CLARIFYING THE PROCESS Bob Ricken Many residents are misinformed about the screening process for new residents. Historically, the right of the Board of Directors of a cooperative to admit or reject a candidate’s application, for any reason or for no reason, has been recognized and even protected by the courts. from the towers A Message from the President: Members of the cooperative corporation have the right to decide for themselves with whom they would like to share their community. However, it is unlawful to discriminate or refuse to sell or rent to a person based upon any of the following 14 named categories listed below. DISCRIMINATION IS PROHIBITED IN BOARD ADMISSION PROCEDURES Each Board’s application process must comply with the following laws: The Federal Fair Housing Law The Civil Rights Act The New York State and N.Y, City Human Rights Laws PROTECTED CATEGORIES There are currently fourteen protected categories under which claims can be brought against a New York City cooperative either in courts or before a city, state or federal administrative body if a prospective purchaser believes that a rejection was due to discrimination because of their: 1- AGE 2- DISABILITY 3- PARTNERSHIP STATUS 4- ALIEN STATUS 5- GENDER 6- RACE 7- CHILDREN OR CHILDLESS STATE 8- LAWFUL OCCUPATION 9- RELIGION 10-COUNTRY OF NATIONAL ORIGIN 11-MARITAL STATUS 12-SEXUAL ORIGIN 13-CREED 14-MILITARY STATUS Board members have Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. However, if a board member violates one of the above protective categories, he/she is not protected by this insurance. Many residents continue to use the example of famous people being denied the right to move into a cooperative apartment in New York City. I raised that question with our attorney Errol Brett. His explanation was that denying them ownership to an apartment was not in violation of any of the protected categories enforced by New York City, New York State or the Federal Government. For those of you who would like to read more on the subject, you may want to “Google” the New York City Human Rights Commission or the Real Estate Board of New York. SEND US YOUR LETTERS! North Shore Towers Courier 38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 Fax: 718-224-5442 • Email: nstcourier@aol.com Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Tonia N. Cimino Jennifer Decio Maggie Hayes Stephen Reina, Nirmal Singh, Ron Torina, Cheryl Gallagher Publisher & E ditor Associate Publisher Editor-in-chief Art Director Contributing Editor Artists 8 North Shore Towers Courier n October 2013 North Shore Towers Courier, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 • Tel: 718-224-5863 • Sales Fax: 718-631-3498 • Editorial Fax: 718-224-5441 • e-mail: mhayes@queenscourier.com All letters sent to NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. ALL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND OP-ED’S DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
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