WILDLIFE AROUND US
NYC Urban Park Ranger spoke on the wildlife around us. Ranger Rob
Mastrianni told us
to enjoy wildlife – like raccoons and hawks, at a distance. Mama raccoons, normally nocturnal, have been
known to forage entire boxes of pizza from park tables during the day to feed
their young. The birds of prey we see help keep our ecosystem humming, as they
eat rats, mice and pigeons. He showed us
plastic models of hawk, eagle, and owl skulls – and how big their eyes are
compared to ours. Scared of raccoons or
badgers you meet in the park? Jingle your keys. Hawks and other birds of prey
are more scared of us – but keep your tiny dog off the balcony if you’ve seen a
hawk there.
KEEPING RENT STABILIZED RENTS LOW
Each June, after a series of hearings, the Rent Guidelines
Board determines rent increase percentages for all rent stabilized tenants in
NYC. The RGB’s first meeting this year is Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 10 AM – and a
coalition of groups is rallying before the meeting in lower Manhattan at 1 Centre Street, 9 AM.
Among other things, we need an evening hearing
closer to where we live.
The RGB determined last year that cumulative rent increases
for the past 30 years or so far exceeded inflation and actual landlord costs
for the same period of time. So the RGB ordered a “rent freeze” (no increase)
for those renewing for 1 year. But if
the increases were too big, why did those renewing for 2 years (as is our
choice) have to pay an increase? Roll
back the rents!
