Cp11

CP022013

C R Y D E R P O I N T FEBRUARY 10 ‘2013 MUST BE A YEAR OF HOPE’ STATE OF THE BOROUGH BOARD RECAP January-February 2013 • Storage: Shortage of storage facilities have been an ongoing problem for many residents. In order to evaluate the current situation, i.e., active vs. abandoned units; proper payments, etc., all residents have received a letter advising them to report their unit(s), if any, to the Office. Residents will be notified that if they do not report their storage unit, it will be presumed to be abandoned, and contents of unreported units will be discarded. The goal is to organize the rental process, maximize the availability of storage for residents and shorten the wait list for units. • Landscaping: Thus far CPOC has only received two complete bids and presentations for landscaping services. A third company is being sought to submit a proposal in accordance with Board policy of obtaining three bids for vendor services. Further updates to follow. • Finance: Members of the Board met with a representative from Congressman Steve Israel’s office regarding CPOC receiving assistance from damage caused by Sandy. We were informed that New York cooperatives will not receive FEMA assistance; however, the Congressman’s office will be assisting us in obtaining a low interest SBA loan. As you may have read, co-ops are being imposed with significantly higher interest rates than private homeowners, and the Congressman’s effort in this area would result in substantial savings. 10 cryder point courier courier | FEBRUARY 2013 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM In addition, Congressman Israel is continuing his initiative with proposed legislation to remove co-ops’ mortgage prepayment penalties which would allow co-ops to more easily refinance if they so decided. If successful, this legislation would nevertheless not be enacted in the near future (the legislative process is slow). Therefore, the Congressman is also seeking to assist us in freeing CPOC to obtain a second mortgage, if needed, beyond the current limitations set by JP Morgan Chase. Concurrently, our attorney has pursued this issue directly with JP Morgan Chase on behalf of CPOC and Cryder House but unfortunately has received no response. We are hopeful that the Congressman’s involvement will result in a positive outcome; we will provide updates as they occur. BY TERENCE M. CULLEN In the final State of the Borough address of her administration, Borough President Helen Marshall focused on the continued recovery of south Queens nearly three months after Sandy — honoring one first responder in particular for his valiant efforts during the storm. “Let’s reflect together now,” she said on Tuesday, January 22, “on the devastation Sandy caused. The relief, from across the street and across the country, and the rebuilding, now underway, inspired by hope and the promise of tomorrow.” Marshall honored the memory of Dylan Smith — the Belle Harbor surfer who tragically died in Puerto Rico last month — for his heroic efforts to help neighbors during the storm. With Smith’s parents in attendance, Marshall announced her office would give a $10,000 grant to the Swim Strong Foundation, which teaches a healthy lifestyle through swimming, in Smith’s memory. Swim Strong founder Shawn Slevin said the grant in Smith’s name would continue to help the program, which has taught more than 2,000 people water safety and granted nearly 700 scholarships. “This will mean so much for our scholarship funds,” Slevin said. “The borough president and her staff have always been very supportive of us.” Michael McDonald, who helped rescue Belle Harbor residents alongside Smith, recalled the late surfer was modest to the attention he received after the storm. Before the audience at Queens College’s Colden Theater, McDonald gave a heartfelt recollection of the late October night and referred to Smith as “a guardian angel in a wetsuit.” “The idea that his name will be mentioned in what he loved to do, which was not only swim and surf, but look out for the safety of others is wonderful,” he said. Marshall, covering several other items on her 2013 agenda, called for continued legislation at the state and federal level to reduce gun violence. Marshall applauded the anti-gun work of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and announced she plans to sponsor a gun buy back program sometime this spring. “While Thanksgiving was muted by Sandy and the holiday season was saddened by the horrific violence in Newtown, let’s all agree that 2013 must be a year of hope,” Marshall said. “Our hope for getting guns off the street is gaining momentum. Here in our city, we have a long-standing and tireless leader in this effort: Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Perhaps that’s part of the reason we have seen the lowest number of murders in the past 40 years.” So far, during her administation, Marshall pointed out, the Department of City Planning and the City Council have rezoned more than 6,300 blocks, with another 1,000 planned, leading to job growth in the borough. Marshall harkened to the McMansions that sprung up over the last 10 years because of “inappropriate” zoning in low-density neighborhoods — noting the character of these areas was threatened by the homes. “We know the ability of zoning to protect the small town neighborhood feel of our communities,” she said. “And to enable job growth and spur the economy.” Thirty Queens schools currently without a science lab or permanent science room will soon receive mobile science labs, Marshall announced, thanks to her office allocating $2 million to purchase them this year. Marshall, a literacy advocate, announced two new libraries will break ground this year: a replacement one on Central Avenue in Far Rockaway, and an expansion to the East Elmhurst Library, along with a new Elmhurst branch, thanks to a $23 million investment from Borough Hall. On Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, slated to undergo lengthy projects inside and out, Marshall said keeping greenspace was crucial to the borough, and ensuring Queens keeps it — in some form — is atop Marshall’s to-do list. “I will keep the message front and center that this park is one of the most heavily used open spaces in the entire city,” she said. “The green space is a precious resource.” THE COURIER/Photo by Terence M. Cullen Borough President Helen Marshall honored the memory of Dylan Smith, who died in a surfing accident last month in Puerto Rico, for his heroic efforts during Sandy.


CP022013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above