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Dear Neighbors,

The closure of our public schools due to an increase in COVID-19 cases across the city is deeply worrying on many levels. Halting in-person learning will have a profound impact on students and their families. In light of the fact that transmission rates have been relatively low among public school students, I believe we should take other steps first to slow down community spread. The City should consider pausing indoor dining, and temporarily closing non-essential facilities like gyms and health clubs, before closing schools.

My office will share all relevant information and try to assist public school families in every way possible. Please check the NYC Dept of Education website regularly for updates.

Please be advised that the City's Learning Bridges/Learning Labs childcare sites will remain open even though schools have closed. Learning Labs provide childcare to students (grades K through 8) who are enrolled in blended learning. Learning Bridges sites provide care for 3 and 4-year-olds. Learn more here.

This week Council Member Deborah Rose, Chair of the Youth Services Committee, and I co-chaired a hearing on the performance to date of the City's childcare programs. Childcare is critical for working families, and single parents in particular. Many of our essential workers, including teachers, count on childcare so they can continue going to work. Watch our hearing here. 

Per the plan released by the Mayor in July, the City's goal is to provide 100,000 childcare slots --via both the Learning Labs and Learning Bridges programs-- by the end of 2020. Slots are provided irrespective of a family's ability to pay. According to the DOE, priority is given to especially vulnerable families, such as those experiencing homelessness, and children with disabilities.

Of particular concern to me is the ability of District 75 students to access these childcare services. At our hearing, I shared the experience of numerous D75 families whose children have faced obstacles, and the City has committed to address them as soon as possible.
 
Lastly, there is no clear answer to the question, “how many children are in Learning Labs/Bridges now?” City officials told us that they have matched 39,000 families with childcare sites thus far; but they did not say how many families have accepted those placements. The two programs currently have capacity for 40,000 children, and the City says that they continue to increase the number of available sites. Council Member Rose and I will continue to hold the City’s feet to the fire to make sure that all families get the childcare they need.
 


Thank you to my team, the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, Wise Towers T.A. leader Ernesto Carrera, and WSUR Brownstones T.A. leader Cynthia Tibbs, for organizing the distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to Upper West Side NYCHA residents this week. We were thrilled to provide nutritious food to 1,000 residents.

My office wishes you and yours a happy and restful Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume our e-blasts the week after Thanksgiving.
COVID-19 Updates

A reminder to all that Governor Cuomo announced new COVID-19 restrictions last week.

Bars, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, and any other State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close from 10pm to 5am daily. Restaurants are still allowed to provide curbside, food-only pick-up or delivery after 10pm, but are not permitted to serve alcohol to go. 

Indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to no more than 10 people. The Governor's press release notes that this public health measure brings New York in line with neighboring states including Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

You can track COVID-19 cases across the city, and in our community, here. The current 7-day positivity rate for zip code 10024 is 1.77, and zip code 10025 is 1.21.
 
Winter Holidays: Celebrate At Home!
The holiday season is right around the corner. The NYC Dept of Health is urging all New Yorkers to protect your loved ones and prevent the spread of COVID-19 during this festive time. Learn more here.
  • Please do not travel (rediscover holidays at home!);
  • Please do not host or attend a holiday party (go virtual instead!), and do not gather in groups;
  • Only celebrate with household members (less is more!). 
Stay Informed! Helpful COVID-19 information sources include: 

New York Public Library Re-Open Plans On Hold
Last week, our e-blast outlined the NYPL's "Phase 2" service expansion plans. However, due to the uptick in COVID-19 cases across the state, the NYPL has paused its Phase 2 opening procedures. 
  • All open branch libraries have returned to grab-and-go service for holds pickups and returns only (with patrons checking out requested materials at pick up);
  • Desktop computers (and browsing) are no longer available for the time being;
  • All on-site research appointments are canceled, and no further on-site appointments will be accepted (those with existing appointments will be given first priority when NYPL can safely offer appointments again); 
  • Research grab-and-go services are also paused.
     
Did You Get Your Flu Shot?
Every year about 2,000 New Yorkers die as a result of seasonal influenza and flu-related pneumonia. As both the flu and the coronavirus will be in our community this fall and winter, getting your flu shot is more important than ever.

Everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated. The flu vaccine is safe and quick -- it’s available now at low cost or for free at locations around the city. Click here to learn more, or text “FLU” to 877877.
Food Assistance for Upper West Siders: Latest News
 
Despite the halt of in-person learning, free "Grab & Go" meals will remain available for ALL New Yorkers at hundreds of schools throughout the city. Click here to learn more and see locations.
  • No registration, ID, or documentation required.
  • Students and their families can still pick up a meal at any public school from Monday – Friday, 9am – 12pm. Click here for a school near you.
Upper West Siders of all ages can pick-up meals from the following locations Monday – Friday, 3 – 5pm.

***Please be advised that there will be no food service on Thanksgiving Day (11/26). There will be service on the Friday after Thanksgiving (11/27), from 3 to 5pm.***

High School for Environmental Studies  — 444 W. 56th Street
Site is partially accessible/Halal meals available

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts —100 Amsterdam Avenue
Site is partially accessible/Halal meals available

P.S. 9 Sarah Anderson — 100 W. 84th Street
Site is partially accessible/Halal meals available

P.S. 75 — 735 West End Ave
Site is partially accessible/Kosher meals available

P.S. 163 Alfred E. Smith — 163 W. 97th Street
Site is not accessible/Halal meals available

P.S. 165 Robert E. Simon  — 234 W. 109th Street
Site is not accessible/Halal meals available

Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts — 215 W. 114th Street
Site is fully accessible/Halal meals available
Upcoming Events of Interest
 
This Weekend: Goddard Riverside Annual Book Fair
Join me to shop Goddard Riverside's 34th Annual Book Fair! This year's fair is virtual, so you can shop from the comfort of home. The Fair goes live at 8am on Saturday morning and is open until Midnight on Sunday night. 

Tenants Resource Fair 
Tenants are invited to a virtual resource fair this Monday (11/23) at 6pm, sponsored by Borough President Brewer, the NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development, tenant organizations, and local elected officials. Register for the fair here.

Learn about COVID-19 tenant protections, including ongoing protections for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and those in rent-regulated apartments, as well as how to enter the City’s affordable housing lotteries via the Housing Connect portal.

Save the Date: December 2nd Housing Clinic
Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our December Housing Clinic --Breaking Down the Basics of "Non-Payment" Eviction Cases-- led by Goddard Riverside Law Project. The clinic will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, December 2nd, from 6 to 7pm. We will send out registration information next week. 

15th Annual West Side Tenants Conference: December 5th & 6th 
Please join Housing Conservation Coordinators and the West Side Neighborhood Alliance for their annual West Side Tenants Conference on Saturday (12/5) and Sunday (12/6). Panels start at 10am.

Please call (212) 541-5996 for more information. Register for the conference here.

Topics to be covered include:
  • Towards a Just Recovery: The Future of Housing in NYC
  • Housing & Public Benefits for Seniors 
  • Housing Court During COVID
  • Housing, Homelessness, & the Fight for Immediate and Permanent Solutions 
  • Landlord Tactics to Deregulate Apartments -- What You Need to Know
  • How to Tell Your Story So People Listen: Creating Change & Building Community Through Personal Narrative
Post Election Hearing: December 9th
A reminder that the New York City Voter Assistance Advisory Committee (VAAC) will hold a post-election virtual hearing on December 9, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. The VAAC is asking voters and poll workers to share their experiences with:
  • Voting in person during Early Voting and on Election Day;
  • Voting by mail and requesting absentee ballots; 
  • Recommendations to improve the voting experience in New York City.
Please RSVP here for the hearing. All testimony will be shared with elected officials and the Board of Elections. While there is limited time to testify during the hearing, all New Yorkers may submit written testimony for the public record. Those interested in submitting written or spoken testimony should email Jordan Pantalone at [email protected]. 

(VAAC's nine members advise the NYC Campaign Finance Board and its nonpartisan voter engagement initiative, NYC Votes, on ways to improve elections in New York City.

Important Deadlines, Updates & Resources


2021 Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline: December 7th
Medicare health and drug plans (and their cost) change every year. Make sure your coverage still fits your needs. Click here to learn about 2021 plan options, make a change to your current Medicare plan, or enroll in a new one. You can also call Medicare directly at (800) 633-4227.  

If you need further assistance, please call the Medicare Rights Center at 1-800-333-4114.  And check the Medicare Rights Center's Six Things to Know About Fall Open Enrollment.

"Cashless" Businesses Now Prohibited in NYC
Effective November 19, 2020, stores must accept cash (U.S. currency and coins) unless they have a machine to convert cash to a prepaid card. Stores cannot charge consumers more for paying in cash.

Consumers: You can file a complaint here about a retail or food store, including a food cart, in New York City that refuses cash payments. Businesses: see the NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs' Inspection Checklist: General Retail.

Updates for Small Businesses
  • Participants in the City's Open Restaurants program should check the program's Updated Guidelines -- including requirements that must be met by December 15th.
Resources for Working New Yorkers
  • Click here to learn about updates to NYC’s Paid Safe & Sick Leave Law, guidelines for returning to work during COVID-19, and employee rights generally.
  • Worker Protection Hotline: Call 311 or (212) 436-0381 with questions about reopening, health and safety guidelines for the workplace, or to report an employer that is not following reopening requirements.
Support the Plastic Bag Ban!
New Yorkers use 23 billion plastic bags a year. With your help, we can greatly reduce this major source of plastic pollution. The statewide plastic bag ban has been in effect since March 2020, but enforcement of the law only resumed on October 19th. Learn about the ban here.

The plastic bag ban does not apply to small plastic produce bags, bags provided by pharmacies to carry prescription drugs, and bags used for restaurant take-out orders. Stores that continue to use plastic bags can be fined. The NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation is accepting complaints by phone (518) 402-8706, or e-mail: [email protected].

Retailers can still provide paper carryout bags to customers. In New York City, businesses are required to collect a non-taxable 5-cent fee for each paper bag provided. Our office has received many questions about this bag fee. Businesses can charge more than the five-cents required by law, however, any additional amount charged is considered a sale of a bag and is subject to sales tax.
 
Cashless Tolling Now Live on NYS Thruway
Cashless tolling has gone live at 58 tolling locations across the NYS Thruway's 450-mile ticketed system. Cash is longer accepted as a form of payment at toll booths and printed toll tickets are no longer given to drivers.

Please note that the Thruway's tolling structure will not change and drivers will continue to be tolled by distance and exits traveled. Toll plazas will be removed in the second phase of the State's transition to cashless tolling.

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.
Support Our Community

WSCAH's Thanksgiving Turkey Challenge
Record numbers of New Yorkers continue to turn to WSCAH for support in putting food on their tables. This week alone, WSCAH will give out 900 turkeys to families at their 86th Street Market and Mobile Market sites.

WSCAH is asking neighbors to join them in providing Thanksgiving meals for families in need. Their 2020 Turkey Challenge goal is to provide 5,000 turkeys: a donation of $54 supports three families. Donate here!

Volunteers Needed
St. Michael's Community Food Outreach program has been serving Upper West Siders for three decades. They currently feed over 300 residents every week at their 225 W 99th Street location.

Volunteer opportunities are available on Fridays or Saturdays. Please contact John Avery at [email protected] to learn more. Crew sizes are limited due to the pandemic -- please do not come unless you have been notified in advance. Volunteers must bring a proper mask.
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. We also provide on-going advocacy with our public schools and other public services.

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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