By Bob Harris
The September Rosedale Civic Association newsletter had an article warning people that there is an increasing number of new scammers opening storefront offices, adverting foreclosure assistance and charging fees. Due to subprime sales, many people who bought houses at low rates suddenly discover after a year or two that the interest rates they signed for go up high.
Criminals say they will solve problems, but just charge a fee and do nothing. The city comptroller has a free assistance program. This helpline was set up to help people who cannot maintain mortgage payments and are at risk of foreclosure. The comptroller’s staff will research each case individually and make appropriate referrals to nonprofits certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and help people who have problems.
These referral services are free. To contact the foreclosure prevention hotline, call 212-669-4600 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or e-mail a message explaining your situation to action@comptroller.nyc.gov.
The October Rosedale Civic Association newsletter had an article which told how the O’Reilly Funeral Home helped in the effort to raise 250,000 free calling time minutes for troops overseas. The funeral home, an exclusive Veterans and Family Memorial Care provider, has been collecting old cell phones that have translated into free calling time minutes for our men and women overseas. The O’Reilly Funeral Home is an official drop-off site for Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Local VFW, American Legion and Vietnam Veterans posts; local hospices; churches; and synagogues support the effort. People can drop off old cell phones between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at O’Reilly Funeral Home, 137 Brookville Blvd., Rosedale, NY 11422.
The October newsletter of the Civic Association of Utopia Estates printed an article which warned to not call area codes 284, 809 and 876. These are scam numbers which charge you for the call.
New York City’s Finance Department has announced it has a penalty relief program for homeowners and business owners. Through Dec. 21, you can pay your outstanding tickets for dirty sidewalks, illegal flier postings on city property and other environmental control violations at face value. Late fees and interest will be suspended during this time. For more information, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/finance.
The October Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association newsletter had an article explaining electronics recycling. From 2004-08, the city Sanitation Department’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling offered electronics recycling and clothing donation events to city residents twice a year, in coordination with private companies and nonprofit organizations. Due to budget cuts, all future events have been cancelled.
This is another one of those “penny-wise and pound-foolish” actions by the city. Our trash becomes more toxic and makes it dangerous to incinerate. Will out-of-state sites want to take our trash? The agency says we can discard unwanted or broken electronic equipment until July 1, but does not make clear what to do with the equipment after that date. Of course, metal equipment can get picked up at the recycling track, but can easily be broken and spew toxic dust into the truck.
Old cell phones must be accepted by the stores that sold them. Rechargeable batteries must be recycled. Those new circular light bulbs last longer, but contain a small amount of mercury, so they should not be put out as trash. The batteries and long-use bulbs can be returned to the store that sold them.
Since natural gas gives an odor similar to rotten eggs, it should be easy to notice. If you see a mist, hear a hiss or smell gas, leave your house and call 911, 311 or Con Edison at 1-800-752-6633. Do not do anything to create a spark.
GOOD AND BAD NEWS OF THE WEEK: It is good government agencies provide disability pensions for people who develop ailments while working on to the job, but Long Island Rail Road workers have learned to describe symptoms that permit them to receive retirement payments for illnesses.
This is under the national Railroad Retirement Board. If someone is injured while on the job, then a disability pension is due, but not payments to almost all LIRR workers. Our society cannot survive if over 1/4 of a billion dollars is given away to retirees beyond what is fair and proper.
