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Category: Meetings
2025 Annual Meeting Summary
Key Takeaways
The Battery Park City Resiliency Project is expected to begin in 2025 and will take almost 5 years to complete. It will directly impact Gateway, particularly the 375 building (400) and the esplanade. There will be a meeting on May 29th, co-hosted by the Battery Park City Authority and GTA, to cover the details of the project.
The quasi-rent stabilization (QRS) agreement for some Gateway tenants is expiring in 2030. The GTA has already begun working with elected officials to both extend the agreement beyond 2030 and expand its coverage to all Gateway residents. All our local elected officials expressed their support for extending/expanding the agreement:
- Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President
- Christopher Marte, Council Member
- Brian Kavanagh, State Senator
- Charles Fall, Assembly Member
- Dan Goldman, US Congress Member
Raju Mann, President & CEO of BPCA, and Dan Goldman, US Congressman, also joined the meeting and made remarks.
GTA also discussed the Good Cause Eviction law and its impacts on Gateway tenants, high utility bills, and the elevator modernization project.
Questions were taken throughout the meeting and a full Q&A recap will be posted here later this week.
Finally, elections for the GTA Board will be held starting tomorrow, April 21. You are eligible to vote in the election if you are a member of GTA – go to gpta.org/join-gta to pay the $25 annual membership dues.
Introductions
In the meeting, Rosalie Joseph, co-president of GTA, emphasized the importance of membership and encouraged everyone to join. She also invited interested individuals to consider joining the board. Shannon McCue, co-president of GTA, introduced the board members and thanked everyone for their participation. Robin Forst, GTA, welcomed the elected officials who joined the meeting.
Resiliency Project & QRS Agreement
Jeff Galloway, GTA, discussed the BPC Resiliency project, which includes a flood barrier that will be constructed near Gateway and is expected to take ~5 years to complete. The construction will affect the esplanade between Gateway and the water, which is estimated to take 3 years, while the Marina adjacent to northern Gateway buildings will take all 5 years. Jeff urged all residents to attend a meeting on May 29th to learn more about the project and the mitigation measures in place. He also addressed questions regarding the QRS agreement, emphasizing the importance of reviewing the lease riders carefully before signing.
Good Cause Eviction Law & Electric Bills
The meeting segment discussed several topics related to Gateway Plaza. Vittoria Fariello, GTA, explained the New York State Good Cause Eviction Law, which applies to non-luxury apartments and limits rent increases. She provides the current luxury rent thresholds for different apartment sizes and notes that most Gateway two-bedroom apartments likely exceed these thresholds. Cris Green, GTA, then addressed concerns about high electric bills during the winter, attributing them to the coldest winter since 2018 and Con Ed rate hikes. She suggested residents compare their bills to GTA survey results and contact management if their costs are significantly higher than average.
Elevator Modernization Concerns
GTA discussed upcoming elevator modernization work in the shorter towers of Gateway. Stacy Sonnenberg, a resident in one of these buildings and new Board candidate, expressed concern about the extended six-week timeline for the work and the lack of clear communication from Gateway Management regarding accommodations for residents with mobility issues. GTA acknowledged the problem and committed to prioritizing this issue in their next meeting with Management.
Elected Officials in Attendance
Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President, expressed his support for extending and expanding the QRS agreement to cover all residents of Gateway. He also discussed his efforts to address the housing affordability crisis and his commitment to minimizing the negative impacts of the Resiliency project on the residents.
Assemblyman Charles Fall discussed his role, ongoing budget issues, and the importance of addressing community concerns. He also mentioned the upcoming deadline for obtaining a Real ID for domestic flights and federal buildings.
Council Member Christopher Marte provided an update on his work in the City Council, including efforts to protect municipal retirees’ health coverage, expand the use of OTC cards for small businesses, and ban new synthetic turf fields. He also discussed ongoing initiatives to increase the income cap for senior rent freeze programs and support the expansion of quasi-affordability in Gateway Plaza. Marte expressed his commitment to advocating for the community’s interests and addressing concerns about grocery store options in Battery Park City.
Raju Mann, President & CEO of the Battery Park City Authority, discussed the ongoing issues with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the potential loss of 42 million dollars for the seaport Coastal Resiliency project.
State Senator Brian Kavanagh, who chairs the Senate Housing Committee, discussed the ongoing budget negotiations, the importance of affordable housing, and the need for public safety. He also mentioned his support for the Gateway Tenants Association’s push for extending and expanding the quasi rent stabilization beyond 2030. The conversation ended with the Senator offering to work closely with the Tenants Association to achieve their goals.
US Congress Member Dan Goldman expressed concern about the increasing funding and program cuts, and the potential impact on government programs. He also mentioned the increasing attacks on democracy and the rule of law. GTA asked about the effect of the Federal Government’s cuts on the projects planned for Battery Park City, to which Dan and Raju responded that the funding stream is subject to city approval and that they are feeling optimistic about the situation.
Upcoming GTA Board Elections
Jeff Galloway, GTA, outlined the procedure for the upcoming election. There are 15 positions available on the board of GTA. Jeff emphasized that nominations are still open, and anyone interested in running must be a GTA member by 5 pm on Friday. The election will be conducted electronically, with ballots sent out on Monday and due by Thursday. The top 15 vote getters will serve on the board. Jeff also clarified that the voting process requires payment for 2025 dues. In addition to incumbent board members, Mark Liebman, Stacy Sonnenberg, and Mary Mooney are running for the Board.
GTA Annual Meeting – Zoom Link
Gateway Tenants Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Gateway Tenants Association – 2025 Annual Meeting
Time: Apr 16, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83103559081
Meeting ID: 831 0355 9081
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2025 Annual Meeting – Save the Date!
GTA Annual Membership Meeting & Board Elections
April 16, 2025
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Join from home or wherever you are – Zoom link will be provided
The Gateway Tenants Association will be hosting our annual meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, April 16th, at 6:30 pm. We will be joined by elected officials, and we’ll cover issues affecting Gateway, election of the 2025 GTA Board, and time for Q & A. Submit your questions here.
We highly encourage you to consider running for the GTA Board! We especially need market-rate tenant representation. If you are interested, market-rate or otherwise, please reach out to gatewayplazata@gmail.com – we’re happy to answer any questions you have.
Running for the Board is easy:
- Provide a short paragraph via email on why you want to serve by April 15th.
- Pay 2025 annual membership dues
There is power in numbers – please join or renew your GTA membership today – $25 per year.
We invite all Gateway residents to join the GTA. Our very existence depends on the participation of the tenant population. The larger our membership, the greater our power and influence. Let your voice be heard and join others toward the betterment of our community!
ICYMI (in case you missed it): *NEW* Frequently Asked Questions page
- Rent increases and the Good Cause Eviction law that may apply to your apartment!
- Quasi-rent stabilization at Gateway
- High utility bills
- Let us know what questions you want to see answered: Give Us Your Thoughts
Questions from Membership Meeting
Please see GTA responses to the remaining questions that we did not have the time to address at the membership meeting.
Question:
Is it possible to convince mgmt. of the necessity to post the numbers of our buildings on or closer to South End Ave? Taxis, deliveries, visitors spend untold hours going up and down looking for us.
GTA Response:
We will bring this up with management at our next meeting. Thank you for the suggestion.
Question:
My questions were about gateway staff over an elevator leaving us with 2 instead of 4. Can they do work during non-work hours and if you asked them, what did they say?
GTA Response:
We have discussed this with. Management. They do attempt to do this but are not always successful. They told us that they now throw recycling down the shoot, and it is divided at the bottom. Also, they are not picking up as often as before. We will raise it again with management at our next meeting.
Question:
Can someone please address why mgmt. will not be more proactive with managing the elevator disruptions? Namely publish the schedule for when an elevator is out of service for recycling pickups, moving in or out. Many tenants can be flexible when they dog walk or do laundry and would do so if they knew an additional elevator was out of service. Can recycle pick-ups be limited to no more than 30 min per session.
GTA Response:
We have discussed this with management and have asked that notification be sent to affected residents. They were not agreeable to this suggestion but will raise it again.
Question:
I am not sure if this has been brought up before. Does anyone have any information about the lovely dumpster that has been sitting in the ring road for the last 5 years at least? I have reached out to mgmt., and they only advise that I should email Tuminia. He does not respond. It’s unsightly and smells during the summer.
GTA Response:
We will discuss it with management at our next meeting and report back.
Question:
What is the plan for elevator upgrades in buildings with only one elevator?
GTA Response:
We asked last time but they were not sure yet. According to Greg email on Feb 22nd, below was his report
Low Rise Elevators – The low-rise elevators modernization project is scheduled for the spring of 2025. We are finalizing details with the elevator contractor to confirm how long the 345, 265 & 385 elevators will be out of service. With each of these buildings having only one elevator we want to be completely transparent with all residents as to the time frame these buildings will be without an elevator. There may be an option to reduce the work schedule from 15 weeks to 8 weeks. Once we receive the final scope of work, we will begin to contact every resident in 345, 365 & 385 to accommodate their needs accordingly.
Question:
During your next session with mgmt. Discussing security, please inquire about getting cameras in the stairwells.
GTA Response:
We have requested cameras in stairwells, but they were not agreeable to this suggestion.
Question:
Can someone address the cost of utilities?
GTA Response:
The electric bills at Gateway are so high primarily because tenants pay for their own heat (electric) in the winter and air conditioning in the summer; in many residential buildings, heat is supplied by the landlord and included in the rent. Gateway buys electricity and then submeters it to the tenants. Your electric bill will include the number of kilowatt-hours consumed and the per-kilowatt-hour price being charged. Under an agreement that Gateway has with the Battery Park City Authority, Gateway is not permitted to make a profit on submetering electricity to tenants, and the BPCA performs audits annually to make sure Gateway adheres to that agreement.
ConEd provides a portal on its website where you can compare your actual Gateway electrical bill with what the same amount of electricity would have cost you if you bought it directly from ConEd. That web portal is:
Although the GTA Board has not done a scientific sampling of tenants’ electric bills versus the ConEd portal, we have done spot-checks, and those spot-checks have shown that the Gateway bills were less than what it would have cost to have bought the electricity directly from ConEd.
Question:
I was told I cannot opt out of the health club. How can I?
GTA Response:
If you are a market tenant, you can’t. We have mentioned this in many of our meetings and they are not willing to waive the fee for market rate tenants. They charge this fee as part of the Amenities rider and it is for use of health club, 4th floor roof deck, Business center and north lawn. If you are QRS, you only pay if you choose to use the health club. When the Amenities Rider first appeared, GTA raised objections to this Amenities rider with Greg Tumminia (Gateway General Manager). Although he defended the Amenities rider as consistent with market for the market rate tenants, GTA continues to believe that this Amenities rider is inappropriate for all tenants, including market rate tenants, and is advocating for removal of this rider for all residents.
GPTA Annual Meeting
Join us at the Gateway Plaza Tenants Association Annual Meeting
Thursday, November 17th, 2022 7:00 PM
The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom – see meeting link below
The meeting is open to all Gateway Residents
Agenda:
- Updates by the GPTA Board
- Introduction of our Elected Representatives
- Community Discussion Q and A.
Send question submissions to gatewayplazata@gmail.com - Nominations and Elections of Board Members.
If you are interested in running for the GPTA Board, please submit your name and bio to gatewayplazata@gmail.com. Nominations will also be accepted at the meeting.
VOTING
Only tenants who are paid GPTA members may vote. Dues are payable on a calendar basis. If you have not paid 2022 dues, please pay now.
TO JOIN or RENEW
Membership in GPTA is $25 per household. Go to http://www.gpta.org/join
ZOOM LINK
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85893020140?pwd=cjhFYzBEOEZBRXhHWUppdmYzT29Kdz09
Meeting ID: 858 9302 0140
Passcode: 253547
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We hope to see you there!
Rosalie Joseph, Robin Forst, Bruce Katz, Jeff Galloway, Karlene Wiese, Audrey Comisky, Denise Harris-Ector, Honey Berk, Howard Grossman, Larry Emert, Pat Gray, Sarah Cassell, Steve Kessler
Gateway Plaza Tenants Association Annual Membership Meeting
Mark Your Calendars
Thursday, March 18th, 2021, 7 PM
Via Zoom. Details will follow.
The meeting will be open to all Gateway Residents
- Updates by the GPTA Board
- Introduction of our Elected Representatives
- Community Discussion Q and A.
- Nominations and Elections of Board Members.
If you are interested in placing your name on the ballot to run for the GPTA Board, send an email to
gatewayplazata@gmail.com. In the email include a statement about why you are interested in serving on the Board (Maximum 100 words).
VOTING – Only tenants who are current paid GPTA members may vote. Please note that dues are payable on the calendar basis so the 2021 dues are payable now.
TO JOIN or RENEW- Membership in GPTA is $25 per household. Go to http://www.gpta.org/join
We hope to see you there!
Rosalie Joseph, Robin Forst, Bruce Katz, Jeff Galloway, Karlene Wiese
Audrey Comisky, Denise Harris-Ector, Honey Berk, Howard Grossman, Larry Emert, Pat Gray, Sarah Cassell, Steve Kessler
GPTA February 2021 Newsletter
Feb 2, 2021
Topics:
- Class Action Update
- GPTA Annual Meeting
- Food Drive beginning Monday
- Clarification for QRS residents switching apartments
- Voter registration for NYC elections
CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT UPDATE
Many of you have asked about the credits from the Class Action that were supposed to be applied by Feb. 2. Because of a glitch in calculation of the credits, however, the credits have been delayed by a week or so but are expected to appear on your rental accounts by Feb. 15. The glitch was not a Gateway error, but an error by the claims administrator. This error now appears to have been resolved.
GPTA will be following up if the credits do not appear by that time.
In our conversation with management, we advocated for late fees to be waived and management agreed to waive fees for Feb.
Also, Gateway will not provide information to residents in reference to the Class Action settlement amounts and calculations. Such information should be provided by the resident attorneys.
GPTA ANNUAL MEETING
The Gateway Plaza Tenants Association will hold its annual meeting, by ZOOM, in March 2021 (date to be announced).
The meeting will feature updates from City and State elected officials, as well as the election of GPTA Board Members for the next term.
GPTA membership is open to all Gateway residents.
We will be providing information on the website in the weeks to come so you know how to join, participate in the meeting and vote for Board representatives.
(Perhaps you’d like to run for the Board? If so, write to us at gatewayplazata@gmail.com. Think about it!)
GPTA/ FOOD BANK OF NY FOOD DRIVE
Help fight hunger in New York City by donating food to the Food Bank Of New York City.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Deposit food items listed below in the boxes provided by FBNY from Monday evening, Feb. 1 to morning of Feb. 10. Boxes are locate in the lobby of the 400/375 building.
| Vegetables | · Canned Vegetables (low sodium preferred) · Tomato Sauce · Vegetable Soups (low sodium preferred) · Broth (low sodium preferred) |
| Fruits | · Canned Fruits (in juice or light syrup) · Dried Fruits · 100% Fruit Juices |
| Proteins | · Beans – canned or dry · Peanut Butter · Canned Meat (chicken, beef, ham) · Canned Fish (tuna, salmon, sardines) · Canned Stews (chicken or beef) |
| Grains | · Rice (white or brown, flavored) · Pasta/Noodles · Cold Cereal · Hot Cereal (grits, oatmeal, farina) · Flour/Cornmeal/Baking Mixes · Whole Grain Crackers · Couscous |
| Dairy | · Dry Milk Packets · Shelf Stable Milk · Soy/Almond/Rice Milk |
| Specialty Items | · Cereals · Nutrition Beverages (Boost, Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast) · Granola Bars |
| Other Items | · Diapers · Feminine Products · Personal Care Items/Hygiene Items |
RENT STABILIZED RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO SWITCH APARTMENTS
GPTA has received inquiries about QRS residents switching apartments and whether the agreement covers the apartment or the tenant. The answer from management was as follows: “QRS Rights move with the resident if they transfer to another Gateway apartment at the end of a current lease term.”
NYC PRIMARY ELECTIONS COMING UP. ARE YOU REGISTERED?
Primary Elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President and Council Members is Jun. 22. If you are not registered, or want to declare or change party affiliation, here are dates to be aware of:
- February 14 is the last day to declare or change your party affiliation for the June primaries.
- May 28 is the last day to register to vote for the Jun. primary – register here. You can also check your registration status here.
We send our sincere hopes that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy.
GPTA
Rosalie, Robin, Jeff, Bruce, Karlene (Executive Board)
Audrey, Sarah, Howard, Honey, Pat, Steve, Larry, Denise