Building Knowledge

The ‘5 in 25’ Housing Agenda of Welcome Home Westchester, a coalition that is producing important and consistent conversations on the serious lack of housing in Westchester County in New York State, was the topic of this episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Kate Slevin, the Executive Vice President of The Regional Plan Association (RPA), a member of the coalition, was the guest. Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) The mission of the coalition;  2) The diverse membership of the coalition; 3) A full review of the coalition’s September 23rd Press Conference that explained the specifics of the ‘5 in 25’ Housing Agenda of Welcome Home Westchester; 4) The challenge that the coalition’s speakers at the September 23rdPress Conference issued to all city, town, and village officials in Westchester County; 5) Kate Slevin’s assessments on how the efforts of Welcome Home Westchester are helping legislators on the local and state levels gain a better understanding of the housing crisis that Westchester County is currently facing.

A full review of the Corporate Transparency Act and how the mandate affects businesses throughout the U.S. were the topics of this episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Carl Finger, Esq., an attorney with Finger and Finger, A Professional Corporation, was the guest. Finger and Finger is based in White Plains in Westchester County in New York State. The firm is Chief Counsel to The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Topics covered during the show included: 1) A full definition of the act and when it became effective; 2) Why the mandate was created; 3) What types of businesses are affected by the act; 4) The requirements of the mandate; 5) The deadlines for 2024 regarding compliance with the act; 6) The penalties for entities that do not comply with the mandate; 7) Businesses that are exempt from the reporting requirements of the act.

What Building Owners, Managers and Homeowners can expect regarding Energy Costs for the upcoming harsh weather of fall and winter was the topic of this episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Dan Singer, President of Robison - a well-known energy company that is based in Port Chester in Westchester County in New York State - was the guest. Dan was a regular guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) Heating Oil Prices for Building Owners and Managers, and for Consumers, for the late fall and winter of 2024-25; 2) Natural Gas Prices for Building Owners and Managers, and for Consumers, for the late fall and winter of 2024-25; 3) Energy Saving Practices for the Heating Season; 4) A discussion on how Energy Prices vary in different regions of the U.S. and the effects of those differences; 5) Dan Singer’s overall energy concerns for the New York Metropolitan Area, and for the U.S., regarding the weeks and months ahead; 6) How current world events are impacting the Energy Sector; 7) What Building Owners and Managers, and Homeowners, need to remember regarding Preventative Maintenance Processes for the Heating Season.

This episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” focused on the new rules affecting the residential real estate market. Christina DiMinno, an Associate Broker with Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, was the guest. Christina DiMinno is with the Bronxville office of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty in Westchester County in New York State. The topics that were discussed during the segment included: 1) The longtime guidelines for residential real estate that were commonly used prior to the recent implementation of the new rules that now govern the residential real estate sector; 2) What promoted the recent implementation of the new rules; 3) When the new rules were implemented, and the specifics of the new rules; 4) How Realtors across the U.S. prepared for the new rules by attending extensive Training Sessions; 5) How consumers are adapting to the new rules; 6) The condition of the residential real estate market in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State during the third quarter; 7) The current feelings of prospective buyers and sellers; 8) The biggest challenges currently affecting the residential real estate market of the Hudson Valley Region of New York State.

A certification program for members of the building, realty and construction industries, as well as for members of the general business community, was the topic of this segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” The certification, which is provided by a company known as Circularly, results in businesses being designated as “a Certified B Corporation.” Casey Plasker, the Founder and Owner of Circularly, was this episode’s guest. She explained the significance of the certification and its importance to businesses. Other topics discussed on the segment included: 1) The certification offering a designation to businesses that cites that companies taking the certification program meet a high standard of performance, accountability and transparency; 2) How the certification is available to all businesses, regardless of their respective sizes; and 3) How businesses can obtain full information on the certification. Casey Plasker also reviewed her thoughts on the biggest challenges currently facing the business community of the Hudson Valley Region of New York State, as well as what makes her upbeat for the region’s business sector.

How to Deal With Troublesome Employees” was the topic of Episode 37 of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Matthew Persanis, Labor Counsel to the Building and Realty Institute (BRI), was the guest. Matthew Persanis is also a principal of Elefante and Persanis, LLP, a well-known law firm that is based in Eastchester in Westchester County in New York State. He is a regular guest on “Building Knowledge.” Topics covered during the segment included: 1) The importance of Employers documenting situations involving Troublesome Employees; 2) Processes involved for Employers regarding the dismissals of Union and Non-Union Employees; 3) What Arbitrators look for from Employers in Dismissal Scenarios; 4) What “Write-Ups” from Employers about Troublesome Employees should contain; 5) The importance of Employers having representation at hearings regarding Troublesome Employees.

This segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” reviewed some of the key topics affecting New York State Employers. Our guest was Matthew Persanis, Labor Counsel to the Building and Realty Institute (BRI), and a principal of Elefante and Persanis, LLP, a well-known law firm that is based in Eastchester in Westchester County in New York State. The topics discussed on the show included: 1) The mandate that requires all N.Y. State Employers to provide their Employees with Sexual Harassment Prevention Training on an annual basis; 2) The mandate stating that Employers in New York State must develop and provide their Employees with a Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy; 3) A discussion on whether Building Services Workers in multi-family buildings and complexes are still conducting their extra Cleaning and Disinfecting Routines in response to concerns over the Variants of COVID-19; 4) The challenges currently facing New York State Employers of Building Services Workers; 5) The challenges currently facing New York State Employers of workers involved in the Building and Construction Sectors; 6) The continuing Labor Shortages  facing Employers who are involved in the Building and Construction Sectors; 7) Suggestions to New York State Employers on the handling of troublesome Employees.

Another analysis of frequently-asked questions from Boards of Directors of Co-ops and Condos on Co-op and Condo Procedures was the topic of this segment of “BuildingKnowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” The questions for this episode are from inquiries that the Cooperative and Condominium Advisory Council (CCAC) of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) receives on a regular basis. The topic was featured on Episode Five of our series. That episode received positive responses and produced requests for this segment. Daniel Finger, Esq., an attorney with Finger and Finger, A Professional Corporation, was the guest for this episode. Daniel Finger was a regular guest on the former radio shows of the Building and Realty Institute (BRI). He was also the guest on Episode Five of our series. This segment provided answers to a series of complex questions, including: 1) How fines can be used by a Co-op’s Board of Directors to enforce House Rules and to address violations of the Proprietary Lease; 2) What Boards of Directors of Condos can do regarding fines to enforce House Rules; 3) Can Boards of Directors of Co-ops and Condos ban E-Bikes at their respective properties due to concerns over fire hazards?; 4) A member of a Board of Directors of a Co-op or Condo suddenly resigns - does the Board have to replace the member immediately?; 5) The Board of Directors of a Co-op or Condo has to raise its Monthly Maintenance Payments (for Co-ops), or its Common Charges (for Condos). What are the best methods to do that?; 6) A Board of Directors of a Co-op or Condo receives complaints about a noisy neighbor. What should the Board do;? 7) A Co-op or Condo Board would like to declare its building, or complex, as “A Smoke-Free Building/Complex.” How does that happen?; 8) The Corporate Transparency Act and how it affects  Co-ops and Condos.

This segment of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” focused on Key Marketing Tips for Businesses. How businesses should adjust their Marketing and Advertising Strategies if a Recession should hit was covered during the show. The program also thoroughly reviewed how businesses should adjust their Marketing and Advertising Processes during the upcoming Holiday Season. Michael Dardano, the principal of The Buzz Potential, a well-known Marketing and Public Relations company based in Tuckahoe in Westchester County in New York State, was the guest. Michael is a regular guest on “Building Knowledge.” He was also a regular guest on the former radio shows of the Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Other topics covered in the segment were: 1) How significantly businesses should adjust their Marketing and Advertising Strategies in response to a Recession; 2) What the “Must-Keep Marketing and Advertising Strategies” are for businesses during a Recession; 3) The importance of Customer Success Stories as an important component of Marketing and Advertising Strategies during a Recession; 4) A discussion on whether businesses should adopt a “wait-and-see approach” on their Advertising and Marketing Initiatives until the presidential election is over; 5) The current feelings of representatives of the business community in the New York metropolitan area regarding the region’s business climate.

What is currently happening with the economy, and what the current economic situation means to businesses and to individuals, were the topics covered in this episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Dr. Robert Goodman, a well-known Economic Analyst, was the guest. Dr. Goodman was a regular contributor to the former radio shows of the Building and Realty Institute (BRI). He is a former Consultant for Putnam Investments. While with Putnam, he was a member of the company's Business Advisory Group, a panel of experts on Economic, Business and Personal Financial Topics. Dr. Goodman has appeared frequently on The Cable News Network (CNN) and has been a regular Guest Host on CNBC's “Squawk Box.” Dr. Goodman was the Chief Economist with J.&W. Seligman & Co. between 1972 and 1989. He has also been an Economist at Citibank and the Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y. Topics covered during the segment included: 1) The recent turbulent times on Wall Street; 2) Fears that the U.S. Economy is in much worse shape than previously believed; 3) If a Recession is inevitable; 4) The eventual effects of the Federal Reserve lowering Interest Rates; 5) The effects of current economic conditions on the business community; 6) What Investors should, and should not do, in the weeks and months ahead; 7) The effects of the Presidential Race on the economy.