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** Dear Neighbors,
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Our thoughts are with the two NYPD officers who were shot over the weekend in the Bronx. These officers are public servants who put their lives on the line every day for our safety. Attacks on police officers and other first responders are beyond unacceptable.

Buildings Town Hall Postponed
Please note that our February 19th Town Hall with the NYC Department of Buildings has been postponed. We are hoping to reschedule as soon as possible. This town hall will be useful for anyone with questions about the physical condition of their apartment or building, renovation work underway, or a local construction project, as well as the general focus of the DOB.

50 W. 66th Street
The NYC Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) reached a tie decision in late January on our community's application to overturn the Dept of Buildings permit for the 50 W. 66th Street project. Local elected officials are continuing to call on the DOB to justify the permit ([link removed]) , including Extell’s “mechanical deductions” for four full floors. Such "deductions” are discounted from maximum height calculations, enabling developers to construct taller buildings. Despite the tie, three BSA members (including Chair Perlmutter) urged DOB to take steps to ensure that mechanical spaces are appropriately sized for their stated purpose.

I believe that if Extell wants to construct a 775-foot building which vastly exceeds the height guidelines for the Lincoln Square Special District, it must provide full transparency about its use of mechanical voids. At the same time, BSA must step out of its narrow rules and take a stand for our community and the zoning guidelines established to protect it. The BSA's "tie-vote" is yet another example of a process which inherently favors developers. We will keep you posted about the community's next steps, including a possible lawsuit in NYS Supreme Court.

Street Parking & Transportation Planning
Last week, Community Board 7 passed a resolution calling for a study of on-street parking in our area. Striking the best possible balance between all of the transportation uses on our streets is an essential part of building a sustainable city. I strongly support City Council legislation passed last November which requires the Dept of Transportation to analyze how we use our streets and create a detailed transportation "master plan" every five years. Read the bill ([link removed]) .

The first master plan will be released next year, and focuses on several components, including on-street parking. Other areas of focus include: the expansion of pedestrian space; camera-protected bus lanes, bus stop upgrades, and signal priority for buses at intersections; protected bike lanes; signalized intersections; accessible pedestrian signals; and commercial loading zones and truck routes. The overarching goals are to prioritize the safety of all street users, the use of mass transit, the reduction of vehicle emissions, and access for individuals with disabilities.

Also on our radar, the State's implementation of congestion pricing in 2021. There is real concern that our community will be inundated by drivers seeking parking so that they can avoid entering midtown and paying a toll. Because of this, Council Member Mark Levine and I have co-sponsored legislation ([link removed]) which would create a residential parking permit program in Northern Manhattan. My office welcomes your feedback on the broad range of transportation and street-use issues that City and State government are working to address.

Apply to Pre-K or 3-K!
The NYC Dept of Education is now accepting pre-K and 3-K applications. Families with children born in 2016 can apply to pre-K, and those with children born in 2017 can apply to 3-K.

Learn more about your pre-K or 3-K options and how to apply at two upcoming information sessions this Tuesday, February 11th (6:30pm and 7:30pm). Location: Mosaic Preparatory Academy, 141 E. 111th St. Learn more here ([link removed]) and here ([link removed]) . Contact the DOE at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 718-935-2009 for more information.

Compost in Your Building!
Food scraps, food‐soiled paper, and yard waste comprise one-third of New York City's household trash. By participating in the City's compost program ([link removed]) , you can help to reduce rodents and street litter, and slash the volume of trash sent to landfills in upstate New York and other states. Instead, turn your food waste into compost for local farms and clean energy (via a special facility in Brooklyn).
All Upper West Side buildings can join the compost program! Any co-op board member, super, building owner, property or resident manager can request a Dept of Sanitation pre-enrollment site visit ([link removed]) . Enrolled buildings in Manhattan receive special bins, and collection is Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 4pm to midnight. If your building does not participate, you can drop-off food waste at 170 sites across the city ([link removed]) !

Curb/Pedestrian Ramp Renovations
The City is repairing pedestrian ramps across the five boroughs, including the following UWS locations this week. Please keep in mind that changes in field and weather conditions can impact scheduled work locations, operations, and dates. Work is done from 7:00 AM–6:00 PM.
* Broadway and W. 72nd St (NWC)
* Broadway and W. 71st St (NWC)
* Columbus Ave and W. 97th St (SWC)
* Columbus Ave and W. 92nd St (SWC)
* Amsterdam Ave and W. 70th St (SWC)

As always, don't hesitate to contact my District Office at (212) 873-0282 or my City Hall office at (212) 788-6975 with any questions.

Warmly,

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