Read us online: issuu.com/cctimes • Follow us on social media: IG/X/Threads @coopcitytimes • @coopcitytimes.bsky.social
Vol. 61 No. 3
January 17, 2026
Less Than 7,000 Co-op City Households Have Applied for STAR Program
By ROZAAN BOONE Although all Co-op City households are eligible for the New York State School Tax Relief (STAR) program, less than 7,000 households have applied. The STAR program offers a tax reduction or credit for school property tax relief, and the New York State program offers two types of benefits, Basic and Enhanced STAR. The deadline to apply is March 1, although new applicants and those reapplying should register as soon as possible. The STAR program is available to owners of a house, cooperative apartment, condominium or other property that they live in or use as their primary residence. There is no age limit to receive Basic STAR, and the total annual household income of the owner(s) must not exceed $500,000.
Enhanced STAR, however, is available to property owners who are age 65 or older as of December 31 of the exemption year. If the property is jointly owned by a married couple or siblings, only one owner has to be 65 years or older. For 2025 benefits, the household’s total annual income could not exceed $107,300; for this year, 2026, the total income limit will be $110,750 or less. All Enhanced STAR recipients must participate in the Enhanced STAR Income Verification Program (IVP) only in the first year that they apply for the STAR program. In subsequent years, an Enhanced STAR applicant will not have to verify their income; the state Tax Department will conduct the verification. Prior to 2016, STAR was available as a property tax exemption. However since 2016, new applicants for the STAR program can only receive a (Continued on page 2)
ATTENTION SHAREHOLDERS Bike racks are for temporary use ONLY. They are not for permanent storage. Any bikes secured to these racks will be removed within 24 hours of observance. —Co-op City Public Safety
Service Change for 4 and 5 Train Ongoing Through February By BRANDON ORTIZ From Monday, January 5, until Friday, February 20, overnight service for the 4 and 5 trains will be affected because of track switch replacement work. During the hours of 11:45 p.m. and 5 a.m., the 4 train will operate in two separate sections: one section running from the Woodlawn station to 149-Street Grand Concourse, and one section between 3 Av.–138 St. along the 6 line in the Bronx to New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn making all local stops. Notably, the service changes will also occur on weekends between January 23 and February 23 starting from 9:45 p.m. on Fridays until 5 a.m. on Mondays, except for Presidents’ Day weekend when the service change will
extend to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17. During the weekend service changes, the 5 train will operate as a shuttle between E 180 Street and Dyre Avenue. Additionally, the MTA will offer free shuttle buses between 149 St.–Grand Concourse and 3 Av.–138 St. during service changes. Riders should also keep in mind that “while most 4 and 5 trains will operate their normal weekday routes, some rush hour 4 trains will be rerouted to 3 Av.–138 St. (6 train line), and some rush hour 5 trains will operate on the 2 line between 149 St.–Grand Concourse and Nevins St. These changes are expected to occur between Monday, January 26, and Friday, February 20, according to the MTA.
$1.25
State and City Partner to Deliver 2-Care Program By BRANDON ORTIZ New York City announced on January 8 that it will partner with the State to provide free childcare for two-year olds. Governor Kathy Hochul joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani to deliver the news about the new program, which is called 2-Care. For the next two years, the State will fully fund 2-Care as part of Mayor Mamdani’s four-year implementation plan. The first year of implementation will focus on what the Mayor’s Office called “high-need areas,” and ultimately expand to all interested families by 2029. In tandem with the implementation of the 2-Care program, Governor Hochul’s administration will provide support to strengthen the city’s cur-
rent 3K program and help it reach a level of universal access for all eligible New York City children. New York will also launch a brand new department called the Office of Child Care and Early Education that will directly oversee the implementation of high-quality universal childcare statewide. Gov. Hochul’s 2026 State of the State Address outlined her goal of providing affordable childcare for an additional 100,000 families in New York. Going one step further, the Governor also touched on her desire to deliver affordable universal Pre-K childcare for all families statewide by the 2028-2029 school year. Governor Hochul later emphasized her commitment to bringing affordable childcare to New York families (Continued on page 2)
Governor Hochul Delivers 2026 State of the State Address By BRANDON ORTIZ Governor Hochul delivered her 2026 State of the State Address on January 13, outlining several areas her administration will focus on in the coming months. From making New York more affordable to supporting students statewide, Gov. Hochul introduced numerous proposals during her State of the State Address this week. Starting with improving affordability, the Governor announced that New York would increase funding for childcare by $1.7 billion as the State moves toward delivering affordable universal childcare for all children un-
der five years of age. Part of that initiative will see Gov. Hochul working in collaboration with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to provide free childcare for New York City two-year olds, which the Mayor is calling the “2-Care program.” The State will also continue supporting the city’s existing 3-K program in an effort to ultimately reach all families citywide. Gov. Hochul also delivered some news for New York’s Rent Freeze programs by proposing an increase to the income eligibility limit for those programs. For CUNY and SUNY students, the Governor proposed freezing tuition rates for the seventh year in a (Continued on page 3)
Riverbay Holiday closing and CCTimes deadline notice The Riverbay administrative offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Because of the holiday-shortened work week, all material, including directors’ viewpoints, submitted for publication in the upcoming Saturday, January 24th issue of the Co-op City Times, must be submitted before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20. Material received after 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, will be accommodated as space allows in the Saturday, Jan. 24th issue of the Co-op City Times. Submissions should be emailed to cctimes@riverbaycorp.com. We wish our readers a memorable and safe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.