Important Community Updates
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 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 and here.
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. 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. 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!
- Urban Justice Center "Know Your Rights" training videos on topics that affect survivors of intimate partner abuse. Watch here.
- NYC Office of Emergency Management webinar on emergency planning and preparedness for older adults. Watch here.
- Share Cancer Support educational programs for persons coping with breast, ovarian, uterine and other reproductive cancers. Watch here.
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Spread the Word!
Free Wednesday at the Bronx Zoo & New York Aquarium!
Click here 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!
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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]; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com. 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. Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.
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