Dear Neighbor,

As I'm sure is the case for many of you, the situation in Israel and Gaza remains at the top of my mind. Every day I feel anew the horror at Hamas' terrible attack, fear for the hostages Hamas still holds, grief for the growing civilian death-toll in Gaza, and frustration at the failure of leadership on all sides over decades that precipitated these events.

You can read my comments from earlier this month by clicking here.

As we struggle to comprehend what is happening and why, as well as what we believe should be done in response, I have found these thoughtful perspectives to be valuable:

• Response to the Tragedy in Israel, Rabbi Rachel Timoner
• Thoughts on Israel and Gaza, President Barack Obama
• Navigating Complexity: A Convening for the New York Jewish Majority, New York Jewish Agenda

For my part, I try to be guided by what I believe to be a self-evident truth: that all humans are born equally valuable. I support Israel's right to exist and to defend itself, and I join people of goodwill around the world in demanding the return of all the hostages taken by Hamas. At the same time I condemn the killing of civilians, especially children, no matter who they are or who is doing the killing. I join calls for the creation of a humanitarian corridor and pauses in the fighting to allow desperately needed aid into Gaza, and to allow civilians to get out of harm's way. And once again I plead with leaders on all sides to show the courage and wisdom necessary to craft a lasting solution, with two independent Israeli and Palestinian states living side-by-side in a just peace.

And, as I have said before, while we are focused on the continuing tragedy in Israel and Gaza, we must also contribute to de-escalation and the disempowerment of hate right here at home, both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as well as all other forms of prejudice and oppression.

Below are some resources that may be useful for those who want to help, as well as a regular update on events happening here at home.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at [email protected] or 212-490-9535.

Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Immediate Help for Family Members

From the US Embassy in Israel:

U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel, please click this link: cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake or call +1-833-890-9595 and +1-606-641-0131. The +1-833-890-9595 phone number is to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Call Center for U.S. citizens in Israel, Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon.

For latest security alert, see: Security Alert #5: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem

From the Israeli Consulate General in New York:

The Israeli Consulate General in New York has established a hotline for those trying to connect with family in Israel. The hotline numbers and emails are:

• 917-756-8387
• 212-499-5321
• 347-726-1490
• 347-673-9774
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

U.S. State Department Travel Advisory:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/israel-west-bank-and-gaza-travel-advisory.html

Donations and Support

Donations can be made to:

United Hatzalah: 

https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war/

Magen David Adom

https://afmda.org/donate/

Sheba Medical Center

https://give.afsmc.org/give/525518/#!/donation/checkout

UJA Federation of NY

https://www.ujafedny.org/israel-emergency-fund

International Committee of the Red Cross

https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ilot

Save the Children

https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/west-bank-gaza#statement

Doctors Without Borders

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/palestinian-territories

Anera

https://www.anera.org/

United Nations World Food Program

https://www.wfpusa.org/

From J Street:

Ways to Support Those Impacted by the Ongoing Crisis: https://jstreet.org/ways-to-support-those-impacted-by-the-ongoing-crisis/

Medical Volunteers

Nefesh B’Nefesh, in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Health and the Israeli Medical Association, is creating a database of international physicians willing to volunteer in Israel during this challenging time. Go to https://www.nbn.org.il/dr_volunteer/ for more info.

Organizations Working for Peace

New Israel Fund: 

https://www.nif.org/about/ 

The Abraham Initiatives: 

https://abrahaminitiatives.org/

Standing Together: 

https://www.standing-together.org/en

Combatants for Peace: 

https://cfpeace.org/

Roots

https://www.friendsofroots.net/

Alliance for Middle East Peace

https://www.allmep.org/

Last week I joined over fifty of my legislative colleagues in a letter urging Governor Hochul to include the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition (NY HEAT) Act in her Executive Budget, which will be released in January. NY HEAT is a critical piece of legislation that will save ratepayers money while ensuring that our state is able to achieve an affordable, equitable, and reliable transition away from our outdated fossil gas system and toward the renewable home energy options we so desperately need.

You can read the full letter by clicking here, and watch coverage on Spectrum News by clicking here.

This week, Governor Hochul signed a bill that I carried with Assembly Member Harvey Epstein (S.568/A.6672), which will end the practice of suing SUNY students for tuition arrears in Albany, making it impossible for students to defend themselves without traveling there.

Previously the law allowed a plaintiff in most actions, including a student debt action, to select a county in which one of the parties resided when an action was commenced, or the county in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred. This posed a significant burden on defendants in

student debt actions, who at times must travel far outside their county of residence when in-person court appearances are required. It also posed a problem for legal services lawyers, particularly lawyers working for Legal Services Corporation programs, because they don't represent individuals in jurisdictions outside their service area.

S.568/A.6672 amended the law to require a plaintiff to file an action seeking to recover a student debt owed to the State of New York, in the county of the defendant's residence, which is consistent with the current practice of the Attorney General's Civil Recoveries Bureau Student Recoveries Unit.

This week, I joined 46 of my legislative colleagues in signing on to a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to stop her efforts to assist Mayor Adams' administration in rolling back the Right to Shelter.

There is a General Election coming up on November 7th. Several important deadlines have already passed, such as the deadline to request an absentee ballot. However, several important dates are also coming up.

This Saturday, October 28 is your last day to register to vote, which you can do online by clicking here. You can find your early voting sites by clicking here, and read more about what’s on the ballot, including city council seats, by clicking here.

This Saturday is also the first day of Early Voting, which runs until Sunday, November 5th. Find more information about Early Voting, including the location of your Early Voting site, by clicking here.

This year there will be two ballot proposals for you to vote on. Click here to read an article in Gothamist explaining the issues before you make your choice.

Catch our constituent services team out and about in the district this month. Stop by with questions, concerns, or just to say hi!

Wednesday, November 29th, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Carter Burden Older Adult Center

546 Main Street, Ground Floor Lobby

Roosevelt Island

If you unable to attend these constituent service hours, we are available to provide assistance in the District Office (generally Monday through Friday, 9:30am-5:30pm). Please call us at 212-490-9535 or email [email protected].

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP is a federally funded program that provides annual grants to help income-eligible homeowners and renters pay for their energy costs. Monthly income limits vary by household size (the maximum monthly income for a one person household is $2,852 and $5,485 for a 4 person household) and there no asset limits. HEAP is available to households that pay directly for heat and to those where heat is included in rent. HEAP includes the following benefits:

• Regular Benefit – assists households that pay a high proportion of house-hold income for heat or heat-related energy. Annual grant generally ranges between $21 and $900 based on whether a household pays directly for heating costs, type of housing, and source of heat. The 2022-23 Regular Benefit opens on November 1, 2023 and is scheduled to operate through March 15, 2024.
• Emergency Benefit – assists households who are facing a heat or heat-related energy emergency. If you have an emergency, contact your local Department of Social Services office. Income limits are lower than those for the Regular Benefit. The yearly application period is scheduled to be open from January 2, 2024 through March 15, 2024.
• Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement - helps income eligible homeowners repair or replace furnaces, boilers, and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep their primary heating source functional. The application period opened on October 2, 2023 and is scheduled to operate through September 29, 2024.
• Cooling Assistance Benefit - provides for cooling assistance services to households that include an individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat. Applications are expected to be accepted from April 15, 2024 through August 31, 2024.

Additional details about HEAP are available at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/. NYC residents can determine their eligibility and obtain an application online at https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/energy-assistance.page. You can also call the NYC HRA HEAP unit at 212-331-3126 or the NYC HEAP Infoline at 800-692-0557 with any questions or for an application. NYC residents who receive SNAP benefits and/or Cash Assistance should be automatically enrolled in HEAP.

Energy Affordability Program

Through the Energy Affordability Program, Con Edison customers who receive certain types of government assistance are eligible for discounts on their monthly energy bills. 

• Con Edison customers should be enrolled automatically if the utility is notified by a government agency that a customer is receiving HEAP, SNAP, SSI, or public assistance but this does not always happen. Customers who are automatically enrolled will receive a letter from Con Edison that will provide details about when they can expect to receive a discount. Check your online account or bill if you aren’t certain whether you’ve been automatically enrolled.
• Customers will not be automatically enrolled if they receive Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or Lifeline, and must submit an application to Con Edison. 

Applications can be submitted online, via email, by mail, by fax, or in person. Visit https://www.coned.com/en/accounts-billing/payment-plans-assistance/help-paying-your-bill for more details and applications.

MONEY SAVING ENERGY TIPS

• Install LED bulbs, which last 25 times longer and use at least 75 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
• Open your shades and drapes during the day to let the sun’s warmth in, and close them at night to keep cold air out.
• Insulate your windows and doors
• Insulate and seal heating ducts to prevent wasting 10-20 percent of your energy.
• Close vents in rooms not in use.
• Regularly clear air conditioner filers and refrigerator coils.
• Use ENERGY STAR appliances.
• Caulk cracks around windows and doors.
• Lower your thermostat—for every degree you lower it, you could save 3 percent on your heating bills.
• Use a programmable thermostat, which can lead to savings of hundreds of dollars a year.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS

In addition to low-cost or no-cost steps you can do yourself, New York State and the state’s utilities offer several programs to improve the energy efficiency of your home. These improvements will help lower your energy use and make your utility bills more affordable. There are also programs to help low-income customers with energy efficiency solutions, sometimes at no cost to the resident. Contact your local utility to learn about programs that may be available to you.

NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers a variety of residential programs that provide financial incentives and low cost financing to help make energy efficiency improvements more affordable. In addition, there are programs that offer energy efficiency improvements and financial and energy management education for low-income customers. To learn more about these programs, visit https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/residents-and-homeowners or call 1-866-NYSERDA (1-866-697-3732).

Community Solar: Utility customers, including renters, co-op and condo owners, and businesses, can sign up for community solar to save money every month on their electric bills. Consumers can subscribe to a Community Solar project where available and start receiving credits on their electric bill for the clean energy produced by a solar farm. To get started, go to https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/communitysolar.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal oversees the NYS Weatherization Assistance Program which provides income-eligible families and individuals with energy efficiency measures designed to reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool homes, and provide hot water. Weatherization services are available to both homeowners and renters, with priority given to senior citizens, families with children, and persons with disabilities. To learn more about the program, call 1-518-474-5700 or visit https://hcr.ny.gov/weatherization.

WE ACT for Environmental Justice and its partners announced this month that they have officially launched the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub. This virtual resource, available at ManhattanCleanEnergy.org, is part of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Regional Clean Energy Hubs, which are designed to assist in and support New York State’s transition from an economy powered by fossil fuels to an inclusive economy that is run on clean, green, renewable energy – and create thousands of good, green jobs in the process.

The new Clean Energy Hub will help Manhattan residents, community organizations, and small businesses access and navigate – free of charge – the many opportunities created by this transition, including clean energy careers, renewable energy installations, energy efficiency improvements, and transportation alternatives.

WE ACT and its partners have formed a team of trusted, knowledgeable, community-based organizations with decades of experience in clean energy, energy efficiency, workforce and economic development, education, health, and housing. This team will help Manhattan individuals, nonprofits, small businesses, and affordable housing owners learn about the benefits of the clean energy economy, ways to reduce energy use and costs, and how to make more informed energy decisions.

Examples of the services provided include:

• Understanding the clean energy economy, what it means for communities, and how you can benefit from it;
• Explaining what types of energy incentives an individual or business may qualify for;
• Assisting with accessing job training and employment in the clean energy sector;
• Discussing a home energy assessment, why it would be useful, and how you can obtain one for free;
• Finding a qualified contractor to perform clean energy upgrades;
• Locating a community solar program and help residents and businesses sign up for it; and
• Sharing information about electric vehicles (EV), charging stations, even help filing an EV rebate.

Getting this assistance is as simple as visiting ManhattanCleanEnergy.org and filling out the online form. All inquiries will then be directed to local specialists with the expertise necessary to provide that assistance, free of charge.

Prescription Drug Take Back at Lenox Hill Hospital

Webinar on Medicare Part D

Join the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program at NYLAG for a webinar on how to best meet your health and drug coverage needs for the upcoming year through Medicare Part D.  

MEDICARE PART D 

How to Get Your Medicare to Meet Your Health and Drug Coverage Needs  

English Webinar 

November 1, 2023 

2:00- 3:00 pm 

Helpline for Questions About Guardianship

Volunteer for Thanksgiving Meal Delivery

Grants Available for Parks Organizations

SBS can help local businesses impacted by emergencies. Their team works closely with NYC Emergency Management and other key New York City agencies to restore business operations as soon as possible. Take advantage of their free resources:

The Emergency Response Unit can:

• Provide businesses with the latest emergency information on street closures, utility disruptions, security, and demolitions.
• Once the business location is declared safe by the NYC Department of Buildings and Fire Department of New York (FDNY), they can help business-owners regain access to their business location and recover their salvageable items.
• Coordinate with the NYC Police Department and other emergency responders to make sure their business location is secure and prevent losses.
• Connect businesses to local business organizations for possible relocation assistance.
• Help accelerate re-inspections, applications, and permit processes to restore business operations.
• Connect businesses to an attorney for free legal advice.

THe SBS Business Preparedness & Resiliency Program (BPrep) also offers business continuity workshops, webinars, and online preparedness resources. This year, SBS launched a Self-Assessment Tool and a Digital Library as part of the BPrep program. These business preparedness resources provide businesses with easier access to disruption remediation measures, customized assessments, and recommendations tailored to their unique needs.

For assistance, contact the Emergency Response Unit through the SBS Hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) or via email at [email protected].

Governor Hochul recently announced that up to $37 million is available to support capital projects for arts and cultural organizations through the New York State Council on the Arts’ FY2024 Capital Projects Fund. Guidelines and details are available on the NYSCA website at arts.ny.gov.

These grants are recommended for organizations that are in advanced planning stages of capital projects such as the construction of new facilities, the renovation or restoration of existing buildings, and the permanent installation of new, complete equipment systems. Applicants must be nonprofit 501 (c) 3 arts and cultural organizations in New York State with control of the building site in the form of a deed or lease.

Click on this link for more information.

We know street harassment is a reality for too many New Yorkers. That’s why the city is working to end street harassment through community input and resources. Join us in spreading awareness about the new publication, “End Street Harassment: A NYC Resource Guide,” and the street harassment public survey. The public survey will inform local policies, programs, and trainings. 

Street harassment is unwanted and unwelcome threatening or offensive acts, statements, or behaviors directed at someone in public spaces such as sidewalks, streets, parks, and public transportation. Harassment harms people of all ages, races, national origins, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and people with disabilities and can have immediate and long-term effects. The survey will gather information about street harassment in NYC, and what resources people need to help prevent and respond to it. This survey is:

• confidential and anonymous
• for anyone who lives in NYC and is 18 years or older

The Resource Guide contains steps people can take (in the moment and following an incident of harassment), either as a target or as a bystander, and resources available to support someone who has been harassed. 

Help protect the right of all New Yorkers to feel safe in public, and to move freely in our public spaces without fear of harassment: 

• Take the survey here, share it on social media, and with your community. 
• Download the Resource Guide here, and share it with your networks. 
• Share social media posts using our Social Kit and the hashtag #MakeNYCHarassmentFree. 

Together, we can help foster safer, public spaces for everyone.