Page 14 - NY Cooperator December 2020

14 THE COOPERATOR — DECEMBER 2020 COOPERATOR.COM ATTORNEYS Abrams Garfi nkel Margolis Bergson, LLP 1430 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10018 212-201-1170 • www.agmblaw.com Barry G. Margolis, Esq. • Robert J. Bergson, Esq. Himmelfarb & Sher, LLP • (914) 682-0040 Cooperative and Condominium Law—Real Estate Closings One North Broadway, Suite 800, White Plains, NY 10601 Contact: Ronald A. Sher, Esq. • Norman D. Himmelfarb, Esq. Law@himmelfarb-sher.com • Direct Dial: 914-461-0220 Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman, LLP Specializing in all aspects of Cooperative and Condominium Law including Landlord/tenant proceedings. Copy of Monthly Newsletter available upon request. (212) 867-4466 contact: Aaron Shmulewitz/Daniel Altman ashmulewitz@bbwg.com/daltman@bbwg.com www.bbwg.com ACCOUNTANTS ARCHITECTS architecture interior design engineering project management forensic investigations 307 7th Avenue, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001 Tel. 212.645.3775 Fax. 212.645.4099 Form Space Image ARCHITECTURE PC Disclaimer: e answers provided in this Q&A column are of a general nature and cannot substitute for professional advice regarding your speci c circumstances. Always seek the advice of competent legal counsel or other quali ed profes- sionals with any questions you may have regard- ing technical or legal issues. SERVICE DIRECTORY Please submit Pulse items to Darcey Gerstein at darcey@cooperator.com  Over 30 years of coop & condo experience  Hands on Personal Attention Timely Service  Contact: Gary Adler, CPA Sarah Haar CPA   www.bassandlemer.com 516-485-9600 adler@basslemer.com boards, for a charge • Tabletopia (www.tabletopia.com): Some free games; some require a premium sub- scription to host additional players • QuizWitz (www.quizwitz.com/en): Free and expanded versions for a new form of Trivia Night • Jackbox Games (www.jackbox.tv): A va- riety of games and quizzes that require use of a computer screen and smartphone for each player Advice from Medical Experts Dr. Tina Tan, pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and profes- sor of pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, tells National Public Radio that she fears that the lure of holiday parties, as well as more indoor ac- tivity as temperatures drop, will result in more illnesses. “Right now, in many areas of the country, COVID-19 rates are starting to surge again,” says Tan. For multifamily com- munities that normally plan in-person func- tions and gatherings to celebrate the holidays, serious consideration of health risks should tions from rst responders. at’s because by de nition, a reproof building has re walls between units that prevent ames from ex- tending beyond the unit in which they origi- nated. ese barriers are meant to contain an actual re—but if you leave the safety of your apartment and go into a smoky hallway, you run the risk of harm from smoke inha- lation. You can prevent smoke from coming into your apartment by putting a towel in the gap under the front door. Of course, if the re is in your unit, you should leave the building immediately. By contrast, if you are in a combustible, non- reproof building, you should evacuate the building immediately at the rst sign of a re. And no matter what the size or classi ca- tion of your building, always be aware of and follow your FEGP instructions—and most importantly, never get into an elevator during a re. “Don’t use elevators unless instructed,” says Bullock. “ ey aren’t used in a re at all. Do not enter an elevator during a re, ever.” Fire safety should be one of the primary emergency plans your co-op corporation or condominium association prepares. Once done, it’s done—though it may require updat- ing from time to time, and residents should be regularly reminded of your building’s FEGP. Check with management to con rm that your building has one. If it doesn’t, lobby your board to get one in place. It may be a cliche, but when it comes to re safety, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. ■ AJ Sidransky is a sta writer/reporter for e Cooperator, and a published novelist. FIRE SAFETY... continued from page 13 PREPPING... continued from page 9 be taken into account before extending in- vitations or announcements to residents. Indeed, property managers from New York to New Hampshire; Naples, Florida to Na- perville, Illinois; told us that they and their boards are forgoing any in-person plans for their communities this holiday season. Elizabeth Stuart, PhD, AM, associate dean for Education at the Johns Hopkins Bloom- berg School of Public Health and a professor in Mental Health, Biostatistics, and Health Policy and Management; and Keri Altho , PhD, MPH, associate professor in Epidemi- ology with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins, published some important considerations for holiday planning this year. Noting that “Innovation is key,” they suggest planning a small or fully online event now, with a larger in-person event to look forward to once the pandemic has resolved. A synchronous moment on a speci c date and time observed virtually can allow distant attendees to show support and feel connected. Attendees can then contrib- ute to or view a virtual scrapbook that they create with pictures or videos of the moment, they say. For those who insist on gathering in per- son, Stuart and Altho maintain the same exhortations that have been repeated over and over again, but still bear mentioning again here: outdoors is better than indoors; if indoors, keep density as low as possible and maximize ventilation and air ow; wear masks at all times when around people out- side of your household; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. But think carefully about travel, say Stuart and Altho . Aside from the risks of contracting and spreading coronavirus, keep in mind that travel to or from certain states might require a period of quarantine upon entry. Exposure to COVID while traveling will force you to extend your stay in that area for at least 14 days in an isolated accommo- dation. If you become ill at your destination, you may have to seek medical care in an area away from home. Also consider quarantine requirements for your return home, too, whether imposed by your home state or by your work or children’s school. If your holi- day plans include travel, plan for all of these contingencies as well. The Final Word Acknowledging the temptations to ignore or forget some of these recommendations while in the throes of reuniting and revelry, Community Health Manager Sam Jarvis of Johnson County Public Health emphasizes the importance of exibility and communi- cation this holiday season. In an interview with Iowa City, Iowa Mayor Bruce Teague, he explains, “During COVID, we’re gonna have to challenge ourselves just a little bit to lower our risk factors. Have the crucial conversa- tions with your relatives and loved ones. Plan ahead. It’s very tempting to want to see peo- ple, especially since many of us haven’t seen certain loved ones for months on end, but it’s still important to be very vigilant now more than ever. Especially if you’re a person at in- creased risk, or your loved ones or friends are, there’s a lot to consider.” With the many op- tions we have for virtual connection, we can do our best to keep everyone healthy for what is sure to be an enormous celebration when the coronavirus crisis is behind us. e fewer gatherings now, the faster we can make that happen. ■ Darcey Gerstein is Associate Editor and Sta Writer for e Cooperator. second oor owners to pay 1/3 each for the cost for replacement of the wall, now claim- ing it’s a common element. We believe the cost is theirs entirely, since they removed the wall to include their enclosed porch as a liv- ing space. Who’s right? —Enclosed in Controversy A “By not obtaining permis- sion from the condo board nor complying with New York law, the third- oor owner makes any liability his—both nancially and physically, as far as returning the space to its legal con- dition,” says attorney Adam Leitman Bai- ley, founding partner of the New York rm Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. “ ere is no case law or any other decision that would sup- port the third oor owner’s position. e violation most likely was placed on the en- tire building, but the owner should pay for the entire ne he or she caused.” ■ Q&A continued from page 5 bright blue loo. Down a custom-built staircase, says AD , there is a second den with a wood-burning replace and built-in bookshelves, the re- maining three guest bedrooms, a second open kitchen, and a 43-foot terrace. Sarandon said in July that she was ready to downsize now that her children have grown. “I am, of course, sad to say goodbye to the apartment where I raised my children,” she told the WSJ . “But New York City is still my home. I am hopeful that the next owners can cherish it and all that New York City has to of- fer, just as we did and will continue to do.” ■ PULSE continued from page 4