“Transparency on *Affordability*!”
Why We Cannot Yet Vote For Cadmanâs Article-11!
We need to bring all three (3) sides
to the discussionâthose “For,” those “Against,” and those “Undecided.”
Last week, standing at a table outside 101 Cadman, one of our long-time residents handed us a couple of documents [attached at bottom]. One was a very well-written article from City Limits Magazine, written by another Cadman shareholder, plus a fact sheet on the ongoing conversion of our Mitchell-Lama to “Article 11 Semi-Privatization.” They both represent a group of several dozen Cadman Shareholders called “The Committee To Preserve Cadman Towers” (C.P.C.T.).
Both the Fact Sheet and Article appeared to be well-researched yet with a disparaging outlook and consequence to the incumbent plan to semi-privatize with “Article-11.”
Until now, my partner Courtney and I had some questions but were, for the most part, following the lead of the Board of Directors and what “appears” to be the majorityâtrusting that the conversion to “Article 11” was for “all our” best interest.
And that still could be the case!
We had been recently active on the Cadman Facebook Private Group led by our Board of Directors, helping to solve some security issues, ideas for the hallway carpet problems, sharing opinions about elevators, etc., and even announcing that Courtney and I had discussed running for the Board in the near future.
After seeing these documents from the C.P.C.T., we then decided to ask the primary Cadman Facebook Group, led by 3 members of the Board of Directors. We asked to possibly accommodate a discussion or debate (not with the Board but amongst everyone elseâ ), point by point, explaining the disparity being handed out to all Cadman residents walking in and out of the building that day. I wrote a post with images of the two documents [attached] to get answers for ourselves and the rest of the Cadman Shareholders. Rightfully so, we all deserve the truth, the facts, and knowing all sides of what needs to be a well-informed decision when we voteâas “shareholders.”
(â ) Itâs well-known that The Board of Directors is not allowed to comment on the subject, but we all can! They can either silently pay or not pay attention, right?)
What Happened Next Was Alarming!
Apparently, the C.P.C.T. committee and the City Limits article have hit a nerve with some members of the Board of Directors on the side of converting to Article 11. The Group Admins immediately took down not only our one Facebook post requesting answers and discussion, but they took down ALL of our previous 10 posts [attached]. And we were banned from posting or commenting on the Facebook Group altogether, with warnings of being banned completelyâwhich is the only next ârestrictionâ offered by Facebook after âGroup Admin Warnings.â [attached]
Initially, are wrote to many of you via private message (or email) because we were banned from posting or commenting in the Boardâs F.B. group. After all, we asked that we all come together to hear both sides. We had no idea it was this contentious or that another side of the narrative existed. We innocently asked for an in-person debate from both sides to be well informed on future decisions by the shareholders. We all understand that the âBoard Membersâ are not allowed to discuss this topic, but why are the rest of us ânot allowedâ to discuss and share opinions, concerns, and information or run for the Board??
Until now, we trusted the Board had our best interest in mind. However, this other side brings a rather convincing argument for newer residents and the future of Cadman towers and Mitchell-Lama. Not that we are at all convinced or even leaning in support of this new narrative or either side, yet; we only need to be able to hear, understand, and make informed decisions.
For this, ALL our posts on benign subjects were removed by the Group Admins, and we were banned from posting or interacting with others in the Group. (samples attached below)
Therefore, we are now keeping the lines of communication open with the C.P.C.T., not to support their narrative directly but to help disseminate that level of detail offered from their end that is neither available or âNOT Allowedâ by some folks on the Board. Why not??
The documents we received addressed various essential issues that we should all know and understand before casting any votes in the future. However, the proverbial âelephant in the roomâ is *affordability* for all of us and those yet to come. The fact sheet, the article, and The Committee To Preserve Cadman Towers argue with facts and figures that those who have been at Cadman longer stand to gain financially at the cost of the more recent shareholders. Plus, it argues, also, forbidding the ability for newcomers on the waiting list altogether. This also proposes taking all future responsibility off the Government Subsidies from the City and the State for all of us moving forward to foot the bill, potentially increasing monthly maintenance on an ongoing basis so that decades-old incumbent shareholders may sell at a higher profit.
While we remain undecided, that is what we read in the argument proposed by the Committee to Preserve Cadman Towers; we all need to hear the âother,â pro-conversion side point by point. Until that happens, Courtney and I will vote against the conversion and advise others as such until transparency, and open discussion convince us allâpoint by point!
Again, we are not yet decided, or on this other side, which, apparently, has also been silenced. We simply and only need to see complete transparency comparing all the various detailed points and arguments. Is that too much to ask for us to make informed decisions when voting as shareholders on such gargantuan issues that affect our lives, future, and finances??
Best,
Jaime Ordóñez and Courtney Greenblatt 29F
P.S. And then we hear that the Cadman Towers Association (CTA) is also being silenced (see below). What is going on? (see for yourself below)
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October 17, 2022
Dear Cooperator:
The following letter was posted on the Cadman Towers Facebook page earlier today. However, you may not have seen it since it was unpinned from the top, and pushed to the bottom somewhere. Why? Did members of the Board (who are the FB administrators) not want it to be read by cooperators? Here is the letter we posted. We thought you should be able to read it!! If you have any thoughts to share, please respond [to the CTA]. Weâd love to hear from you.
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Did you know that in 2023, Cadman Towers will celebrate its 50th anniversary?
Itâs a good time to remember that the very first group organized to represent shareholders was the Cadman Towers Association (CTA). The Steering Committee of CTA (its executive board) spearheaded the effort to resolve our co-opâs construction and early financial problems. And, indeed we did. After much hassle, we finally gained control of Cadman Towers and elected a Board of Directors. The CTA assumed the role of the voice of the cooperators.
For most of the ensuing years, the Board and CTA functioned as partners. While the Board was responsible for legal and operational issues, CTA provided valuable input. Here are just a few of the things CTA has done over the years with full cooperation and support of the Board:
1. Organized and implemented a floor captain program to ensure that individual problems were met and cooperator concerns heard.
2. Prepared and revised the Cadman Towers Handbook, distributed to all new cooperators.
3. Organized and implemented an annual December holiday party, art fairs, kidsâ Halloween parties, neighborhood trips, wine tasting, movies, and many other social events.
4. Conducted and distributed the holiday gratuity fund for Cadman employees.
5. Organized and promoted the âno parkingâ zone at 101 Clark.
6. Worked with community police to deal with Henry St. traffic congestion.
7. Participated in Board committees to improve maintenance and security of our buildings.
8. Prepared and distributed a monthly newsletter for all cooperators.
For many years, CTA activities and communications with cooperators were encouraged and supported by the Board. CTA flyers were routinely placed under our doors by Cadman staff and we had access to all co-op channels of information.
But, over the last 10 years a growing unease has developed between the Board and CTA. Recent Boards no longer ask for cooperator participation on some Board committees and thus deny them the ability to have a voice in Cadmanâs operations. Cooperator issues, previously voiced through the CTA, no longer have a significant impact. Most importantly, the Board will not allow CTA material to be circulated via BuildingLink, the Board and cooperators communication tool. As a result, CTA no longer has any way to reach its membership, Cadman cooperators.
This unease was exacerbated as the Covid restrictions emerged. The CTA never imagined a need to compile a separate email list. Our Facebook page reaches only a limited number of people. Without email access or in-person meetings the CTA cannot hear cooperatorsâ concerns. A doorknob holiday greeting that CTA members placed on every apartment door in December, 2021 was removed within 30 minutes by Cadman staff instructed to do so by the Board. At present, it is impossible for CTA to conduct elections to the Steering Committee, the CTA governing group, or have meaningful interaction with a larger number of people.
As a result, the Steering Committee has decided to pause CTA activities for the time being. Perhaps, as Cadman celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, the Board will rethink its attitude toward CTA and remember the long history of respect, cooperation and support we have had for each other. The Cadman Towers AssociationOctober 17, 2022
Elaine Sohn, President,
Sydelle Brooks, Vice President
Uda Bradford, Secretary
Rick Brown, Treasurer
Rochelle Krause, Shelly Salinsky, Jerry Leroy, Olivia Eccleston, Members at Large
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3 Related Attachments (below) to view or download
1.) Article from City Limits
,
2.) Fact Sheet from CPCT (the “Yellow Memo”),
3.) Censored FB Group Screenshots
All 3 — the City Limits Article, the Fact Sheet from CPCT (the “Yellow Memo”), and screenshots of our censored posts have beeen called “scams, misinformation and attacking.” See for yourself the nature of those posts, which have been âcensored.â We received an email from a Board Member that these posts were âAttacking.â You decide. Do we have a Sociopathy element that may need to be identified?? Because this is all very [bleeping] crazy!
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Since our announcementâalso deleted from the Main Cadman Facebook Groupâthat we may run for the Board of Directors in the near future, weâd like to invite others to run in tandem. Below is the âMitchell-Lama Board of Directors Basicsâ video from HPD. This could help others decide if this service to the Cadman Community, and your neighbors, is for you. Itâs only 12 minutes and is worth watching. Enjoy and consider!