Saturday, December 29, 2018

Sad News: Jacob Brockington

The Central Park Gardens Tenants' Association 
mourns the loss of our good friend 

Jacob Brockington.

image.png
Photo provided by
 Jodi Brockington

Brock was active in the tenant association from its very beginning 
and helped put together our early newsletter, the Garden Scoop.

He died on Christmas day, 2018.

We extend our condolences to his daughters Lindsay and Jodi 
and to the rest of his family.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Happy Holidays!

FROM OUR TENANT ASSOCIATION 
TO
ALL THE TENANTS IN THE BUILDING

Image result for happy holidays
by Melissa Brawner
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Succession: what you need, and the process.

The room was packed as Jodi Brockington and Sue Susman presented Succession Rights 101 for tenants in rent stabilized apartments.   Here's a summary: 

SUCCESSION BASICS
Taking over the rent stabilized lease in your own name.* 

IN ADVANCE, 

MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER(s) TO TAKE OVER THE LEASE IF YOU LEAVE:

The tenant named on the lease should list those living in the apartment too on every lease renewal. (SCRIE and DRIE tenants:  those people are part of your household and their income counts toward the $50,000 annual limit.)

The tenant named on the lease should fill out DHCR Form 23.5 and send it to Stellar by certified mail, return receipt requested.  (If you have already done this, you don't have to do it again unless your household composition changes.) Staple the return receipt form, once it comes back, to the copy you have kept of the Form.  Give it to the family member(s) living with you who may want to take over ("succeed to") the lease if you are no longer living in the apartment. 

Keep a big box or envelope in which you place copies of all documents you might need in the future to prove succession rights - such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver's license, tax returns, jury summons, etc.  

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Tues., Nov. 27: Who gets the rent stabilized apartment if the tenant leaves?

If you live with someone, come to our 

MEETING ABOUT 

SUCCESSION RIGHTS

KissClipart.com
  • Who gets the rent stabilized apartment if the main tenant leaves?
  • What papers do you need?
  • What's the process?
TUESDAY, NOV. 27, 2018 at 8 PM
in the Community Room.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Central Park Gardens Tenants’ Association

HAPPY 

THANKSGIVING  !

Image result for turkey clipart

 

 On Thanksgiving- among the other things in our lives - we can be thankful for . . .
  • Having a roof over our heads,
  • Being part of a strong tenant association that has kept rents affordable for those in stabilization and is working to get rents affordable for market rate tenants,
  • Having wonderful friends and a community of support in the building
  • and the neighborhood, and
  • Having something to eat.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Nov. 14 at 8 PM: What can we expect from Albany?

WITH THE NEW DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM ALBANY THIS YEAR? 
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, 2018
8 PM in the Community Room

on protection for unregulated tenants, major capital improvement legislation and more.

Also: Meet the candidates for our tenant association elections (to be held in January). If you want to run, send a 1-paragraph bio and a photo to joanbrownefaison @ g m a i l . com.

All tenants welcome. 

Our next meeting: Nov 27 on Succession Rights
Who gets the rent stabilized apartment after the main tenant leaves? Learn the process and what papers you'll need. 




Thursday, October 11, 2018

Sad News: Alitha Mobley has died

The Central Park Gardens Tenants' Association mourns the loss of one of our founding members, 

image.png
ALITHA MOBLEY  .

Alitha died on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, after a long illness.  

We send our condolences to her children, Steven, Linda, and Aaliyah Mobley, and to her granddaughter Lisa Mobley. 

The viewing will be this Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 1 to 5 PM, and the funeral service will be at 5 PM at Unity Funeral chapels, 2352 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 126th Street, New York, New York 10027.

The funeral reception will be at 148th Street.

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Summary of Sept. 26, 2018 General Tenants Meeting

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Come to our annual Trick or Treat for the Tenant Association table on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.  Rosa Delgado in Apt .2T will take candy contributions in advance.

Get your flu (and pneumonia and shingles) vaccines. If you have insurance, they’re generally free at the RiteAid, CVS, and Duane Reade.  If you lack insurance, ask our local Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell's office if there will be free shots offered. 



STATE ELECTIONS

Six out of 8 members of the Independent Democrat Conference, which caucused with the Republicans in the State Senate, were defeated in the Sept. 13th primaries. With them out of the way, actual Democratic control of the State Senate is possible, depending on November 6th elections. That will affect bills we can get passed when the rent laws are renewed in June 2019. Those bills include tenant costs for MCIs, and whether owners can continue to take vacant apartments out of rent stabilization.  If they couldn't they'd be less motivated to try to get stabilized tenants out, and there would be more stabilized apartments for younger people.  We'll have a meeting on this later. 

SUBMETERING MCI (Major Capital Improvement)

After 6 years, we lost our motion for reconsideration at the state's housing agency.  If we don't appeal, Stellar will bill the tenants of each rent stabilized apartment a one-time retroactive amount of $72.48 per room for 8 months, under the DHCR order. That comes to:
  • $217.44 for a one-bedroom apartment
  • $289.92 for a two-bedroom apartment
  • $362.40 for a three-bedroom apartment.
Since no tenant can be billed more than a 6% increase for an MCI each year, your rent bill would temporarily go up by no more than 6% until that amount is fully paid, and then it would come off your rent bill.


BALCONY REPAIR

Stellar is hoping the rear balconies will all be completed by some time in November when cold weather halts the work. (Concrete doesn’t set well in cold weather.) Once the balconies are inspected, the scaffolding will be removed and in the Spring installed in front of the building. Tenants  must remove everything from the balconies being worked on.

TRASH TALK with the dynamic Jacquelyn Ottman.   

What’s the big deal?

$$$!! In 2018, $440 million of our tax dollars are being spent to pick up garbage and send it out of state for incineration or burial in a landfill. (Both are banned in NYC for poisoning our air and soil.)  

IF we recycle more, the city will make more money selling the recyclables and spend less on exporting it. We’ll have more money for other programs we want and need. So NYC is trying for no waste sent to landfills or incineration by 2030.  Quicker road repairs, anyone? More money for schools, parks, and more?
 
Wikimedia Commons
Image result for global warmingThe environment:  Decomposing food in landfills sends out methane gas that heats the climate. (Methane heats 25 times more than carbon dioxide.)

By recycling food waste, NYC can heat homes instead of the climate. 

But I’m so busy, and I just got home from work with a pizza and . . . .

Sunday, September 23, 2018

New time: 8:15 PM for Talking Trash meeting this Wed., Sept. 26, 2018


WHAT HAPPENS TO MY TRASH??!

of the 
Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board 

TALK TRASH
at our next

General Tenants Meeting
Wed., Sept. 26, 2018 at 8:15 PM (new time!)
in the Community Room.

To learn something about the topic in advance, check out

We'll also talk about building issues and (a little) about the past election. 

Bring a friend!

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Wed. Sept. 26 - General Tenants Meeting at 8:15

Let's not feed the NYC Trash Monster.

Hear Jacquelyn Ottman of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board talk trash at our next

General Tenants Meeting
Wed., Sept. 26 at 8:15 PM
in the Community Room.

To learn something about the topic in advance, check out

We'll also talk about building issues and (a little) about the past election. 

Bring a friend!



Friday, September 7, 2018

Trash talk: Where does our garbage go, and how can we make things better?

Hear Jacquelyn Ottman, a member of the 
Image result for trash talk
Max Pixel image
Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board* 

TALK TRASH:
 Where it goes 
    How that affects us
        What we can do about it.

at our next GENERAL 
TENANTS MEETING
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018 at 8 PM
in the Community Room.

Refreshments (of course).  Bring a friend and a neighbor!

________________________

*The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) – a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization – is a joint creation of the City Council and the Borough President, dedicated to increasing recycling, reducing solid waste, and advancing solid waste policy in New York City. The Board is composed of waste and recycling industry experts and concerned citizens, nominated by sitting Board members or Council Members and appointed by the Manhattan Borough President’s Office.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Stay Fit: This Sunday: Free Yoga Class, then Monday: ShapeUp NY.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2018
5:30 PM Take a weekend breather with a free Yoga Class. 

 






Sunday, July 22, 2018

Stretch your bodies and your mind. 3 activities coming up!

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2018

6:00 PM  ShapeUp NYC in the Community Room 

7:30PM  TOWN HALL on JEWISH HOME LIFECARE'S PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION
Learn what's proposed for 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenue, what it means for us and what we might do.  Social worker, nursing home expert, and neighbor (across the street) Cathy Unsino will present some information, and then we'll share questions and suggestions. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2018
5:30 PM Take a weekend breather with a free Yoga Class. 
 





Saturday, May 26, 2018

POT LUCK - THANKS TO ALL!

THANKS TO :

Pot Luck Planners Maxine Soares, Debbie Gonzalez, and Lydia Pitsirilos who 
oversaw the event, bought supplies, set up the party, replenished the food and drink, collected trash, and cleaned up! Lydia did the decorations.

Click here for a PHOTO ALBUM.  to which you can add your own photos. 

and THANKS TO 

CS and Vernon Smith for major setting up, with the help of Cary Webb and Letty Orellano

to DJ Bobby Moorhead for making everyone tap their feet - or merengue;

to Pat Jordan and Joan Browne for phoning tenants and to Pat for bringing food to the doorman and to homebound tenants, and for cleaning up;

to Joan Browne, Melanie Eversley, Frank Leonardo, Kitty Rivera, and Ray von Dohren for greeting people and signing them in; 

to Laura Koulish and Tish Howard for food distribution and clean-up during the dinner;

to the post-dinner clean-up crew, including Joan Browne, Melanie Eversley, Barbara Garson, Pat Jordan, Laura Koulish, Steve Koulish, Sean Lynch, Wyona Purcell, CS, and Vernon Smith;

to Na'ava Ades and CS for the children's table, art supplies and toys, and 

THANKS FOR DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK TO

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Pot Luck Party Tonight at 6!


POT LUCK PARTY TONIGHT at 6 PM!
in the Community Room

 Eat wonderful food
Meet friends old and new
Renew our tenant community
Dance a little
Sing a little
Listen to - and talk with - our State Senator Brian Benjamin
and
HAVE FUN!

If you bring a dish or beverage for 8-10 people, or help out, your household comes for free.  Otherwise, it's $10/person or $15/household.  SCRIE and DRIE tenants come for free.

Monday, May 14, 2018

This Saturday, May 19th - Our Pot Luck Party from 6-8:30 PM!

POT LUCK PARTY THIS SAT., MAY 19!
Feast on Indian vegetables, pigeon peas and rice, Jamaican jerk chicken, roasted vegetables, garlic string beans, cole slaw, tossed salad, roast pork, turkey chili  . . . . and more. Click here for the menu so far.

Food, Music, 
State Senator Brian Benjamin,
a Kids' Table, and Friendly Neighbors.

ALL TENANTS WELCOME! 
Bring what you can – or help out to come for free. Otherwise $10/person or $15/household
Most of all, just COME AND HAVE FUN! 

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Pot Luck on May 19 - Our menu so far . . .

We'll talk, we'll eat, we'll dance a little (with DJ Bobby Moorhead), we'll sing (if you're so inclined), and we'll eat some more!
So far, we've got salads,  deviled eggs, Madras broccoli,  green beans,  pasta with meat sauce, turkey chili, beef burritos, roast pork, spicy Indian chicken, chicken tenders, and a fair amount of cake.

What will YOU bring to our Pot Luck Party on Saturday, May 19th from 6-8:30 PM in the Community Room?

Our guest is Public Advocate Letitia James - although it's possible she will be named interim NYS Attorney General before our party!
Photo provided by Pub. Adv. Letitia James

Friday, April 27, 2018

Rent Guidelines Board's Preliminary vote for 2018

The Rent Guidelines Board's preliminary vote  last night set the outside limits for one- and two-year lease renewals in rent stabilized apartments:

For one-year lease renewals, the rent increases will be between 0.75 percent and 2.75 percent.
For two-year renewals, the rent increases will be between 1.75 percent and 3.75 percent.
The RGB will make its final decision on June 26, 2018.

Before that, Manhattan tenants can testify at an RGB public hearing on 

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018  
4:00 - 8:00 PM 
at Cooper Union, 7 E. 7th St. at the corner of 3rd Ave. 

If you're not rent stabilized but your apartment has been out of stabilization for under 4 years,  please contact me or another member of the tenant association's executive committee for more information.  Perhaps you can get back into rent stabilization!

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Is the drilling noise making you miserable?

Building work must go on - but does it need to be several hours a day of jackhammering noise?  
SIGN OUR PETITION DEMANDING THAT STELLAR TAKE MORE STEPS TO REDUCE THE NOISE. 
CCO Creative Commons, https://pixabay.com/
en/character-red-headphones-music-30755/
FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018 - from 2-4 pm in the Lobby.  If you can't sign it then, look for it on the mailroom bulletin board. 

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Public Advocate Tish James coming to our Pot Luck Party!

Annual Pot-Luck Party
Used by permission https://www.freeclipart.
pw/category/potluck-clipart
Sat. May 19, 2018

6-8:30 PM

In the Community Room

Bring a dish for  8-10 people, help out
or
Just come share in the fun & food for a small fee: 
$10 per person
$15/household
(Non-tenant guests are $10 each.)

                  
We'll have a little kids' corner too!


Sunday, April 8, 2018

Save the date: May 19, ,2018 is our next Pot Luck Party!

We're having our 
Annual Pot-Luck Party

Sat., May 19th, 2018 – 6:00-8:30 PM
in the Community Room.
All tenants welcome 
(little kids table too!)

If you bring a dish or beverage for 8-10 people or volunteer to work, your household comes for free.  Otherwise, it's $15/household or $10/person.

We schmooze, we eat, we sing, we dance, we eat some more . . . . you get the picture.
What will YOU bring or do?  Tell your Floor Captain!
We'll have fun!

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Summary of the General Tenants Meeting on March 20, 2018

I. Sharing our enthusiasm - activities in the building.

We have a community within our own building with many different interests and talents.  At the General Tenants Meeting on March 20th,  some tenants offered to share their skills and interests for free with other tenants. Check the sign-up sheets coming soon in the mailroom on the ground floor. 
    © Susan Susman 2009

  • Barbara Geller has volunteered at the Conservatory Garden for 10 years.  She has offered to lead a tour of the garden - starting from our building - in the Spring.  The date will depend on the peak of the Spring season, but it will be a weekday, starting at around 5 pm.  
©Susan Susman 2009
  • Frank Leonardo will be showing films one Thursday evening a month in the Community Room at 8 PM. Check the date-preference sheet in the mailroom.  The first film will be Sita Sings the Blues  (an animated film mixing part of the Indian Ramayana tale with a modern woman's story). The second will be Beasts of the Southern Wild, a modern day allegory set in a Louisiana bayou. The 9-year-old star was nominated for an Academy Award. The third film will (probably) be Whale Rider, about a 12-year-old girl whose ambition is to become chief of her Maori tribe.
©SusanSusman 2013
  • Jodi Brockington is a volunteer instructor for ShapeUp NYC, and she leads free exercise sessions on Mondays at 6 PM in our Community Room.  Tenants and their friends and neighbors are welcome.   If you've got any weights to lend or donate, that would be appreciated!
  • Manny Vega is a painter, illustrator, printmaker, muralist, mosaicist, and set and costume designer. His work portrays the history and traditions of the African Diaspora that exist in the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.  He has taught art workshops and will teach kids or adults - for the cost of materials.   He would be happy to work on a large mural (on paper) for a group of people to work on. 
  • Mark Price's hobby is painting and racing radio-controlled cars (1/10th the size of the actual vehicle) that run on a petroleum-based fuel called nitro.  The people involved practice in vacant parking lots in New Jersey and travel all over the US for meets.  He will schedule a demonstration for young and old in Central Park for a Saturday in the Spring. 
  • Our POT LUCK PARTY will be on May 19th!  Volunteer on a sheet to be posted in April in the mailroom.
Do you have an interest or skill to share (for free) with your neighbors? What about jam sessions?  Cooking together? A book club? a softball team?  Please contact our volunteer coordinator Barbara Garson,  b a garson  [at   ]  yahoo (d ot) com.   She and Joan Browne will figure out what can be done and whether facilities are available.