HI THERE.
WE’RE SAM, ALFO, AND ADAM!
We’re running for the Kent board this year.
scroll down to learn what we’d like to do to build community, improve communication, and enable innovation in the building!
OUR PLATFORM
ASK WHAT YOUR CONDO CAN DO FOR YOU…
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR CONDO
The board should make a strong community a priority, and leverage the community to achieve common goals. Some projects we believe are critical to starting this process —
Regularly organize building events that facilitate neighbors meeting neighbors, including social events and project days.
Move resident communication from BuildingLink to a modern alternative.
Distribute an information booklet and/or series of welcome emails to new residents to get them oriented in the building.
Create an easily accessible online repository of building information, including both official and resident-to-resident recommendations and solutions for unit maintenance and common problems (e.g. window maintenance advice, pest management best practices)
Provide support to residents who want to organize group activities or solutions, for instance coordinating a shared playroom babysitter, compiling a list of building notaries, organizing group cleaning services (window cleaning, deep cleaning in the spring, etc.), offering group yoga or fitness classes, coordinating a neighbor “open house” day so we can see each other’s decor choices, etc. We have lots of ideas!
Community Focus
The board should clearly communicate on a regular basis with all owners & residents, including —
Status of current projects
Information on any known upcoming issues or projects, and anything that’s under discussion
Publishing video or full notes after every board meeting
Providing easily accessible online archives of all board activity and updates
The board should be accessible to all owners & residents, including —
Holding regular board office hours in person or via Zoom
Soliciting feedback regularly via a resident survey
The board and management company should set clear and reasonable expectations for residents, and employ positive communication strategies in everyday correspondence (in particular when handling more delicate or difficult situations.)
Communication Improvements
Balancing Liability, Affordability & Innovation
The board should strive to better balance liability mitigation with expense and hassle to unit owners, and encourage positive change and innovation. In particular, we’d like to see —
Increased affordability for residents hiring outside contractors to perform work in the building (i.e. we should not have to hire the most expensive contractors due to over-zealous insurance requirements.)
Reworked building regulations to reduce delays and excess expense for renovation projects.
Recommended contractors (plumbers and electricians at a minimum) who have been vetted and with whom a favorable building rate that is actually competitive has been negotiated.
Limiting liability while not using it as a cudgel to kill or endlessly delay the implementation of new ideas.
THE CANDIDATES
When I bought my apartment, my real estate attorney gave me some advice. “Sam,” he said, “whatever you do, never, ever run for the condo board.” Back in those days, I was inclined to agree with him. As time has passed though, I’ve felt increasingly inspired to give back to our community. My experience makes me somewhat uniquely qualified to take on the many challenges we face. The local gym business that I have owned for 16 years is resource-constrained, as is The Kent. Yet there I have created and leveraged a community spirit among our 400 members that allows us to punch far above our weight. I have learned the huge value of clearly communicating and actively soliciting feedback to get people involved and provide a great community experience. I’m willing to bet there are 10 things we could do for very little money tomorrow here at The Kent that would improve the lives of the majority of building residents, if only someone would ask and listen.
SAMANTHA ORME
Hello, my name is Alfonso Gorini. My wife Ruth and I purchased Apartment 205 in 2012; The Kent has been home to us since then.
After a very pragmatic background in Civil Engineering, I embarked in the Masters of Architecture program at Columbia University, and have since worked in the industry as an Architect licensed in New York State. I am familiar with the process of getting complex projects built in NYC, and I deal regularly with the intricacies of the NYC Department of Buildings, the FDNY, and other agencies. For about a year now, and together with other fellow condo owners, I have been involved in the Local Law 97 subgroup which has worked to develop possible avenues to get The Kent out of upcoming monetary penalties due to noncompliance with LL97. I expect to increase the momentum we have built so far to reach that goal.
An Architect is many things, but at the very core we must be communicators and team players. We produce instructions so others can make something material, something that is needed and that doesn't exist yet. Tangible solutions. I think I can leverage that particular area of expertise to help improve our day-to-day conditions, and to plan ahead to tackle future challenges that our building and our community will have to face.
ALFONSO GORINI
Hi neighbors - my name is Adam Feit. I moved to 970 Kent in 2016 with my wife Nitasha, and my commitment to the Kent community and building has grown as our two daughters, Leela (6) and Nora (3) have lived here their whole lives.
I’m a problem-solver by nature and an actuary by profession, and have built a career on risk management and data-driven decision-making. I would like to focus on long-term financial stability, promote transparency, and ensure everyone has the opportunity to be heard as we work together to shape the Kent’s future.
ADAM FEIT
WHY A COALITION?
Pretty simple answer here. We can’t do much of anything without the support of the majority of the board. This will be a lot easier if the majority of the board is part of our coalition and already enthusiastic about our platform!
So… if you like what you’re reading here, please vote for all three of our candidates so that we will be able to get things done!
How to vote
Instructions will be here soon!
Have questions or want to get involved?
We’d love to hear from you, and you don’t have to run for the board to help us make The Kent an even more amazing place to live! Hit us up if you’re interested in getting involved in any capacity ❤️