SRMICKO KNAC KNICKERBOCKER NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION COMMITTEE NOL. 1 DECEMBER, 1973 NO.5 = Now that Knickerbocker Village has asked for another rent increase discussions have started again on the pros and cons of becoming a Co-op. At a special meeting about the rent increase held on Tuesday night Dec.11 some of the questions and answers were as follows: QUESTION: K.V. is asking for approximately a 25% increase. Will they get it? ANSWER : It is doubtful that they will get’ that much but it is.al- most certain that there will be an increase, QUESTION: If K.V, went Co-op how much would it cost to buy my apart- ment? ANSWER: | According to Senator Bookson based on testimony elicited by him at the last hearing, K.V. cannot be sold for more than it cost to build which breaks down to approximately $100. per room. In other words a 3s room apartment would cost $350, a room apartment $400, to buy. QUESTION: What would my monthly rent or maintanence charge be? ANSWER: It is difficult to tell but it should not be any more than the rent you are paying now and more than likely consider- ably less. | QUESTION: Why should it cost me less? ANSWER: Because you eliminate the high salaries of the managers, Fifth Avenue offices, dividends paid to the stock holders, duplication of jobs and other non-essentials. QUESTION: Are there any other savings? ANSWER: YES. Part of your monthly rent will be a tax deduction on your income tax return. QUESTION: What about vandalism? ANSWER : The cost of vandalism is now part of your rent. It is one of the reasons K.V. wants an increase. If there is tenant ownership there is considerably less vandalism because undesirable tenants can be evicted.(If you buy a car you will take much better care of it than if you rent one.) QUESTION: Why should I buy an apartment in a hO year old building that is falling apart? (cont'd -page 3) to2B The time has come when the residents of Knickerbocker Village will no longer tolerate the senseless murders, muggings, vandalism and drug abuse committed by our youths. Our children by the very nature of their "crimes" are crying out for help. iet us give them the kind of help they want. Most of the offenses are committed by children under the influence of some form of drug. It is KNAC's aim to find out who the drug users are, to inform their parents and to help in any way possible to re- habilitate the youth. It is also the aim of KNAC to rid the neighbor- hood of all drug pushers. We intend to accomplish our goals in many ways. KNAC is now in the process of organizing a "Parents Patrol", The purpose of this group is to patrol the roof, basement, courts and stairwells of Knickerbocker| Village, disperse any loiterers and prevent any crimes. Anyone caught committing a crime, taking drugs or doing anything else considered to be detrimental to society will be reported to his parents. It is not the purpose of the "Patrol" to make an arrest. These are our children,| We want to help them - not hurt them, If, however, the parents can- not control their child and refuse professional help, other action will| have to be taken. It is perfectly natural for a parent to say "not my child" and you hope and pray that it isn't your child, but how many of you are 100% sure? How many of you have children who may be experimenting with drugs? Youth who say "I'm just going to try it once to see what it's like", That's the way drug addiction starts. To you parents who have children too young to know about drugs, find out all you can before it is too late. On Friday night, December 21, at 8;30 P.M. there will be a meeting of KNAC in the basement of St. Joseph's Church. Five members of the New York City Police Department will be present to discuss drugs and our children. Therewill also be a short documentary film on how a child gets "hooked" and how you as a parent will be able to spot the warning signals in your child. The five dedicated men of the Police Department who are donating their own time to help you and your children are: Detective Frank Maruna & Patrol Officer Joseph Montefusco (Fifth Precinct Commnity Relations ) Sergeant John St Jeans - office ef the Deputy Commissioner Deputy Inspector Richard Dunne - Commanding Officer (Youth Division) Captain Weber - Commander of the Fifth Precinct (cont'd)(% Knac has been working for ten months to help the youth #Knicker- bocker Village and to make our community a better place to live, We are asking for your support. There are close to 1600 families in Knickerbocker Village, We would like to see at least one member from | each family on FRIDAY night, DECEMBER 21 in ST. JOSEPH's AUDITORIUM. (cont'd from page 1) ANSWER: Is the building falling apart? And if it is how much will it cost to rehabilitate? No one wants to buy a "pig in a poke! There are many things about the condition of K.V. we will want to know before any decision can be made. A reputable engineering firm and accounting firm will have to take a thorough survey and make a detailed report. QUESTION :If improvements have to be made-like new refrigerator, stoves, windows, etc. isn't that an excuse for K.V. to ask for an increase? . ANSWER: YES. As a Co-op we can take care of these improvements in our own way. QUESTION: What other benefits are there? ANSWER: The tenants will have a say in the guards and how many are hired, in painting,in repairs and other complaints like leaking faucets, cracked walls, clogged radiators, etc. QUESTION:If we become a Co-op who will run K.V.? ANSWER: There are many ways this can be done. By a board of direc— tors made up of K.V. residents who do not get paid and who are elected by the residents of K.V. or by a management firm selected by the board of directors, etc. r QUESTION:I am saving to buy my own home and do not intend to live here very long. What advantages does a Co-op have for me? ANSWER: Whether you intend to stay for 6 months or 6 years there are nothing but advantages. The money you pay to buy your own apartment will be returned to you when you move out sc your investment is safe. All of the improvements plus a very possible decrease in rent certainly make it more than worth- while. QUESTION:If the apartments will be so cheap to buy and rents will be so cheap how do we keep undesirable tenants out? ANSWER: A new applicant will be thoroughly screened by a tenant com- mittee. Every member of the family including the children will be investigated and must be found of good character before they will be accepted. QUESTION:Will K.V. sell to the tenants? | ANSWER: At this time K.V. has indicated that they are willing to talk (cont'd on back)