Gasoline Odor In Bldg. 13 Results in Damage To Storage Lockers
Vol. 54 No. 9
At approximately 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, Co-op City Public Safety Department (CCPD) and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded to Building 35 to investigate a strong gasoline odor. Chief Joseph Riley of CCPD reported that the investigation led to the buildingâs storage lockers in the basement. To pinpoint the exact locker from which the odor was emanating, the FDNY force-opened 21
BY ROZAAN BOONE
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Saturday, March 2, 2019
Jumaane Williams Wins New York City Public Advocate Election Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams fended off 16 other candidates in the race for New York Cityâs Public Advocate (PA). According to the Board of Elections âunofficial election night resultsâ as of 12 a.m., Wednesday, February 27, Williams had accumulated 133,000 or 33.22% of the votes â winning the election. âThe PA, the peopleâs advocate, is a role that Iâm incredibly excited to fill and one that is crucial to our city,â said Mr. Williams New York Cityâs during his victory speech. Public Advocate Mr. Williams gathered Jumaane Williams enough votes to surpass BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND
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Fourteen of the 21 storage locker doors were zip tied to secure their contents after the doors were forced open to locate the source of the strong smell of gasoline that permeated the building. The doors were replaced by the following day. Photo by Hector Algarin
Riverbay Board Passes Senior Fair Fares Proposal $1.25
On Wednesday, February 20, the Riverbay Board of Directors, voted by consensus for a proposal to âmake a unified and concerted effort to pursue transportation needs of our residents,â allowing for Reduced-Fare Senior MetroCards to be honored on express buses, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Board is calling for an âunrestrictedâ Reduced-Fare Senior MetroCard that will be accepted on express bus services at all times. The Board argues that currently, Reduced Fare Senior MetroCards are only recognized on âregularâ Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) buses and subways around-the-clock. According to the MTAâs website, Reduced-Fare MetroCardâs can be used on express buses âanytime except weekday rush hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 am and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.â The passing of the proposal also calls on the MTA to add an express bus route to Wall Street for Co-op City riders. BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND
Co-op City Contingent Among Bronx AARP Members Meeting with Pols in Albany
STAR Deadline For The 2019/2020 Tax Year Is Friday, March 15 All Co-op City shareholders are eligible for the New York State School Tax Relief (STAR) Program, but it is not an automatic credit; it must be filed for. Applications for the 2019-2020 School Tax Relief (STAR) Credit must be postmarked by Friday, March 15. Shareholders already receiving STAR do not have to reapply for the credit if they are enrolled in the Income Verification Program. Those who are not enrolled in the Income Verification Program should reapply to continue receiving the exemption, as should those who were receiving Basic STAR and are now eligible for Enhanced STAR. Any shareholder who is new to Co-op City (change of address) should also apply for the exemption before the March 15 deadline. STAR applications can be obtained by calling 31-1, or by logging onto the DOF website at www.nyc.gov/star. Completed applications should be mailed to: New York City Department of Finance, P.O. Box 311, Maplewood, NJ 07040-0311. You should retain a copy of the completed application for your records. BY ROZAAN BOONE
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About 40 AARP volunteers from the Bronx, including many from Co-op City, traveled by bus to Albany on Wed., Feb. 27, to urge their state legislators to support four key initiatives in the State budget due April 1 â a $25M increase for services (home-delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments and assistance with daily activities, among others) to help middle class New Yorkers age at home ; a tax credit for family caregivers to help offset the nearly $7,000 they spend on average out of their own pockets annually to care for loved ones; an independent utility consumer advocate, as most states already have; and $20M to continue endangered housing and legal counseling services for homeowners facing foreclosure or mortgage fraud. The seniors met with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Jamaal Bailey and Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, among others. Photos courtesy of AARP NY