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Dear Neighbors,

Voting is well underway -- please keep the following in mind!
  • Early Voting is available until Sunday, November 1st.
  • Early Voting hours have been extended this Friday (7am-5pm), Saturday (7am-5pm) & Sunday (7am-4pm). 
  • Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
  • The Board of Elections has stated that seniors and persons with a disability will receive priority entry at poll sites. Make sure to ask at your poll site!
Scroll below for answers to the important questions many of you have raised about voting in the 2020 Presidential Election.

Mental Health Support
As we all know, this is a profoundly stressful time. If your symptoms of stress become overwhelming, please reach out for support and help. One option is NYC Well, the City's confidential helpline for mental health and substance misuse services. Trained counselors can provide you with support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 200 languages. Click here; call: 1-888-NYC-Well (1-888-692-9355); or text: “Well” to 65173.

Housing Clinic: Wednesday, November 4th
Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our November Housing Clinic -- "Resources to Apply for Rental Assistance."
  • The clinic will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, November 4th, from 6 to 7pm. Please click here to register and receive Zoom event info.
  • 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 TakeRoot Justice and Goddard Riverside Law Project.
Hearing on Reproductive & Sexual Health
This week’s confirmation of Amy Barrett as a Supreme Court justice makes it painfully clear that we cannot rely on federal law to defend reproductive rights. Now is the time to enact state and municipal laws to ensure that sexual and reproductive healthcare services are inclusive, safe, and fully accessible to all New Yorkers.

This Wednesday, the Committees on Women & Gender Equity and Health, chaired by myself and Mark Levine respectively, conducted a legislative hearing focused on sexual and reproductive health in New York City.

We reviewed several pieces of pending legislation, which address a wide range of important health issues -- gender equity in healthcare; access to contraceptive care; prevention of female genital mutilation and cutting; lactation spaces for employees; resources for parents of infants with intersex traits; Title X funding for abortion; and racially targeted bans on sex-selective abortions. Learn more about the bills and watch the hearing here. Read coverage in the Gotham Gazette here.

Also, please be advised that Council Member Debi Rose, Chair of the Youth Services Committee, and I will be co-chairing a November 18th hearing on the City's commitment to provide 100,000 childcare slots via the "Learning Lab" program. The slots will be made available to families (irrespective of their ability to pay) with young children (3- and 4-year-olds), and school-age children (grades K through 8th) who are enrolled in blended learning. Click here for hearing details.
Voting FAQs

Voter Registration
 
Am I registered to vote?
You can check here or call 1-866-868-3692.
 
What is the deadline for registering to vote in the Nov 3rd General Election?
October 9, 2020 was the deadline to register to vote. This deadline also applied to students from New York currently living in another state, but who wished to vote in New York. (To register to vote in a future election, click here.)

Early Voting Ends This Sunday!

Remaining Early Voting Days & Hours for the General Election are:
  • Friday, October 30, 7am to 5pm
  • Saturday, October 31, 7am to 5pm
  • Sunday, November 1, 7am to 4pm
Where do I vote?
You must vote at your assigned Early Voting poll site. Click here to find it. 

UWS Early Voting locations:

David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
1887 Broadway
Accessible Entrance: Broadway between W. 62nd and W. 63rd Streets.
 
West Side High School
140 W. 102nd St-- voters should enter through the pathway on W. 101st St. in the back of the school.
Accessible Entrance: 102nd Street. This entrance has a ramp and elevator. Staff will provide assistance for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Are there voting times set aside for seniors?
No, but the Board of Elections has stated that seniors and persons with a disability will receive priority entry at poll sites. 

If a senior (or any other voter) does not wish to vote in person, they may drop off their completed and sealed absentee ballot at an Early Voting or Election Day poll site in the designated drop box. They do not need to wait in line to do so. Voters can also have someone they trust drop off the ballot for them. Learn more below.

Read this very helpful document from DOROT, which focuses on questions seniors may have about voting.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3rd, 6am - 9pm
 
Where do I vote?
To find your assigned voting site, click here, call 1-866-868-3692, or e-mail your complete home address to [email protected] (include your home borough in the subject line).
 
What happens if I can't vote on Election Day?
If you will be out of town on Election Day, or are physically unable to go to the polls, you can vote by absentee ballot (see below).
 
How do I mark a paper ballot?
Be sure to follow the directions that are printed on the ballot. Paper ballots are canvassed by scanning them with machines; you must mark them correctly for your vote to count. Fill in the oval for your choice using a pen with blue or black ink. Do not make other marks anywhere on the ballot.

If you want to vote for someone whose name does not appear on the ballot, write the name in the write-in box and fill in the oval for that write-in box. Please note that there are no "propositions" on this ballot.
Absentee Voting
 
How can I obtain an absentee ballot?
The deadline to request an absentee ballot has passed -- it was Tuesday, October 27th.

How do I return my absentee ballot?
1.) You can mail your ballot using the envelope provided. It must be postmarked by Election Day, and received no more than 7 days after the election. Carefully follow the instructions provided-- placing your ballot in the first envelope, signing it, and then placing the first envelope in the second envelope to mail it in.

The Board of Elections recommends that you use 2 "Forever" stamps on the mailing envelope. If you already mailed your ballot without a stamp, or just 1 stamp, our understanding is that the ballot will still be delivered.

2.) You can drop off your ballot at any NYC Board of Elections office, Early Voting site, or Election Day poll site. 

Secure absentee ballot boxes will be at all UWS Early Voting and Election Day poll sites. Just to be safe -- submit your ballot using both envelopes provided by the Board of Elections. 

Click here to find the poll site nearest you to drop off your absentee ballot. Remember -- not all Early Voting locations in NYC will also serve as poll sites on Election Day (11/3). Be sure to check first.

3.) You may give your completed and sealed absentee ballot to someone you trust so they can drop it off for you. Again, just to be safe, use both envelopes provided by the Board of Elections. 

Invisible Hands, a nonpartisan volunteer group serving homebound New Yorkers, will pick up sealed absentee ballots from seniors and deposit them in the drop boxes at Early Voting sites.

Seniors (and other homebound voters) can request a volunteer to pick up their ballot here. If you’d like to volunteer for Invisible Hands to do ballot runs, complete the volunteer form here. 

My oath envelope for my absentee ballot has the wrong address. What do I do?
Email the NYC Board of Elections at [email protected], or call them at 1-866-868-3692. Do this as soon as possible!
 
My absentee ballot says "Absentee Military," but I'm not in the military. Is this the correct ballot?
Yes, your ballot is valid and your vote will be processed. This was a typo and should have read "Absentee / Military."
 
How do I ensure that I have received the correct absentee ballot?
Please check the pre-printed label on the ballot you received to make sure it has your correct full name and address.
 
How do I check the status of my absentee ballot?
You can check the status by clicking here. The system is updated every 24 hours, and applications take up to 72 hours to be entered. 

When I check the status of my absentee ballot online, it says “Reviewing Application.” How long before I receive my absentee ballot? 
If there are any issues with your ballot, the Board of Elections will contact you. The BOE had a backlog of ballot requests that had been received but not yet processed. We have been advised that the BOE has received new ballot processing equipment which should speed up the process. 

How will I know when my absentee ballot is being processed?
When you track your absentee ballot on-line, the message will change to “Ballot Received Valid.” 
Other Important Voting Questions
 
Can I obtain assistance with voting at my poll site?
Federal law permits a person with a disability, or anyone who cannot read, to have a friend or relative assist them in the voting booth. Election inspectors at the poll site will also be available to assist you.
 
What kinds of accessibility accommodations are available at poll sites?
  • Accessible entrance at every site. 
  • The Board of Elections has stated that seniors and persons with a disability will receive priority entry at poll sites. 
  • Magnifying sheet in each voting booth.
  • Ballot marking device (BMD), an electronic device that provides several ways to access and mark a paper ballot. The BMD helps all voters, including those with disabilities, to vote privately and independently.
For more information, visit: https://vote.nyc/page/accessibility.
 
How do I vote if I am in the military, or currently reside overseas?
For information about military/overseas voting, visit the NYS Board of Elections website, or contact the NYC Board of Elections here. 

Broadly speaking, you are entitled to special provisions by applying through the Federal Post Card Application. This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles. Learn more and download the application here.

Can I vote if I have a criminal record?
In many cases, yes. Click here to read an FAQ document from the New York Civil Liberties Union regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal record.

Want to read more? Click on this helpful FAQ doc from the City's DemocracyNYC Project.

Community Updates


Open Storefronts
Through the City's new Open Storefronts program, ground-floor storefront businesses can utilize outdoor areas on a temporary basis to reduce indoor foot traffic. Retail businesses, repair stores, personal care services, and dry-cleaning and laundry services can all participate.

Until the end of 2020, businesses will be able to use sidewalks, and/or roadways that are already part of the Open Streets: Restaurants program, for seating, queuing, and display of goods. Learn more about the Open Storefronts program here.

Riverside Park South: Phase 5 is Complete!
The Parks Department's fifth phase of Riverside Park South is now complete and open to the public. Stretching from West 65th to 68th Streets, this 4.6 acre area includes new paths, stairs, and plazas; a playground and swings; lawns, sand volleyball courts, and a dog run. 



Riverside Park Conservancy reports that additional improvements from 69th to 72nd Streets are also in progress. Upgraded pedestrian and bicycle paths, a reconfigured dog run, new seating on Pier I, and a Parkour gym behind Pier I Café, are scheduled to be installed over the next year-and-a-half.

Phase 6 – the final stage of Riverside Park South construction – stretches from 59th to 65th Streets. This will include a large, multi-use athletic field; basketball courts; new entry points at 64th and 67th Streets; and improvements to the entrance at 59th Street. Phase 6 construction is expected to take an additional two years.

Halloween is Saturday and it can be both fun and safe. Read holiday tips from the Dept of Health here.

Other helpful resources from the DOH include:
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, visit nyc.gov/NYCHOPE, or call 1-800-621-4673 (HOPE), to find out how you can get help.



Domestic violence occurs in every part of our city, among people of all races, cultures, religions, and income levels. It can happen to someone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. 

You are not alone. My office supports many DV service agencies that you can contact to get free counseling and legal support services. One of these is the Met Council on Jewish Poverty, and I was proud to join them last week in distributing information about DV resources to Upper West Siders. Watch the video.

Resources for DV victims and survivors include:
Upcoming Events

Benefits Info Session for Homeowners & Renters
Join this on-line NYC Dept of Finance info session on Friday, October 30, at 10am.
  • Learn how to lower your property taxes and/or freeze your rent
  • Learn about DOF benefits programs for renters, as well as home, condo and co-op owners
  • DOF updates re: Covid-19 related service changes
This event has limited capacity! Register and join the webinar here, or join by phone: 1-408-418-9388.
  • Access/Event Code: 173 796 5770; Password: OCT30
  • Email your questions to: [email protected].
Haunted Fountain at the Cathedral
Celebrate Halloween at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine's Peace Fountain. Location: 111th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Join your neighbors on Saturday, from 3pm to 9pm, for trick-or-treating, safety briefs, costume contests, live music, photos, and other attractions. Click here to register and learn more!

Two-Day Legal Clinic for Veterans
Fordham Law School’s Feerick Center for Social Justice & its Veteran Rights Project (FCVRP) will be hosting an on-line Legal Clinic for Veterans on November 5th and 6th, from 10:30am to 4:30pm.

Volunteer lawyers with expertise in various civil legal issues will provide "know-your-rights" presentations, followed by limited-scope, one-on-one legal consultations to veterans and their family members. Potential topics include: consumer debt and bankruptcy, discharge upgrades, microenterprise, public benefits, tax, VA benefits, wills and end-of-life planning, and family law. Learn more about the two-day clinic here.
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 regular 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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