Board of Directors Election EXTENDED EXTENDED!!
Please VOTE by Friday, June 28.
Vol. 59 No. 24
Saturday, June 15, 2024
$1.25
2024 Riverbay Board Election Extended to June 28
Riverbay Board Election
1,314 Ballots Still Needed to Make Quorum BY ROZAAN BOONE
The 2024 Election Committee exercised the option to extend the Riverbay Board of Directors election on Friday afternoon after the daily ballot count received from YesElections showed 1,314 ballots still outstanding to make the quorum. The new deadline to return completed ballots in the Riverbay Board of Directors election is Friday, June 28, at 9 p.m. As of press time Friday, 3,721 ballots had been received by the independent election vendor – 1,409 electronic ballots and 2,312 paper ballots. This represents approximately 74% of the ballots needed for the quorum. On Friday, June 14, ahead of the first voting deadline which was scheduled to end at 9 p.m., the Election Committee sponsored a Vote Night Countdown from 4-8 p.m. in the Bartow Courtyard. There was music, food, raffles and give-aways. A YesElections booth was also available at the Bartow Center from 12-8 p.m. for shareholders who wanted to use the service to cast their ballot or who needed assistance voting. This was the first time that a Vote Night Countdown community Management Report spirit event was held to motivate shareholders who had not yet voted to participate in the annual Board election. Shareholders of record as of April 1, 2024 are voting to fill six seats on Riverbay Executive General Manager the Riverbay Board of Directors. The certified (Continued on page 2)
Riverbay Corporation – Successful Year-End Budgetary Performance Marvin L. Walton
Early Voting for 2024 Primary Election BY DANIELLE CRUZ
Early voting for New York City’s 2024 primary election starts Saturday, June 15, and ends on Sunday, June 23. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 25. The polling site for early voting for Co-op City shareholders is the Dreiser Auditorium. For Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 25, shareholders should check their ballots or visit findmypollsite. vote.nyc to find their polling site. Early Voting Schedule Saturday, June 15: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 16: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, June 17: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 18: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 19: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, June 20: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, June 21: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 23: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Continued on page 2)
Upgrades to Givans Creek Woods Park BY BRANDON ORTIZ
The New York City Parks Department presented planned upgrades to Givans Creek Woods Park at a Bronx Community Board 10 (CB#10) meeting on Thursday evening, June 13. NYC Parks Department Landscape Architect Marcha Johnson presented the project to the CB#10 Parks and Recreation Committee. With a total budget of $6M from the Fiscal Year 2022 NYC budget, the project will bring a brand new walkway along the edge of the park that runs parallel to Co-op City Boulevard. Ms. Johnson outlined the overall goals Image courtesy NYC Parks Dept. the project is hoping (Continued on page 13) to accomplish.
Message from the Chief of the Department of Public Safety
This Management Report provides the community with a preliminary update on Riverbay Corporation’s Budget performance for Fiscal Year 23/24 which commenced on April 1, 2023, and ended March 31, 2024. Overall, the grand total corporate actual expenses of $256,743,000, were less than the grand total actual income of $270,107,000, which yielded a budget surplus of $13,364,000. This has been one of the best budgetary performances for the corporation in some time as a result of proactive operating efficiencies that Management implemented to maintain fiscal stability by examining our business practices and working effectively towards improving service delivery to shareholders. Rest assured that Management will continue to implement measures to improve operations at every level of the Corporation to yield similar positive results. We look forward to continuing to partner with Shareholders and Board directors to sustain this important affordable housing stock for generations to come.
Election Night Countdown
Reduce Forced Entry Intrusions – Update Emergency Contact Information During the summer months, many shareholders go on vacation and increase visits to family members who may live outside of the Co-op City community. The Department of Public Safety has received increased calls to conduct wellness checks as concerned neighbors and family members are uncertain of the location and well-being of people they care for – our senior community. After an initial investigation, Public Safety Officers frequently must enter the apartment by force to confirm if a shareholder is inside the apartment and is unable to respond, or in need of medical intervention. (Continued on page 9)
Chief Riley
On Friday, June 14, the 2024 Election Committee sponsored the first Election Night Countdown community spirit event in the Bartow Courtyard to encourage shareholders to cast their ballots to make the quorum and validate the election. Above are Election Committee co-chairs Anika Green-Watson and Claudia Sampson, and Committee members LaVonne Barksdale, Dianne Alleyne and Debra Jones. See pg. 2 for more photos Photo by Brandon Ortiz