General Tenants Meeting - Dec. 9, 2020 at 8 PM by Zoom

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CENTRAL PARK GARDENS TENANTS' ASSOCIATION 

ON-LINE MEETING

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2020 at 8 PM

Michael McKee, a leader of TenantsPAC​,​

will speak on the effects of the federal and state elections on the Albany budget and on us as tenants and as citizens of NY.

  

We'll also go over some building issues. 

Join our Zoom Meeting from the comfort of your own home. 

If you're not on our tenant association email list, please contact CPGTenAssoc  @gmail.  com to get a link to the Zoom meeting.

Rally to End "Warehousing" of vacant stabilized apartments

Despite the crisis of homelessness and the pandemic and all the anticipated evictions, many landlords are refusing to rent out vacant rent stabilized apartments.  Partly it's to pressure the State legislature to rescind the tenant protections that prevent owners from making huge profits by deregulating apartments or claiming false improvements, and partly it's to wait for adjoining units to become vacant so the two can be combined for a new unit with a new rent. 

Whatever the reasons, it's unconscionable at this time.  

Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal has proposed a bill to end this practice, and City Council bills are pending.  

So while the End Warehousing Coalition is having a rally in Brooklyn on WED., NOV. 18 - we're having a companion rally (masked and socially-distanced of course) in front of our building that same day at 4 pm.  Join us.

Wear a mask in the hallways and in the elevator - covering your nose and mouth

The Centers for Disease Control says that wearing a mas protects you, not only those around you. 

 

Wear a Mask to Protect Yourself and Others

·       Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms, and to protect you from breathing in virus particles in the air.

·       Wear a mask in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart, and in the elevator even if you’re alone: the previous passenger could have been infected.

Wear a mask correctly for maximum protection:

•     Do cover your nose as well as your mouth.  You don't want unfiltered air with virus particles coming into your nose.  And you don't want your breath coming out without filtering it: you could be infected with COVID and accidentally infect others.  (You’ll get enough oxygen:  Surgeons often wear masks for 8 hours at a stretch while doing delicate work requiring a lot of focus and energy.  They don't lack oxygen. )

•    Don’t put the mask around your neck or up on your forehead.

•       Don’t touch the mask, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect​.

Biden and Harris won, and . . .

Federal Election

NY State elections: 

Our representatives, State Senator Brian Benjamin and Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell, both won re-election. 

Otherwise, the State Senate remains Democratic (although apparently not with a supermajority that would override vetoes), and the State Assembly remains Democratic with a supermajority.  Absentee ballots are still being counted. 

Samar Khurshid: The state of play in the state senate as preparations continue for counting of absentee ballots (Gotham Gazette)

 Amandra Fries: New York State Legislature leans further left as DSA candidates win new seats (Albany Times Union)

Meanwhile, the State Budget is running a big deficit

Karen DeWitt: With elections over, NYS must resolve a multi-billion dollar deficit (NPR) (AUDIO)

Anna Gronewald: NYS financial update predicts $15 billion revenue loss (Politico NY)

Nick Reisman: Cuomo counts on Biden to make deal on coronavirus aid (NY State of Politics)

Conservatory Garden in bloom - check it out!

 Enjoy the Conservatory Garden in Central Park, at 102nd Street near Fifth Avenue. The northern end of the garden is at its peak.   Thanks to Barbara Geller, a volunteer there, for these photos. 

COVID has changed our usual Halloween activities

CENTRAL PARK GARDENS TENANTS’ ASSOCIATION

COVID has changed our usual Halloween ACTIVITIES.

So no candy and fundraising in the lobby.

 

BUT we still need money –to keep all tenants informed with tenant handbooks, this website, flyers and more, and to fight the expected “Major Capital Improvement” increase we’re expecting for the rent stabilized tenants.

 

MAKE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL BY

• Joining or renewing your tenant association membership ($10/apartment each year), and
• Contributing to our Legal Fund ($100 or whatever you can afford).

 

Make a paper or electronic check payable to

Central Park Gardens Ten. Assoc.

and leave it in a sealed envelope for Joan Browne in Apt. 12F  OR have your bank send it to Joan Browne, 50 W. 97^th St., Apt. 12F, NY, NY 10025.

thank you!

Plan how you'll vote.

Check that you are registered to vote.  

DEADLINE TO REGISTER:  Friday, Oct. 9, 2020

REGISTER HERE: https://www.ny.gov/services/register-vote

HOW TO VOTE: 

Absentee Ballot

• If you don't yet have an absentee ballot,  APPLY RIGHT NOW FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT!
• Once you get the ballot, check. 
• It's ok if the ballot says "Official Absentee Military Ballot." (They just forgot to put a "/" between ""military" and "absentee".)  
• It's NOT ok if the inside return envelope has a different name and address from yours. If that happens, contact the Board of Elections!
• Fill out the ballot.  Sign where you have to.  
• If you are planning to return it by mail, put it in the return envelope, and put a regular first-class postage stamp on the envelope - even though the ballot is oversized. 
• You can also take the ballot with you to the polls - both Early Voting and Regular.  If the line is not too long, you can decide to vote IN PERSON, instead of absentee.  Then just tear up the absentee ballot and throw it out.  If the line is very long and you can't wait, put your absentee ballot in the special box for it at the polling place.

In Person

• EARLY voting at West Side High School, 140 West 102nd Street  during these hours: 

·      Saturday, October 24:    10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

·      Sunday, October 25:       10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

·      Monday, October 26:       7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

·      Tuesday, October 27:      12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

·      Wednesday, October 28: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

·      Thursday, October 29:     10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

·      Friday, October 30:           7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

·      Saturday, October 31:      10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

·      Sunday, November 1:       10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• REGULAR VOTING on NOVEMBER 3rd at PS 163,  on West 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, between 6 AM and 9 PM.