Dear Neighbor,

This coming Tuesday is your last chance to vote in the General Election. This is your chance to weigh in on your City Council member, as well as a few judges and two statewide ballot questions. Early Voting runs through this weekend. See below for more information, and make your voice heard!

Also, on November 15th, I will be hosting an informative Virtual Town Hall on changes you can make to your Medicare coverage during the current open enrollment period, which runs through December 7th. See below for more information and registration details.

Also see below for information about free distribution events for COVID-19 at-home tests and high quality masks.

Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

This coming Tuesday, November 7th, is Election Day, which is your last chance to vote for your City Council member, several judges, and on two statewide ballot questions.

You can choose to vote before Election Day with Early Voting. The remaining days and times for Early Voting are: 

• Friday, Nov. 3: 8 am-4 pm
• Saturday, Nov. 4: 9 am-5 pm
• Sunday, Nov. 5: 9 am-5 pm

Look up where to vote at findmypollsite.vote.nyc. You can also use this interactive map to check wait times at your poll site: https://vote.nyc/page/wait-time-map.

On Election Day itself, polls are open from 6 am to 9 pm. Those polling locations are different from early voting sites; again, use findmypollsite.vote.nyc to find your polling place. 

Attorney General Tish James has set up a hotline for those having trouble voting: call (866) 390-2992 or request assistance online here. Here’s a voting FAQ from her office. 

There are two statewide ballot proposals on the ballot:

• PROPOSAL 1: The proposed amendment (to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution) removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts (“small” means cities under 25,000 population) of 5% of taxable real estate on the district—and places small districts under the 10% cap that currently applies to large districts. This change does not apply to NYC.  
• PROPOSAL 2: The proposed amendment (to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution) extends for ten years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove construction costs of sewage facilities from their debt limit.

Read more about the ballot proposals in Gothamist: Schools and sewers: what to know about New York’s 2023 ballot proposals and in The City: What Voters Should Know About 2023 Elections in NYC. 

Medicare Parts A, B, C and D:

Changes You Can Make to Your Coverage

Tuesday, November 15th, 2pm - 3:30pm

On Tuesday, November 15th from 2pm – 3:30 pm, join Senator Krueger and Eric Hausman from the Department for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information and Counseling Program (HIICAP).  Mr. Hausman is the HIICAP Volunteer Outreach Manager, and an expert on all things Medicare.

During his presentation, you will hear about changes coming in 2024 to premium rates and deductibles for Medicare Parts A and B, and changes to Part D, your prescription drug coverage. Additionally, you will learn about Medicare Advantage (Part C) and supplemental (Medigap) plans, as well as programs that can help defray Medicare costs, including prescription drug costs.

The Medicare open enrollment period ends on December 7th; attending this event is a great opportunity to learn about changes you can make to your coverage now.

You will have the option of joining the event online through Zoom.

You will also have the option to view the event online through Facebook. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account or profile to view the event through Facebook.

Finally, you will have the option of calling in to access the audio-only portion of the event.

The event will feature a question and answer session with Eric Hausman. If you have questions about changes coming in 2024 to Medicare premiums and deductibles, Medicare Advantage plans, Supplemental Plans, your Part D, prescription drug plan coverage, or how to find out if you are eligible for programs to defray the costs of your health insurance, please join us on November 15th. You will be able to submit questions during the event but are strongly encouraged to submit them in advance.

Please let us know if you plan to attend on November 15th by registering at https://tinyurl.com/KruegerMedicare2023.

Monday, November 13, 10 am - 12 pm

Thursday, November 16, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Friday, November 17, 11 am - 2 pm

My office is handing out free COVID-19 rapid at-home tests and high-quality masks on three days this month:

Monday, November 13, 10 am - 12 pm at the Vanderbilt YMCA: My staff will have a table close to the main entrance where they will hand out up to 3 free tests and 2 masks per person as long as supplies last. The address is 224 E. 47th St (between 2nd and 3rd Ave), New York, NY 10017. You do not need to be a member of the Vanderbilt YMCA in order to pick up tests and masks.

Thursday, November 16, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm at the Vanderbilt YMCA: My staff will again have a table close to the main entrance where they will hand out up to 3 free tests and 2 masks per person as long as supplies last. The address is 224 E. 47th St. (between 2nd and 3rd Ave), New York, NY 10017. You do not need to be a member of the Vanderbilt YMCA in order to pick up tests and masks.

Friday, November 17, 11 am - 2 pm at my District Office: My staff will hand out up to 3 free tests and 2 masks per person as long as supplies last. My district office is located at 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite #2000 (20th Floor). The building is situated between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. When you enter the building off of 43rd Street, you will be required to sign in at the reception desk. Once you have signed in, please proceed to the bank of elevators and take one of the elevators on the left side to the 20th Floor. Turn right once you exit the elevator and my office is straight ahead.

We hope to see you at one of these distribution events!