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Dear Neighbors,

Please read below for important updates from my office pertaining to the U.S. Census, registering to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election, resources for tenants and small businesses, the W. 66th Street Extell development project, and more.
October 5th: New Closing Date for 2020 Census

Despite a federal ruling that the 2020 Census count will not end early, the U.S. Census Bureau now says ([link removed]) it plans to shut down its self-response and field data collection operations by this Monday, October 5th.

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, and there are no questions about citizenship status.

The Upper West Side's current Census response rate is 63 percent, seven percentage points below our response rate ten years ago. We have increased our response rate by 1 percent in the last couple weeks and 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. New York City’s future depends on it!
Presidential Election: Register to Vote by October 9th!
* If you are not registered to vote, 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. When you request your ballot on-line you will receive a tracking number. Click here and use that number or other identifying information ([link removed]) to check the status of your ballot application. The system is updated every 24 hours, and applications take up to 72 hours to be entered.
Resources for Tenants & Small Businesses

Housing Clinic: Wednesday, October 7th
Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our October Housing Clinic -- "Housing Court 101."
* The clinic will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, October 7th, from 6 to 7pm. Please click here to register and receive Zoom event info ([link removed]) .
* You can submit questions in advance when you register, and questions will also be taken during the event via Zoom's chat function. The presentation will be led by Goddard Riverside Law Project.

If you are facing a possible eviction, help is available. You can access free legal services on our website ([link removed]) , by looking under "Housing."

Governor Cuomo announced this week ([link removed]) that the State's Tenant Safe Harbor Act ([link removed]) will be expanded to protect additional tenants until January 1, 2021. The Act offers legal protection from eviction to residential tenants suffering financial hardship during the pandemic. Tenants facing rent non-payment eviction warrants issued before the start of the pandemic are now also covered by the Act until the end of 2020.

Liability Protection for Commercial Tenants
The City Council has passed legislation extending liability protections for commercial tenants until March 31, 2021. The protections, originally mandated by Local Law 55 of 2020 ([link removed]) , temporarily prohibit the enforcement of personal liability provisions in commercial leases or rental agreements involving COVID-19 impacted tenants. Read the legislation ([link removed]) extending the protections.

Webinar: Financing for Small Businesses
Join the NY Women's Chamber of Commerce and ACCION on Wednesday, October 7th, from 10am - 11:30am, for a free "How to Finance Your Business" webinar. Register here ([link removed]) .

Businesses will receive a broad level overview -- helping prepare them to find and secure the best funding possible. Topics to be covered include:
* Difference between short- and long-term loans
* Micro-loans that can be used to start or expand your business
* How to get access to working capital
* How to use your credit to get financing from lenders
* Fixing your credit & how to build your credit

For additional resources, visit the NY Women's Chamber of Commerce website ([link removed]) .


** Important Community Updates
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50 W. 66th Decision
As you may know, NYS Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron issued findings last week regarding the proposed 775-foot Extell tower at 50 W. 66th St.

Judge Engoron has sided with our community, finding that Extell's use of mechanical voids is not in compliance with the City's zoning regulations. This decision calls into question the Dept of Buildings' issuance of construction permits for the tower, and the Board of Standard & Appeals' (BSA) upholding of those permits in January.

Extell has promised to appeal the State Supreme Court decision and my office will keep you updated on next steps. We are still awaiting a written decision from the BSA, further complicating matters.

As I have said repeatedly, developers are not above the law. Selectively following zoning regulations in a way that undermines their clear purpose is unacceptable. Lincoln Square Special District guidelines restricting height must be fully enforced, plain and simple. If the City wishes to revisit this public policy goal and eliminate the Special District, the public is entitled to a straightforward and thorough discussion.

Open Restaurants Program
The City has announced that its Open Restaurants (outdoor seating on sidewalks and in streets) program will be made permanent. As temperatures drop, restaurants will be permitted to use heating devices and enclosures. They will also be permitted to expand their seating to adjacent properties -- with neighbors’ consent.

Click here ([link removed]) for ongoing updates on the Open Restaurants program. The City has announced that additional guidance is coming shortly. The City Council and the de Blasio administration are working together to put necessary regulatory changes in place that will make the program permanent.

Indoor Dining
New York City restaurants and other food service establishments can now reopen for indoor dining -- at very limited capacity. Restaurants will be subject to inspection protocols and strict occupancy limits. Learn more here ([link removed]) and here ([link removed]) .

Indoor dining requirements include:
* Seating cannot exceed 25% maximum capacity
* Temperature checks for every customer at the front door
* Restaurants will collect contact information from at least one customer in every party
* No use of bar tops for seating or serving
* Restaurants must offer protections like PPE for employees, make sure that employees are wearing face coverings at all times, and remind customers to wear face coverings when not eating or drinking
* Tables must be placed with six feet minimum between each dining party


Grab-and-Go Meals: New Pick-Up Hours
* Any student or their guardian (both full-time remote learning students, and those doing blended learning who are at home for the day) can pick up free meals at any school convenient to them from 9am-12pm on school days. No sign-up or registration required.
* Any New Yorker can pick up a meal at over 200 Grab-and-Go locations, no questions asked. This includes some dedicated kosher locations and Halal protein options. Click here to find a location near you ([link removed]) . Meals are available from 3-5pm on school days.

New Compost Drop-Off Sites!
GrowNYC is re-opening some Greenmarket food scrap drop-off sites ([link removed]) . These include:
* 97th St. & Amsterdam Ave (Fridays, 8am - 12:30pm)
* 77th St between Columbus Ave & Central Park West (Sundays, 9am – 3pm)
* A third "pop-up" drop-off site is located at 107th Street and Columbus on Wednesdays, from 4-6pm. Learn more here ([link removed]) !

A reminder to all that starting October 19th, New York State will begin enforcing the 5-cent fee charged to customers who use store-provided bags ([link removed]) . The NYS Supreme Court upheld the bag ban in August. Take reusable bags with you when shopping -- avoid the fee and reduce your waste output!

New On-Line Resources
* Urban Justice Center "Know Your Rights" training videos on topics that affect survivors of intimate partner abuse. Watch here ([link removed]) .
* NYC Office of Emergency Management webinar on emergency planning and preparedness for older adults. Watch here ([link removed]) .
* Share Cancer Support educational programs for persons coping with breast, ovarian, uterine and other reproductive cancers. Watch here ([link removed]) .

Spread the Word!

Free Wednesday at the Bronx Zoo & New York Aquarium!
Click here ([link removed]) to reserve your "Free Wednesday" tickets for the Bronx Zoo (all day) & New York Aquarium (3-5pm) on October 7th. Access to tickets will be available starting Monday, October 5th @ 9am. First come, first served. Use promo code: WCSFREE.

Shredding Event: Sunday, October 18th
Save the date for our annual Fall Shredding Event, sponsored by my office, together with Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell and Senator Robert Jackson. Join us on the afternoon of Sunday, October 18th at 96th & Amsterdam Ave to safely dispose of your documents. More details to come shortly!
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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