Dear John
Please note! We are in the formal “communications blackout” period, less than 90 days from the November general election. To comply with election law, we are restricted with what we can discuss in mass communications until election day. We will continue to send out a weekly newsletter to keep our community updated, but bear with us as we pare down and change content to comply with election law. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Curbside composting is coming to Brooklyn on 10/2! To get ready, be sure to order your free Brown Bin while supplies last before 10/13.
Back by popular demand is another session of our Community Cannabis Conversations! We’re inviting parents, teachers, and other school community members to join us virtually on 9/13 from 6:30-7:30 PM for a parent-focused conversation about cannabis. We’ve put together another all-star panel of cannabis experts to answer all of your questions about the legal cannabis industry. RSVP for the Zoom link and submit a question beforehand on our form!
Our office is excited to host our annual Brooklyn PTA Fun Run on 10/28 at 10 AM (bib pick-up and pre-race activities at 9 AM)! This family day brings our diverse communities together to mobilize support for PTAs across Brooklyn schools. Sign up now or donate if you are unable to attend. We are also recruiting volunteers to join the Host Committee to help raise money and register your school community! If you or someone in your school has financial difficulties in paying for the Fun Run, please contact Mia at my office, [email protected].
Long COVID Resources
As COVID-19 continues to be an ongoing threat, our office is here to support our community with resources and information. Due to demand, we have a limited number of PPE and COVID-19 tests available for pickup Tuesday through Thursday between 10 AM and 4 PM (just drop by 456 5th Avenue on the 3rd floor), but we plan to restock soon! If you need a test, you can always pick one up at a local public library or find a list of test sites here. I have long maintained the City should not have closed its expanded test sites; we are still going through a pandemic and need the appropriate public health response!
In addition to helping with acute infections, we wanted to share some resources on Long COVID as new and worsening variants circulate in our City. If you or a loved one has been infected with COVID-19 and is experiencing any new or worsening health concerns, rest and seek medical assistance. It’s important to monitor for continued symptoms after the typical 10-day period to assess someone for Long COVID. The symptoms include but are not limited to:
Persistent exhaustion or fatigue
Worsening symptoms following physical or mental effort
Memory, speech, or attention problems
Light or sound sensitivity
Numbness or tingling
New or worsening allergies
Rashes
Persistent joint or muscle pain
If you or a loved one are experiencing long-term symptoms associated with a COVID-19 infection, you can check out the following resources for information and care.
Long COVID can affect anyone, even those who were healthy prior to infection and are vaccinated, so it’s important to be vigilant and take precautions if you are high risk or you are entering a high-risk area. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) estimates that up to thirty percent (30%) of New Yorkers who have been infected with COVID-19 may develop Long COVID. Vaccination and boosters are important tools to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19, so get your updated booster when they roll out in the coming weeks!
Community Bulletin
A unique creative aging class in movement and dance will be starting at the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging on 9/12! The class will be taught by dance professional Diane Jacobowitz, the Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Dancewave, a Brooklyn dance education nonprofit organization. The class will run from 11-12 PM and be held for 7 Tuesdays weekly until 10/24. To register for the workshop, please contact [email protected], or simply show up for class on 9/12.
Do you manage a chain business? New containerization rules for your business started on 9/5! If you have questions or need more information about how to safely dispose of your trash, attend any of the upcoming DSNY webinars on 9/14 (2 PM), 9/18 (6 PM) or 9/27 (3 PM).
Join Danielle Medina, creator of Fit N Play Mama, for a playful Dinosaur Yoga-themed journey. In this special class, we will send you back in time and have you moving and stretching your body in various dinosaur ways. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate alongside their children and create meaningful memories while learning fun facts. Classes are on 9/16, 9/23, and 9/30.
Join me and hundreds of climate justice allies and advocates to demand that President Biden take bold action to end fossil fuels at the March to End Fossil Fuels on 9/17 in Manhattan!
Does your loved one need help at home? Many older New Yorkers use Medicare and Medicaid together to pay for long-term, in-home care, but Medicaid access can seem complex. Join Caregiver Program Director Megan Nelson for a free online workshop on 9/19 from 7-8 PM to understand the ins and outs of Medicaid access for long-term in-home care. RSVP for the Zoom link!
Are you under 25 and looking for a trade? Queensborough Community College was awarded a grant to deliver their Broadband Telecommunications Technician Training to New Yorkers free of charge. Learn more and attend their virtual information session on 9/20 at 2 PM!
Are you a building owner or manager who needs help with Local Law 97 retrofits and upgrades? Join us at the Sustainable Building Resources Fair on 9/21 from 4-7 PM at Brooklyn Borough Hall to get connected to experts and experienced contractors* who can kickstart your building's sustainability upgrade!
The Van Alen Institute will host its 3rd Annual Block Party on 9/30! Since launching in 2021, this Block Party has evolved into an annual event that fosters a sense of community across Gowanus by showcasing local vendors, artists, musicians, and community-based organizations. I hope to see you there!
Our friends at Open Source have a new exhibit! Valley of Unity, a multimedia installation by Tahir Karmali, is based on a passage from Attar of Nishapur’s The Conference of the Birds, in which the Sufi poet describes a valley where all our outlines dissolve and we become indistinguishable from each other. During the course of the exhibition, musicians will be invited to activate the installation through live performances produced and recorded by Street of Sound. Visitors are invited to consider the waves that move through us all, making space for meditation on our collective journey. Check it out between now and 10/12!
Is your school looking for more books? Brooklyn Book Bodega's (BBB) mission is to increase the number of book homes for kids in our City! If your school needs more books, request a giveaway from BBB to get over 500 FREE books for your community Learn more here.
Check out GrowNYC's new Bartel Pritchard Square Greenmarket on Sundays and Wednesdays for healthy, accessible, and affordable produce.
In Solidarity,
Shahana
