Thursday, September 20, 2012
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Co-op City seen `imploding slowly'
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Co-op City seen `imploding slowly': By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NEW YORK, September 20- Mounting debt is swallowing up Co-op City because most members of the Riverbay board do...
Co-op City seen `imploding slowly'
By Michael Horowitz
BRONX, NEW YORK, September 20- Mounting debt is swallowing up Co-op City because most members of the Riverbay board don't understand that constantly increasing loans is never a good option.
That's the view of civic activist Frank Belcher, who stressed, this week, “This place is imploding slowly, but surely. The reality is that the people in management don't have a clue about how to manage Co-op City or manage the community's finances.”
Belcher stressed, in a telephone interview this week, “It's not logical that you can keep increasing the amount of money you borrow every time you need money. You might want to refinance to take advantage of lower interest rates, but that doesn't mean that every time you refinance you should borrow more money.”
The civic activist, a former homeowner, noted that unfortunately, many of the community's shareholders have never owned a home in their lives and understand little about what mortgages and homeownership are all about.
“When you own a home, your goal has to be to pay down the money you owe,” Belcher stressed. “In Co-op City, we're doing the opposite because the people in management don't seem to have a clue about the basics of real-estate management. All of us would be broke if we managed our money the way the people at Riverbay manage Co-op City's money.”
Co-op City, in recent years, has lost millions of dollars by refinancing its mortgage.
“You have to pay mortgage-origination and mortgage-filing fees each time you refinance,” Belcher stressed. “Each time you refinance, you have to pay a significant prepayment penalty for getting out of the old mortgage.”
Belcher noted that if Co-op City moved toward privatization, management officials would be forced to reveal, in significant detail, how apartments in the community are being allocated and how the shareholders' money was being spent.
“I'm really tired of all the excuses for management's expenses,” Belcher stressed. “We have some employees at Riverbay who can barely walk, and yet, management keeps these people on Co-op City's payroll. We keep hearing from just about everyone associated with Riverbay that we can't lay off any of the dead wood who work for this community.”
Belcher emphasized, “As far as I'm concerned, we don't need to refinance the mortgage. Refinancing will just allow the people at Riverbay to continue wasting our money. It will allow business to continue as usual at Riverbay even though things really need to be shaken up around here. We need major changes around here, not more of the same and not business as usual.”
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Daily Double for Bombers
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Daily Double for Bombers: "MLB Final Game Ticket Frame - New York Yankees" (Google Affiliate Ad) New York Yankees Tailgate Keg (Google Affiliate Ad) New York Yankee...
Daily Double for Bombers
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Yanks Remain in First Place
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, September 20- A combination of outstanding pitching and timely hitting gave the Yankees a second victory on Wednesday. The 2-1 victory in the second of a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday allowed the Yanks to remain in first place in the American League East with 14 games remaining for the Bronx Bombers.
David Phelps hurled his lengthiest and most impressive start of 2012. He threw 110 pitches, 12 more his previous high of the season in 6.2 innings, a distance he had only reached once this year.
Two walks and an RBI single by Aderiny Hechevarria scored the only Toronto run in the game. Rajai Davis led off the third with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal. Phelps retired the next 12 batters before J.P. Arencibia reached first on a throwing error by Derek Jeter with one out in the sixth.
Although Pettitte pitched his expected maximum of five innings in game one, it took six relievers to complete the game. Thus, it was necessary to Phelps to carry the load in the second game. He stated, “I know I had to go out there and pitch deep into the game.”
Ichiro Suzuki showed his superior abilities are still intact. In the doubleheader he hit safely seven times, stole four bases and made a critical great catch in the first game with the bases loaded to preserve the Yankees 4-2 victory.
Suzuki went four for four in the nightcap. In the second, with Jayson Nix and Casey McGehee on base via walks, Ichiro singled to center, but Nix was thrown out trying to score.
In the eighth, with the game knotted at one, Ichiro got his fourth hit of the contest. The hit drove in Curtis Granderson with what proved to be the winning run.
After the game, the calm outfielder explained his feelings, “I came in the middle of the season; I wanted to contribute. Today was a great day. I was glad I was able to help.”
Of his fellow outfielder, Nick Swisher exclaimed, “I don’t think anybody could have got him out today.”
Another hero of the doubleheader was closer Rafael Soriano. The closer saved both games. In the opener, the save was a rare four out effort. Soriano has saved 42 games in 45 opportunities. Even more impressive is the fact that his first save did not come until May3, when Mariano Rivera was placed on the DL.
The Yankees will attempt to sweep the series on Thursday night with Phil Hughes (15-12) on the mound. Hughes will be opposed by Aaron Laffey (3-5).
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Andy Shines in Yank Stadium Return
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Andy Shines in Yank Stadium Return: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, September 19- Andy Pettitte was again wearing the Yankees pinstripes on Tuesday prepari...
Andy Shines in Yank Stadium Return
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, September 19- Andy Pettitte was again wearing the Yankees pinstripes on Tuesday preparing to pitch in his first major league game since June 27. In that contest nearly three months ago, Pettitte’s left ankle was fractured by a ground ball.
Pettitte was not attempting to come back for the first time this week. He retired after the conclusion of the 2010 season. His desire to play again resurfaced and he signed a $2.5 million contract with the Yankees for the 2012 season.
May 13 was the date of Pettitte’s first start of the season. Although Pettitte was the losing pitcher in that contest, he gave up no runs in his start five days later. In nine starts this year, the veteran lefty is 3-3 with an impressive ERA of 3.22. In only one of his previous seasons with New York, 1997, was Pettitte’s ERA lower than it is this season.
The 40-year old gave an honest appraisal of how events could transpire in his comeback start, “[If] I can get a rhythm and have my command, I feel like I’ll throw the ball well. If not, I’m going to get knocked around.”
The hope of the Yankees that Pettitte’s first game would be on Tuesday was dashed by the inclement weather as the night games of the Yanks and Mets were cancelled. It was also hoped that Pettitte would get four starts before the regular season ends. This desire of the Yankees now becomes impossible as his first start was the day game played on Wednesday afternoon.
Fortunately for the Yanks, Pettitte was extremely impressive on the mound. He threw five more pitches than the anticipated 70. He showed no rust after his three month absence just as he picked things up after missing the entire 2011 season.
Pettitte was pleased with the outing although he was sorry for the delay of one day, “All in all, it was good. I was able to get through it and make pitches when I had to get out of some innings.”
Pettitte gave up only four hits and walked two batters. He fanned three in his five innings on the hill. Toronto runners reached third in the second, third and fourth innings, but none crossed the plate during Pettitte’s stint.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi spoke about the veteran’s effectiveness in dangerous situations, “You have confidence in Andy because he knows how to get the double-play ball or the strikeout and make the big pitch. You know he’s not going to be overwhelmed by the situation.”
Base hits by Ichiro Suzuki, Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano in the first led to three runs for the Yanks. As Pettitte hurled five frames and left the contest with the score 3-0 in favor of the Yanks, he earned his fourth win of the season.
Not another shelter!
COMMUNITY BOARD
NEWS N’ VIEWS
by
Father Richard F. Gorman
Chairman
Community Board #12 (The Bronx)
“L’SHANA TOVA!” or, as one would say in English, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” This Sunday evening past at sunset, our Jewish friends across our beautiful Borough of The Bronx and, indeed, throughout the world, began the celebration of their New Year 5773.
The traditional New Year greeting of “L’SHANNA TOVA,” literally “for a good year,” expresses the ardent aspiration of the Jewish people for a year of holiness, wholesomeness, good health, and good will among each other and with all people. On this ROSH HASHANAH, I join with my Jewish friends in praying for such a year, not only for them, but for all of God’s Children. May 5773 bring only peace and prosperity to us all!
Regrettably, though, 5773 is not getting off on the right foot for the citizens of Community Board #12 (The Bronx) and, in particular, for the residents of Wakefield. The hard-pressed people of Wakefield, already exploited by the burden of taking on three facilities housing different populations within the greater homeless populace of the City of New York, are about to be weighed down with possibly a fourth one.
As all in Bronx Community District #12 already know all too well, three facilities are already in the works in Wakefield. PROJECT RENEWAL, a mega-not-for-profit (N-F-P) catering to homeless individuals with chemical dependencies and/or mental illness, has undertaken to convert a former commercial building into a facility housing 100 to 125 homeless persons at 4380 Bronx Boulevard at the intersection of East 238TH Street (Nereid Avenue). Directly across the street on the very same intersection, in the now vacated SERGEANT JOSEPH E. MULLER UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE CENTER (M.U.S.A.R.C.), formerly a base for the United States Army National Guard situated at 555 East 238TH STREET (Nereid Avenue), THE DOE FUND, another colossal charitable organization addressing the homeless issue, is intending to operate a facility for over 200 itinerant individuals. Up the hill and around the corner to the right at 4339 White Plains Road, PRAXIS HOUSING INITIATIVES -- still another sizable charity dedicated to aiding those who are chronically homeless as a consequence of H.I.V./A.I.D.S., mental health concerns, chemical dependency, and other special needs -- has embarked on the construction of a facility with some 60+ units in which homeless individuals, with one or more of the aforesaid complicating factors, will be leased apartments thereby technically rendering them no longer homeless.
“ENOUGH ALREADY!” one would say. Certainly, the good, decent, hard working, taxpaying people of Wakefield have done more than their fair share for their disadvantaged brothers and sisters without a roof over the head. BUT . . . . . . “NO!” says ACACIA NETWORK, still another money-spinning not-for-profit (N.F.P.) who used to go by the name “PROMESA.” Conniving with a local developer, who has a voracious appetite for gulping up sites in our neck of the woods and putting up housing that he is unable to market, ACACIA NETWORK is looking to lease a newly erected edifice situated at 4453 White Plains Road between East 240TH Street and East 241ST Street that has some 56 units -- studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments -- in which 100 or more homeless folks could easily be sheltered. Of course, who should be noticing that the greatest transformation occurring in Wakefield has less to do with the lives of the homeless than that that of the homeowners and residents of this bucolic neighborhood, who are witnessing the conversion of their neighborhood into a homeless colony! After all, protest our say our gainfully employed friends in the N-F-P community, something needs to be done in order to get a
handle on the homeless epidemic in New York City and to turn its tide.
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically agree. Where I vehemently
disagree with many of these folks -- most of whom I do believe are sincere in their desire to do good for the less fortunate -- is the fashion under which this true work of God is accomplished and how the sacrifice for it is shared.
Wakefield Homeless Facility #4 brought to us by ACACIA NETWORK is a story only beginning to unfold that requires additional space and print to tell. Tune in next week for more of the truth of this sad saga.
Until next time, that is it for this time!
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