2012 December
2012 December Vol. 32, No.12
Focus on...Safety & Security
Too Hot to Handle
The discovery of fire is considered a major turning point in man's evolution
from cave dweller to outer space explorer. Control of fire allowed early man
warmth for his habitat, a way to cook his meals, and light for his
surroundings. Fire also provided a means to frighten away predators and
introduced a social element by bringing other humans together in a communal
setting.
Read More
Staying Safe
For most people, nothing is more important than knowing that they and their
families are safe and secure in the place they call home. Boards, management
and security firms all must work together seamlessly and cohesively to create
that safe environment without making a building or community feel like a
citadel. It can be a delicate balancing act, but with the right approach, it
can be done. Read More
A Private Matter
The issue of intellectual property and an individual’s right to privacy has become a greater concern since more and more people
conduct their lives online—whether for banking, social media or dating. While the aforementioned generally
have security features encrypted in programming platforms, there remain
justifiable concerns as to what is actually protected. This heightened sense of
scrutiny results in ancillary privacy concerns, especially for those living in
community associations.
Read More
By the Book
Unless you have a degree in accounting, your first board meeting could come as a
bit of a shock. You probably knew board members oversee the finances of the
corporation, but who knew there were so many records to produce and filing
deadlines to meet?
Read More
Disaster Relief
When Superstorm Sandy slammed into the East Coast at the end of October, hurling
a record breaking 13 plus-foot water surge at New York City, knocking out power
to millions of residents and devastating parts of Queens and Staten Island, how
prepared was your community? Was your building well-stocked with emergency supplies? Was an evacuation plan
in place? How about a communication system?
Read More
What the Future Holds
The worst of the recession—big-time failures of investment banks and mortgage companies, huge banks in
trouble, companies laying people off in the thousands—may be over. There are some signs of hope, and residential buildings that were
long stalled are now getting off the ground. In most parts of the city,
foreclosures are down. And loans seem to be more available.
Read More
Getting to Know You
Valerie Smaldone lives in a lovely, well-kept, prewar building in the Midtown
East area, known as the Beekman area. Her building was built in the late 1920's
and, among other amenities, has an extraordinary rooftop garden where she
occasionally meets and socializes with her neighbors. “There are a couple of socials on the roof per year,” says Smaldone, a radio and voice-over personality. “Residents are asked to bring wine or beverages, as well as some food to
contribute to the affair.” Read More
Q&A: Park at Your Own Risk?
My car was vandalized four times on the co-op’s property. We pay to park there each month. I have paid three times now for the repairs and I think the co-op should pay. There are no signs in the lot saying they are not responsible. Read More
