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Dear Neighbors,

Please read below for important updates from my office pertaining to the U.S. Census, the upcoming Presidential Election, funding for our local schools, and food assistance for New Yorkers.
2020 Census: Extended Until October 31st!

A federal judge has ruled ([link removed]) that the 2020 Census count will not end early, continuing until the end of October. It is absolutely essential --for fair representation in government and funding for affordable housing, our schools, and hospitals -- that all New Yorkers participate in the Census. Go to my2020census.gov ([link removed]) or call 844-330-2020 to complete your Census today -- it's fast and confidential. New York City’s future depends on it.

The Upper West Side's current Census response rate is 62 percent, eight percentage points below our response rate ten years ago. We rank 15th among the 51 Council districts. We can do better! Please forward this email to your friends and post this flyer ([link removed]) in your building.

Census workers are in the field, following up with Upper West Siders who still have not responded. Please assist their efforts -- if you live in a building with a doorman, please urge building management to allow Census workers with identification to enter and do their job.

Finally, if you need help filling out your Census form, please join Goddard Riverside and U.S. Census workers at the Wise Towers Plaza (near 117 W. 90th) from 3-6pm today (Friday), and at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center (250 W. 65th) from 3-6pm on Monday. There will be raffles with prizes at both locations!
2020 Presidential Election: Are You Registered to Vote?
* If you are not registered, you must do so by October 9th! Go to vote.nyc ([link removed]) , or call 1-866-868-3692, to check your registration & register if necessary.
* Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
* Early Voting will be available from October 24th -- November 1st.

The NYC Board of Elections has finalized Early Voting poll sites. You must vote at the site designated for your address. Click here ([link removed]) to view your Early Voting and Election Day poll sites.

Absentee Ballots: Apply ASAP
It's easy and simple to apply online for a general absentee ballot for the November 3rd election. Click here to apply ([link removed]) . Remember: if you applied for an absentee ballot for the primary election, you must apply again for the general election. Deadline to request an absentee ballot: October 27th.

The Board of Elections has begun mailing out absentee ballots. The BOE now provides an Absentee Ballot Tracking System. Click here ([link removed]) to check the status of your application and track your ballot. The system is updated every 24 hours, and applications take up to 72 hours to be entered.
Funding for Upper West Side Schools

Fiscal Year 2021 Program Funding
As schools re-open, my office is doing everything it can to support them. Despite the profound budget gap that we faced in June, I was able to allocate over $570,000 for a wide variety of enrichment, arts, and after-school programs at Upper West Side schools in FY 2021.

My office has provided direct grants to local public schools for programming, as well as funded non-profit cultural and education groups that provide programming in our local schools:
* PS 191 -- Literacy & Mandarin Programs
* PS 452 -- Enrichment Programs
* PS 84 -- Enrichment Programs
* MS 245 -- Artist Residency Program
* PS 166 -- The Metropolitan Opera Guild Program
* MS 258 -- Activities & Enrichment Program
* MS 256 -- Activities & Enrichment Program
* MS 250 -- School Activities
* New York City Center at PS 84 -- Arts Program
* CUNY Creative Arts Team at MLK Campus high schools -- Arts Program
* Reaching for the Arts at PS 191 -- Operating Expenses for Afterschool Music Program
* Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center/Lucy Moses School for Music & Dance at Special Music School -- Arts Program
* Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York at PS 199 -- Philharmonic Program
* Marquis Studios at West End Secondary School -- Arts Program
* Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at PS/MS 191 -- Arts Program
* YMCA at PS 191 -- Afterschool Folk Arts Program
* Catholic Charities Community Services at Innovation Diploma High School -- Regents Prep Work
* PS 75 Parent-Teacher Association -- PS 75 Afterschool Program

I have also funded 14 afterschool programs in our public schools through the CASA program, along with an intensive in-school cultural program with the Ping Chong Company at PS 191, 84 and 256.

Other cultural and educational non-profits who have received funding from my office to provide programming at Upper West Side Schools include:

* National Dance Institute -- Dance Residency Programs
* Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation -- Dance Programs
* New 42nd Street -- New Victory Theatre Education Programs
* Kids Creative 404 -- Operating Expenses for Kids Creative Summer Camp
* New York City Ballet -- Residency Programs
* Film Society of Lincoln Center -- Film Programs
* Young People's Chorus of New York City -- YPC Programming
* Vivian Beaumont Theater -- Open Stages Programming in Public High Schools
* Sadie Nash Leadership Project -- Leadership Programs
* Pride Not Prejudice -- Anti-Bullying Presentations
* Wellness in the Schools -- Nutrition Programming at PS 452, PS 75 and other District 6 Schools
* Mouse, Inc. -- Digital Literacy Initiative in High Schools
* Goddard Riverside Community Center -- Youth Afterschool Programs at the Bernie Wohl & Lincoln Square Neighborhood centers
* Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council -- Afterschool Programming at The Commons
* BioBus -- Environmental Education Programming
* Include NYC -- Resources for Families with Children with Special Needs
* New York Road Runners -- Supplemental Phys Ed Programming
* Class Size Matters -- Development of Outreach Material & Information On Education Issues In Public Schools


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Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Funding for Schools
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For FY21, I have also allocated $1.75 million to upgrade technology systems in several of our schools, renovate auditoriums and a library, and keep school buildings safe and in good repair.

Please note that each school receiving capital funding for technology upgrades will decide what type of technology they need. Some need individual laptops for students; others need smartboards, copiers, etc.
* MLK High School: Upgraded sound & lighting system for the school auditorium
* PS 84: Technology Upgrade
* MS 43: Technology Upgrade
* PS 75: Technology Upgrade
* PS 166: Technology Upgrade
* MS 250: Technology Upgrade
* M256: Technology Upgrade
* PS 452, M191, & M452: Yard Renovation
* West End Secondary School, M837, & M291: Library Upgrade
* M333 MSC: Auditorium Upgrade


** Grab & Go Meals Update
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The City's Grab-and-Go meal distribution program will continue as public schools re-open.

Meals for Students
* Students learning in-person at a DOE school will receive both breakfast and lunch in school.
* Any student or their guardian (this applies to full-time remote learning students, and those doing blended learning who are at home for the day) can pick up free grab-and-go meals from any school convenient to them.
* No sign-up or registration is required. Meals will be provided near entry points for easy pick-up by students and families.

Meals for the General Public
There will be at least 200 Grab-and-Go locations across the city that will be open to all New Yorkers, no questions asked. This will include some dedicated kosher locations and Halal protein options.

To find one of the 200 school locations where you can pick up a meal, click here ([link removed]) . Meals will be available from 3-5pm on school days to ensure social distancing and safety for school children and staff, and so that the distribution of meals does not conflict with the school day.
Support Our Neighbors

September is Hunger Action Month ([link removed]) . Even before the pandemic, well over a million New York City residents were food insecure and that number continues to rise. There are many ways to help. Learn more here ([link removed]) .
We're Here to Help

My office assists people with housing issues, seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can.

Please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com ([link removed]) . We update it on a daily basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders need to get through this crisis.

Warmly,

P.S. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or have them subscribe to my e-blasts here ([link removed]) . Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) , and/or Instagram ([link removed]) .

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