Congratulations to all 2023 Graduates!
Vol. 58 No. 23
Saturday, June 10, 2023
$1.25
Riverbay Board Votes Against Second Executive GM Walton Holds First Voting Extension in 2023 Election “Visioning” Session with Senior Staff BY ROZAAN BOONE
A majority of the Riverbay Board of Directors voted on Wednesday night, June 7, 2023 not to extend the 2023 Board election a second time. An extension would have kept the voting period open for an additional 14 days until 9 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023. According to Emergency Resolution 23-30 which was presented at Wednesday’s Board meeting by Director Lynette Wright, chair of the 2023 Election Committee, the Committee, concerned that a quorum would not be attained by WKH HQG RI WKH ¿UVW YRWLQJ H[WHQVLRQ RQ )ULGD\ -XQH DQG SXUVXDQW WR the 2023 Election Rule F (14) which limits the Election Committee’s authority WR H[WHQG WKH HOHFWLRQ SDVW WKH ¿UVW GD\ SHULRG WKH &RPPLWWHH WKHUHIRUH UHFommended that the Board extend the 2023 Board Election for a second fourteen (14) day period to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 23, if the quorum of 5,002 ballots had QRW EHHQ UHDFKHG E\ S P RQ -XQH ± WKH HQG RI WKH ¿UVW H[WHQGHG YRWing period in this year’s election. Resolution 23-30, seconded by Director Jacqueline Smith, was approved by seven Board directors: Daryl Johnson, Leslie Peterson, Rod Saunders, Jacqueline Smith, Anika Green-Watson and Lynette Wright, and disapproved by eight directors: Monique Coleman, Bernard Cylich, Sonia Feliciano, Kevin Lambright, Andrea Leslie, Michelle Marbury, Bishop Angelo Rosario and Claudia (Continued on page 2)
REMINDER: Early Voting in June NYC Primary Early voting in the June Primary in New York City will be from Saturday, June 17-Sunday, June 25, 2023.
&DQDGLDQ :LOGÀUHV &DXVH “Very Unhealthy” Air Quality
Executive General Manager Marvin L. Walton held his first Quarterly Senior Staff meeting on Monday, June 5, in the Bartow Center. These meetings, referred to as “visioning sessions” will be ongoing and are aimed at enhancing the manner and tenor in which Riverbay Corporation operates and serves Co-op City homeowners. "The shared vision is the framework for which Management will use to communicate with the stakeholders of Riverbay Corporation,” said Executive General Manager Walton. “It is imperative that the Board of Directors, shareholders and Management listen to each other and work together. If we do this successfully, we will continue to elevate the services provided by Riverbay Corporation, enhance the quality of life of shareholders and maintain the viability of this important stock of affordable housing for the next generation.” Photo by Brandon Ortiz
Public Hearings Scheduled for Potential MTA Fare and Toll Increases BY BRANDON ORTIZ
Individuals will have an opportunity to express their opinion on the MTA’s potential fare and toll increase during public hearings scheduled for later this month. There will be four hearings in total: • Meeting 1: Thursday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Meeting 2: Thursday, June 22, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. • Meeting 3: Friday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Meeting 4: Monday, June 26, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Individuals interested in providing a comment can visit new.mta.info/transparency/public-hearings, or call 646-252-6777 to register to speak during one of (Continued on page 4)
CCPD Safely Arrests Knife-Wielding Shoplifter BY ROZAAN BOONE
BY P.M. CAMPBELL Residue from Canadian wildfires enveloped New York this week, and an Air Quality Health Advisory went into effect Tuesday evening, June 6-midnight, Thursday, June 9, 2023. On Tuesday around noon, the amount of pollutants in the air was dramatically higher than usual, the sky was darkened, the outdoors took on an orange tint and a charred smoky scent permeated the air, even while indoors. City health officials recommended that those who found it necessary to be outdoors should wear N95, KN 95 or a CF 94 face mask. Local air quality reached a 296 AQI (Air Quality Index) which the American Lung Association cites as “very unhealthy” and urged “children, active adults, and people with respiratory diseases,” to limit time outside. Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, said that the city has not reached this level of dangerous air quality since the 1960s. NY Governor Kathy Hochul added, “I encourage New Yorkers, especially those sensitive to air quality, to take appropriate steps to help limit risk of exposure.” Photo by Ralph Henriquez
While on routine patrol at approximately 2:50 p.m. on TuesGD\ -XQH &&3' 2I¿FHUV REVHUYHG D \HDU ROG PDOH ZKR ZDV ZDQWHG IRU 5REEHU\ 7KH RI¿FHUV NHSW WKH PDOH XQGHU REVHUYDWLRQ as they radioed for additional units and safely apprehended the suspect, taking him into custody without anyone sustaining injuries. The perpetrator, a Co-op City resident, had been involved in multiple shoplifting incidents at community supermarkets located in all three Co-op City malls as well as in the Bay Plaza and Peartree areas. He had three other active warrants at the time of his apprehension this week. The most recent violent incident took place last Monday, May 29, at approximately 2:45 p.m., after he was confronted by a Dreiser supermarket store employee who observed him placing multiple cans of beer into a bag and attempting to leave the store without paying. He reportedly lunged at the employee brandishing a 6-inch knife, and stated, “I’m going to kill you.” The store employee WKHQ EDFNHG DZD\ DQG WKH PDOH ÀHG WKH VXSHUPDUNHW (Continued on page 5)