[[link removed]]Dear John,



This is an anxious time for all of us, and one of the hardest parts is how much is outside of our control. Like many of you, I’m focused on concrete things I can do, like wearing a mask, phonebanking, pushing for recovery legislation, and reminding people to fill out the Census [[link removed]] (today is the LAST day), that at least feel like I’m doing my part to steer our city and our country towards healing and recovery.

We are facing a fall surge in coronavirus cases, with case numbers rising and positivity rates in hotspot neighborhoods alarmingly high. Even as our city and state leadership fumbles decisions and fails to communicate clearly, we are at least far better prepared than we were this spring.

We know what we need to do: Wear a mask when you are in public, outside, in stores, and at work. Keep a healthy 6 feet distance from anyone not in your household. Get tested regularly, especially when you think you might have been exposed by a specific person or spent time in a crowded setting. A negative result one day does not necessarily mean a negative result the next, so don’t treat it as a reason to let your guard down. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Isolate if you may have been exposed or are returning from travel. Stay home if you are sick, and call your doctor.

Thankfully, the public health recommendation has fully reversed from early this spring when we had to tell people not to get tested, so as to avoid crowding limited testing sites. Now, far more rapid and accurate testng is widely available and experts are telling us to get tested regularly.

The current recommendation [[link removed]] is to get tested if you think you were exposed to someone who is positive, spent time in crowds, work in a congregate setting, or are planning to visit someone high risk. Essential workers or anyone who is working outside the home are urged to get tested monthly.

Rapid testing: You can make an appointment for a free rapid COVID-19 virus test [[link removed]] at multiple COVID Express sites throughout the city. The PCR tests come back within 24 hours, usually the same day. Point of care antigen tests are even quicker, usually giving results while you are still on site. The Health and Hospitals site on Fort Hamilton Parkway has point of care tests (4002 Fort Hamilton Parkway, 7 days a week, 9 am to 7 PM).

Mobile Testing Sites: Vans with mobile testing sites have been deployed to hotspot areas, including at Albemarle Playground in our district (Dahill Road & Albemarle Rd, M-F, 10 to 4 PM).

School Testing: Students and teachers in blended learning in person school will be randomly tested on a monthly basis. Parents must sign a consent form, the test is a diagnostic test done with a short swab, and a full FAQ from the Department of Education is available here [[link removed]] .

To find a testing site near you, visit nyc.gov/covidtest [[link removed]] or text “COVID TEST” to 855-48.

This weekend Rosa and I were out for a bike ride when my wife Meg called to let us know someone she had interacted with recently had tested positive for COVID-19. We were able to swing by a rapid testing site on our ride home, get tested, and receive our (reassuringly negative) results just a few hours later. We’ll all continue to keep our distance, wear our masks, and get tested again in a few days to be sure.

With so many things to worry about right now, we can give ourselves some modicum of peace of mind by getting tested, following social distancing, and encouraging friends and neighbors to do so too.

Brad

In this email:
Updates and Resources
Upcoming Events

Updates and Resources

*
Latest
Virus
Data:
In
NYC,
there
were
499
new
cases
identified
yesterday.
We
have
lost
23,905
people
in
NYC
from
the
virus,
including
sadly
10
in
the
last
few
days,
and
256,474
total
cases
have
been
identified
in
the
city
since
the
start
of
the
pandemic.
The
citywide
7-day
rolling
average
of
positive
test
rates
is
1.49%,
the
rates
in
the
hotspot
areas
are
still
high
but
may
be
leveling
off.


*
Last
Chance
to
Complete
the
Census:
The
Supreme
Court
weighed
in
so
this
really
is
the
last
chance
to
make
sure
all
New
Yorkers
are
counted.
Fill
out
your
Census
and
remind
friends
and
family:
my2020census.gov
[[link removed]]
.


*
School
Testing:
If
your
child
is
attending
in
person
blended
learning
school,
please
fill
out
the
consent
form
[[link removed]]
to
enable
them
to
be
tested
for
COVID-19
at
school
so
that
we
can
have
an
accurate
picture
of
how
schools
are
doing
at
keeping
everyone
safe
and
the
virus
at
bay.
The
consent
form
is
now
available
in
multiple
languages
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Make
a
Plan
to
Vote:
If
you
haven’t
already,
you
can
request
an
absentee
ballot
here
[[link removed]]
.
Early
voting
starts
on
October
24,
and
is
a
great
option
for
those
who
are
able
and
comfortable
going
in
person.
Even
if
you
are
planning
to
vote
early,
as
I
am,
you
can
request
an
absentee
ballot
just
in
case
closures,
illness,
or
quarantine
prevent
you
from
being
able
to
go
to
the
polls.
You
can
look
up
your
early
voting
poll
site
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Get
a
Flu
Shot:
Getting
the
seasonal
flu
shot
this
year
is
more
important
than
ever
to
protect
each
other.
Flu
shots
are
available
at
most
drug
stores
or
Health
and
Hospitals
sites,
more
info
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Heaters
for
Outdoor
Dining:
The
City
released
guidance
for
city
restaurants
planning
to
stay
open
and
serve
customers
outdoors
with
heating
devices
this
fall
and
winter.
Details
about
the
guidance
for
gas
or
electric
heaters
can
be
found
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Participatory
Budgeting:
Submit
your
ideas
[[link removed]]
for
how
to
help
our
neighborhoods
recover
and
rebuild
from
this
crisis.


*
Prospect
Park
Ball
Fields
4
&
5
Reopened:
Parks
and
play
areas
are
a
precious
resource
right
now
to
keep
our
communities
happy,
healthy,
and
connected.
I’m
pleased
to
share
that
Prospect
Park
ball
fields
4
&
5
are
reopened
after
a
restoration
funded
by
my
office
--
and
already
getting
good
use!


*
Park
Slope
Halloween
Parade
Cancelled:
Sadly,
there
will
be
no
Halloween
parade
on
5th
Avenue
this
year,
though
some
festive
and
socially
distanced
activities
will
be
hosted
by
the
Old
Stone
House,
5th
Avenue
BID
and
Park
Slope
Civic
Council,
details
coming
soon.



Upcoming Events

Friday, October 16 from 2:30 to 4 PM: Participatory Budgeting Pop-Up in the Park Slope Library Reading Garden.

Drop by to discuss and submit participatory budgeting ideas in the Park Slope Library Reading Garden (a PB-funded project!) on 6th Avenue and 9th Street.

Saturday, October 17 at 11 AM: RBG Legacy March. RSVP here [[link removed]] .

The Women’s March will be holding a march to honor the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg z”l on Saturday morning, starting from Grand Army Plaza at 11 am.

Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18: Arts Gowanus on Atlantic Ave

A socially distanced ArtWalk that will feature Gowanus artists displaying paintings, drawings, prints, photography, installation and sculptures and will be displayed on storefronts, roll down gates, and dining fences of 65 Atlantic Avenue businesses. Details here [[link removed]] .

Sunday, October 18 from 10 to 2 PM: E-Waste Recycling Collection

Bring your old electronics to the John Jay Campus in Park Slope (227 7th Avenue) to be properly recycled, hosted by the LES Ecology Center. Details on what kinds of electronics are accepted are here [[link removed]] .

Thursday, October 22 at 6 PM: CB6 Land Use and Landmarks Committee Meeting on the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning. Register here [[link removed]] .

The Department of City Planning will give an overview of their plans for the Gowanus rezoning and community engagement leading up to certification (the first stage of ULURP),take questions at the landmarks and land use committee of Community Board 6.

456 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-499-1090
[email protected]

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