Dear Neighbor,

I hope this email finds you well.

Below you will find updates on what I have been working on during the busy month of March. This includes a recap of community events and visits, news from City Hall on legislation, events held at my district office, relevant resources, news articles, and more! Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.

In Community,

Amanda Farías

Council Member, District 18

Community Recap

On Your Block and In Your Corner

I was proud to host Speaker Adrienne E. Adams’ State of the City Address in our backyard at the Sonia Sotomayor Community Center. This was a historic event as it was the first State of the City ever hosted in CD18 and The Bronx. The Speaker has a vision for our borough, and she has entrusted Bronxites to lead the way. If you missed it, view it here.

A huge shoutout to all my TA Presidents, community leaders, and organizations who joined me at the State of the City.

The Metro-North Plan is going to reshape our communities and my office is taking it head on! We toured multiple sites in Parkchester and Morris Park with the Department of City Planning, Council Land Use Division & MTA through the new Metro North stations coming to the East Bronx.

We are all excited to re-envision this area to work for the community. More meetings to come out soon!

My office hosted the Bronx Mobile Federal Credit Union to serve several constituents on financial readiness. We are planning more events, so contact my office to let us know you want them back!

My office was excited to join PS 536, Archer Elementary, and the Bronx Little School to watch their “Fun, Fitness & Fancy Footwork” performance.

I funded Ballroom Basix through my local budget and it brings me so much joy to see the students learning and growing through the arts!

I was happy to attend the Glebe Senior Center’s International Women’s Day Lunch and connect with CD18 seniors about the importance of women in leadership and what International Women’s Day means to them.

My office had the best time at the ‘Amanda Farías Bronx Chess Tournament’ at JHS 123.

I am proud to have funded Chess In Schools to provide after school and weekend programming for our CD18 students.

My office was happy to join the New York Immigration Coalition for their “Key to the City” event in CD18.

This event was funded by the City Council in partnership with NYIC to convene community resource fairs offering free immigration legal counseling, healthcare screenings, educational and financial literacy resources.

I visited the “Gallery of ARTFul Medicine” at Montefiore Medical Center to admire the best new artists in the City of New York - Bronx students!

I was proud to have funded Studio in a School to bring programming to our students at PS 182, and others in CD18.

My office joined Vishnu Mandir for another year celebrating Holi! Thank you to the Vishnu Mandir community for inviting me and my office again, it’s always a great event with so much joy, love, and light!

We got some new Senior Graduates for Class of 2023! My office was excited to join the Castle Hill Senior Center to congratulate our new graduates of the AARP Senior Planet Computer Class. I want older adults to be connected in every way possible and assure we provide access to staying up with the time and learning new technology. I am proud to have presented each graduate with a City Council Citation for their hard work and accomplishment!

I joined a coastal cleanup with the Bronx River Alliance in Soundview Park. It was great to see so many neighbors helping out to keep our coastline, waterways, and community cleaner.

Thanks to Bronx River Alliance for putting this together and a huge thank you to all of the volunteers!

Bronx River Houses Game Day was full of action!

Thank you to our great TA President Norma for always putting together an amazing game day for our seniors, students, and neighbors. Lastly - congrats to the spades tournament winners!

The second annual Women’s Ride with Transportation Alternatives was a major success. Rain or shine, everyone was committed to showing up and creating more space for women cyclists, more safety infrastructure, less cars on the road, and continuing to keep DOT to their commitments to our communities.

Community Recap

Local Meetings

I held my first Mobile Office Hours at the Soundview Library and it was a great success! I got to meet young people from the district who just wanted to learn more about me and how I got elected, answered questions on citywide funding, discussed local project ideas, and my elementary school Principal Mr. Z stopped in to see me in action!

My office joined the Parkchester Watch Group for their public meeting giving residents, stakeholders and others an opportunity to voice concerns and better understand how to navigate them. Thank you for inviting my office and we look forward to continuing to work together to advocate for the health, safety, and wellness of all Parkchester residents.

My office was happy to attend the Castle Hill Houses monthly Tenant Association meeting this month.

We gave an update on the legislation I have passed and continue to advocate for at the Council, the service week we have begun hosting at the end of each month, and more! Thank you to TA President Jeanette for always inviting my office.

Community Upgrades

I presented Casa De La Fe with $1.5 million to directly support the creation of 1810 Randall Avenue- a new 100% affordable building for our CD18 seniors!

I am proud to have committed nearly 49% of my local budget to improving and building housing across Council District 18! Thank you to everyone involved in this project for your continued partnership.

The Big Apple Connect Program has been expanded to serve Bronx River and Castle Hill Houses! Since this announcement, CD18 now has 6 NYCHA campuses who have access to free broadband.

Thank you Mayor Eric Adams for expanding this program across the City, but especially here in my district and the Bronx.

Participatory Budgeting vote week has officially begun!

You can vote online at www.vote.pbnyc.org or at any of our in person voting locations.

Make sure your voice is heard in what projects you want to see win and come into fruition.

City Hall Recap

Intro 236 was officially passed by the New York City Council on March 16th! This means students get to ride for only $1.35, over a 50% discount from the $4.00 fare!

New York City students will soon have guaranteed half price tickets on the NYC Ferry. This legislation will increase transit equity citywide and ensure that the ferry stays affordable for those who need it the most - our students. I am very proud to have passed this bipartisan legislation. Thank you to the Harbor School students, the NYCEDC, Speaker Adrienne Adams, my colleagues in government, and all my partners in advocacy for your incredible work.

Happy Bangladesh Independence Day! I am proud to have hosted the City Council’s Bangladeshi Independence Day Celebration with Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, City Council Colleagues. It was a beautiful celebration of Bengali and Bangladeshi traditions with performances by BIPA and ADDA.

We also honored the incredible work of SAPNA NYC from CD18!

I stood with Speaker Adams as she announced “Welcome NYC,” a new public-private partnership to support organizations assisting asylum seekers in NYC. The Council has been committed to welcoming, housing, and feeding our newest neighbors since the beginning- but none of that could have been done without the support of non-profit organizations.

I joined Mayor Eric Adams and the NYCEDC to announce the first-in-the-nation $20 million center for sustainability focused biotech will be housed on the top floor of Building 303 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

This will help cement NYC as THE leading life sciences market!

This Equal Pay Day the NYC Council’s Women’s Caucus joined PowHer NY, CWA 1180, and advocates to keep up the fight for fair and equal wages for women across all sectors.

Thank you to Speaker Adrienne Adams, Co-Chair Louis and Women’s Caucus Members for coming out to demand equal pay. We will continue working to make sure women’s needs are met, heard, and most importantly - paid!

It has been a busy month at City Hall! I attended several committee hearings, voted for, and introduced exciting legislation. You can watch all past City Council hearings at https://council.nyc.gov/livestream/ or check out my Instagram and Facebook for my highlights.

At this month's Stated meetings I introduced 1 new bill and passed 15 bills on several issues including property taxes, lithium-ion batteries, IDNYC, diabetes reduction plan and more. Highlights include:
Reso 515: Resolution recognizing the month of Ramadan annually in the City of New York and celebrating the significant role of muslims in the multicultural fabric of New York City communities.
Intro 403-A: A local law in relation to requiring the department of education to distribute IDNYC applications to all high school students.
Intro 918: A local law in relation to requiring the department of health and mental hygiene to develop and implement a citywide diabetes reduction plan.
Intro 236-A: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing contracted ferry service at reduced cost to certain persons.

Upcoming Events

Resource week is this week and next Monday!

Make sure to call 718-792-1140 to book an appointment.

Participatory Budgeting Vote Week is happening until April 2nd!

See all in person voting locations below.

Community Resources

Need to File a Complaint with my Office?

Check my website at council.nyc.gov/district-18/ and click the “Get Assistance” button and fill out the form.

Waste Setout Times Will Change on April 1, 2023

As of April 1, 2023, the City of New York is taking steps to reduce the piles of bags on the curb by changing the waste setout times. New rules for setting out trash, recycling, and curbside composting go into effect on April 1, 2023. Find more information here.

Resources for Tax Season:

Ariva NYC is one of the top free tax preparation community-based organizations in the Bronx, and I funded them to make sure they have the resources to serve CD18. To schedule an appointment please call the Parkchester location, located at 1525 Unionport Rd, at (718) 690-9873 or sign up at https://ariva.org/tax/.

Homeowners- Save Money on Your Water Bill:

The amnesty program, authorized by the New York City Water Board, will only run for 90 days, from Jan. 30, 2023 to April 30, 2023. To receive amnesty and confirm eligibility, or for more information, customers should visit DEP’s water amnesty website or call (718) 595-7000.

Questions about the new Metro-North Station Coming to Parkchester?

The NYC Planning team offers office hours to answer questions for residents. Book a 15 minute call with a member of their team here.

6 NYCHA Campuses in CD18 are Eligible for Free Broadband

The Mayor’s Big Apple Connect Program with Altice is currently connecting Bronxites to broadband for free at Sonia Sotomayor Houses, Soundview Houses, Glebe Houses, Monroe Houses, Castle Hill Houses, and Bronx River Houses. If you are currently living in one of these NYCHA developments make sure to take advantage of this opportunity!

For installation of a new account or conversion of an existing Optimum account residents should call 866.580.1410 (Monday – Saturday, 10am – 7pm ET), confirm their address at a participating NYCHA property, and then schedule an installation. Residents can also visit a nearby Optimum Store and speak with a representative.

Council Member Farías in the News

City and State: This Week’s Biggest Winner- Amanda Farías
City and State: Opinion: Celebrating a Women-Majority City Council
News 12: $1.5 million check signed for affordable senior housing project in Soundview
Bronx Times: Future Soundview affordable senior housing, church site gets funding boost
The Chief: Unions, advocates mark Equal Pay Day
AMNY: All high schoolers will soon be eligible for reduced ferry fares and greater access to IDNYC cards
ASAM News: New York City Hall Celebrates Bangladesh Independence Day

Contact The Office at 718-792-1140 or [email protected]