended by 400 President's Report ..•..•. page Letters ro the Edit.or ..•. page Manager's Desk page Coœumers Comer page

2 6 8 10

Ed Parit News•...•••..•.• page 16 Foous page 18 Met~views ••.•.•••.• \º .,.7page ,19

Senior Topics

page page page page

2

3 4 6

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Bulletin BS rd••.•..••.•.• page 33 ffappenmgs ••••••••••••••• page M '.Oml Week •••••••••••• , •.• page M

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Nen •••••••••••page 35


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