I couldn't imagine telling our resident manager -- or any of the building staff -- that they weren't good enough to ride in the elevators with the shareholders. Your shareholders should be ashamed.

Duplex apt. wow! I must come back as a Super in any co op condo. Your lucky you see your superintendent ours hides in his apt.

In our building (Brooklyn Heights) staff is required to take the freight elevator, as are the Domestics.

Your Resident Manager has no business on the front elevator. Although he resides in the building, that is solely due to the union’s requirement. Sounds like he is confused about his social position. Have your management company speak with him. Or not - He will come to understand that by taking the front elevator he will be alienating shareholders & losing their support.

While I understand Andrew's view of the union rules, I am in total agreement with BBCA.

I guess that on Park Avenue and in Brooklyn Heights, the super's social position is such that he's not good enough to ride the elevator with the shareholders, but when they need him to fix something, then he's plenty good enough to walk in their front door.

Andrew - Let me give you some unsolicited advice that you should pass along to your fellow residents...You and your shareholders are not of a higher social position than your super. You're not a better person than the super. In fact, just by having the attitude that you have, you have shown that you are beneath your super as far as being a decent human being.

Very sorry to hear that your perspective of other human beings still exists in your co-op.

Marty,
Correction: Super & staff do not enter our apartments through the front doors. They enter our apartments through the service doors which are adjacent to the servants’ elevator (which Super doesn’t wish to take) and which typically open into the kitchen or the maid’s private quarters.
This is not chutzpah, it’s simply a formal building.
FYI: Over the weekend the board voted to let the management company talk to him about this matter.

Wow! My co-op is right in the middle of the "North Heights", and I cannot believe Andrew is talking about the same bit of real estate my building is in.

To start, having a live-in super is not a union rule, but is required by NYC regulation. Any multi-dwelling building with more that 10 (I think) units must have a live-in super or a super who lives no more than a couple of hundred feet from the building.

As for a super's (and staff's) "social position", what chutzpah. I could not agree more with BBCA's and Marty's posts. In our building, the super and staff are treated almost as family. In fact, our current super is the son of our former (retired) super. He's on a first name basis with all the shareholders, is completed trusted by all the shareholders, and shareholders hold the elevator door for him when they see him coming.

Our super and staff and their families are invited to all building parties like Halloween and year-end. They're all members of the union, but the building feels it is important to provide additional benefits and perks to show our appreciation. Some have family in Puerto Rico, and the building was proud to send a contribution to each family to help with the ongoing problems. Our super and his family live in the building. His kids play with shareholder's kids.

In return, we have one of the most pro-active and responsive supers around. He is truly available 24x7 and will respond to all reasonable requests at any hour. He makes a point of standing by the *front* door (and not the service entrance) in the early morning so shareholders can chat with him and let him know about any problems and concerns on their way to work. He and the staff will perform small maintenance work and tasks for shareholders as their work schedule permits. They're always visible, and the communications between super/staff and shareholders always flows easily.

I could not imagine living in a building where it is any other way. Far from alienating shareholders and losing their support, the shareholders in my building totally appreciate the super and staff, because it's the unseen and hidden work they do that makes this a very enjoyable place to live.

I wrote this because I want readers to know that not every building in Brooklyn Heights has its nose so high in the air that it obscures the rooftop exhaust vents.

Every building has its own culture.

I suspect the original writer, whose building staff takes the back elevator, but the Super does not, is in a building where they are unhappy with the super.

If the Super were well-liked it would not be a problem.

For the last few months I notices this site has been quit skimpy on the questions. My thought is these questions are made up since the person or persons don't have names. But I must say I would love to get a replacement super. I heard about using a 24/7 on call company that supply any kind of service. The co op & condos are selling the supers apts. for a lot of money. Our poor handyman has to cover for our super and when the super does show up to do work he wants money. Does anyone know about this? Yes it has come out several times at open board meeting. Does anyone do something about it? No, why he's like family. Have an Awesome day

He has a free apt , right?

Yes, also free electric, gas, phone, laundry pass, cable. Just to name a few. Not a bad gig for free and gets paid extra for jobs around the building instead of getting 3 bids. Let's not forget his weekly check.

pc #1 - If your Board doesn't take action based on your super's less than satisfactory behavior, then I agree that something needs to be done. All employees and Board members must be held accountable.

However, I will also say that even if the super gets free this and free that, that has nothing to do with how shareholders should treat him.

He still deserves to be treated with respect, just like you would want to be treated.

Marty, I agree I'll remember that if and when I see him. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I would begin by asking what other rules exist for the passenger elevator. Are staff permitted to ride the elevator when going to a shareholder's apartment or must they ride the service elevator? Are baby carriages and bicycles allowed in the passenger elevator. Are domestic help of tenants allowed to ride in the elevator? If the super is not permitted to ride in the elevator during working hours than my opnion is, if he is in work clothes he should use the service elevator (no matter the hour). If it is after hours, but he is going to service and apartment or do after hours work he should ride the service elevator. But, if he is in street clothes, he should be allowed to ride the elevator as a resident. Is your elevator small? The board should make a decision and then notify the Super and the residents that this is what was decided.