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Dear Neighbors,

Regardless of how you celebrate the winter holidays and new year, I wish you and your families good health. I hope you have a moment to take a break and get some rest. Like many of you, I fervently wish to see my family and in-laws; but we are staying home and celebrating via zoom.

My office wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season. I am giving my staff a much needed and well-deserved break, and our office will be closed from December 23rd through January 3rd.

We will resume responding to calls and emails on January 4th. For questions about City services, please contact 311. For emergencies, call 911.

School Admissions Changes
Many families have contacted our office with questions about recently announced changes ([link removed]) to the admissions process for New York City middle and high schools.

Middle schools that use their own tests to determine admission will no longer be able to do so. I agree with Chancellor Carranza that given the impact of COVID on so many households, it would be unfair to use tests or attendance or grades as determinants of entry. It is my hope that the elimination of screens for middle schools continues after the pandemic. Ending admissions screens is known to be an important step to integrate our schools.

As the Chancellor noted in his letter to families, the measures that screened schools traditionally rely on for making admissions decisions are largely unavailable due to the pandemic. The State did not administer standardized tests for fourth graders last spring. Furthermore, students from immigrant and/or communities of color, as well as those whose parents are essential workers, often saw extreme disruptions to their participation in school.

I agree with the Chancellor -- screening fifth graders when consistent data is unavailable, is patently unfair and unacceptable.

Also of note, one of the most significant new changes for District 3 families is that students can now apply to Eleanor Roosevelt High School in District 2. This is a very welcome development, and one I have fought for since entering office 7 years ago.

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Especially for Tenants

Save the Date: January 13th Housing Clinic
Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our January Housing Clinic, led by TakeRoot Justice and Goddard Riverside Law Project. The clinic will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, January 13th, from 6 to 7pm. We will send out registration information in the first week of January.

Loss of Heat and/or Hot Water
Building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to tenants. Between 6am and 10pm, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temp must be at least 68 degrees. Between 10pm and 6am, the inside temp must be at least 62 degrees.
* If you are a tenant without heat or hot water, contact your landlord first. If your landlord is unresponsive, file a complaint by calling 311 or TTY (212) 504-4115. Click here ([link removed]) for more info.
* For NYCHA Heat or Hot Water Complaints: 718-707-7771

Affordable Housing Available in West Harlem
As first reported in Yimby ([link removed]) , the affordable housing lottery is now open for Uptown 6 -- consisting of 32 renovated rental units located within several buildings in West Harlem. New Yorkers who meet the income requirements can apply for studios, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments via NYC Housing Connect ([link removed]) .

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Holiday Meal for Upper West Siders
Goddard Riverside will be hosting their annual Holiday Meal on Christmas Day. Meals will be pick-up only, from 12pm - 3pm. Location: 593 Columbus Avenue (88th and Columbus).

COVID-19 Updates

The City's Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene is urging residents not to travel this holiday season unless absolutely necessary. Please keep holiday gatherings small (if at all) -- and limit indoor interactions to those who already live together.

More tips for a safe and healthy holiday season can be found here ([link removed]) .
* A reminder that per State guidelines, indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to no more than 10 people.
* Indoor dining at restaurants is not permitted; but takeout, delivery and outdoor dining continue.
* 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.

COVID-19 Vaccinations
The first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations has begun in New York City. The vaccine will eventually be provided to all New Yorkers at no cost.

Health care workers and nursing home residents and staff are the first to be vaccinated. As more doses become available, additional groups will be able to receive the vaccine. Please check the NYC Dept of Health's website ([link removed]) to learn more, and for updates regarding when and where you will be able to get vaccinated.

Stay Informed! Helpful COVID-19 information sources include:
* Download the NYS Covid Alert App ([link removed]) .
* Up-to-date information on NYC's COVID response ([link removed]) .
* COVID testing and locations of testing sites ([link removed]) . New Yorkers can also call 212-COV-ID19; or text COVID TEST to 855 - 48.
* NYC Health + Hospitals Testing Sites ([link removed]) .
* Find out whether you are in a New York State-designated COVID-19 zone ([link removed]) .
* Learn more about NYC Care, the City’s healthcare access program ([link removed]) .
* Track COVID-19 cases across the city and in our community ([link removed]) .

Assistance for NYers Who Test Positive for Covid
NYC Health & Hospitals' Test & Trace Corps ([link removed]) is providing special services for New Yorkers who test positive, and their close contacts:
* “Take Care” packages which include enough personal protective equipment for a household of three to quarantine for 10-14 days. Learn more here ([link removed]) .
* A free hotel room for up to 14 days if quarantining at home is impossible. Click here ([link removed]) to learn more or call (212) 268-4319 to book a room.
* Free dog walking and other pet drop-in services to ensure New Yorkers can remain safely separated in a hotel or at home. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

PPE for Manhattan Businesses
Email the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Did You Get Your Flu Shot?
Every year about 2,000 New Yorkers die as a result of seasonal influenza and flu-related pneumonia. 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 ([link removed]) , or text “FLU” to 877877.
Food Assistance for Upper West Siders
Free "Grab & Go" meals will be available for ALL New Yorkers at hundreds of schools during the holiday season. Click here to learn more and see locations ([link removed]) .

Upper West Siders can pick-up meals from the following locations Monday – Friday, 3 – 5pm. No registration, ID, or documentation required.

***Please be advised that there will be no food service on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.***

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


** Community Resources & Upcoming Deadlines
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Be Aware of the Most Vulnerable
Should you see an individual who appears to be homeless and in need out in the cold, please call 311 and an outreach team will be dispatched to offer assistance.

Health Coverage: NYS Enrollment Period Ends Jan 31st
If you have lost your health insurance or have not had coverage, go to [link removed] for a comprehensive list of affordable options -- including subsidized individual health plans and Medicaid. New York State's current open enrollment period runs until January 31st, 2021. New Yorkers can enroll in Medicaid all year long.

Emergency Training from the FDNY
Virtual training in CPR and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is now available from the FDNY. Knowledge of these emergency measures could be invaluable for someone in your family. The FDNY's Mobile CPR Unit can help you learn what to do in case of a cardiac emergency.

Classes take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am and 4pm. Group presentations for community organizations are also available. To register, visit fdnysmart.org/cpr ([link removed]) or call 718-281-3888.

To stay connected with the FDNY, visit @FDNY on social media and fdnysmart.org/connect ([link removed]) for fire and life safety tips for you and your family.

DACA Update
The initial rule for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has been reinstated. This means that certain undocumented youth may now be eligible for a work permit and protection from removal. The original grounds for requesting travel abroad have also been restored.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has indicated that they may appeal this reinstatement. Beginning Tuesday (12/22), CUNY Citizenship NOW! is dedicating Tuesdays to assisting DACA applicants. Please contact CUNY Citizenship NOW! at 646-664-9400 for an appointment.

2021 Manhattan Community Board Applications
Do you want to serve your local community? Joining your community board is a great way to get involved in improving quality of life, and bringing forward your concerns and those of your neighbors.

New York City's community boards ([link removed]) are the front-line of local government. They encourage and facilitate the participation of residents within their neighborhoods -- providing a forum to evaluate new development, zoning changes, street & sidewalk planning, and more. The boards work directly with City agencies, and are essential to the efficient and effective delivery of municipal services. Apply on-line here ([link removed]) . Deadline: Monday, February 1st (5pm), 2021

Especially for NYCHA Residents
* Resident Leadership Academy -- develop leadership skills through this FREE 24-month program coordinated in partnership with CUNY SLU. Contact: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , or call (212) 306-8436 to learn more.
* NYCHA is hiring skilled maintenance workers -- over 100 full-time jobs available. Qualified candidates with at least three years of maintenance experience are encouraged to apply. Starting salary is $29.98 per hour, plus benefits. Click here for more information. ([link removed])
* Learn about Family Partnerships services available to the NYCHA community. Attend a virtual info session next month (advance registration required): Wednesday, January 6 at 1pm ([link removed]) .

Affordable Internet Service
Are you a lower-income student or a senior? Spectrum now offers Internet Assist, a high-speed, low-cost broadband service for qualified customers. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

Con Edison: Assistance with Paying Your Utility Bill
Residential Con Ed customers who have experienced a change in financial circumstances as a result of the pandemic may be eligible for special protections to avoid future service terminations. Call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) to learn more.

By law, if you are a residential customer and contact Con Ed to affirm that you experienced a change in financial circumstances as a result of Covid-19 starting on or after March 7, 2020:
* Con Ed will not disconnect your service for non-payment before March 31, 2021.
* You will be eligible for a payment agreement or to request a new agreement that requires no down payment, late fees, or penalties.

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 ([link removed]) ; call: 1-888-NYC-Well (1-888-692-9355); or text: “Well” to 65173.
Holiday Happenings

Holiday Lights At Lincoln Center
Each night through the New Year, Lincoln Center is lighting its plaza and campus for neighbors to enjoy, offering a space for reflection during this holiday season. The installations become viewable around dusk -- Lincoln Center's public spaces are open until 9pm.

See more photos of Lincoln Center's holiday lights display at ILovetheUpperWest Side ([link removed]) .

ARDA Studio ([link removed]) has produced this year's lights display, along with a new pair of murals on Amsterdam Avenue between 62nd and 63rd Streets. The joyful pieces "serve as a reminder of the vitality that defines this city, and fuse urban and natural elements in a design of bold color and movement."

Let It Glow: Enjoy Holiday Lights in Our Parks!
NYC Parks is celebrating the holiday season by lighting up local parks and administrative buildings. There are more than 80 beautiful sites ([link removed]) for New Yorkers to enjoy -- from the Broadway Malls W. 86th St Menorah display, to the Bartow-Pell Mansion in the Bronx, and across the Verrazano Bridge to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island.

Mulchfest!
Wrap up the holiday season by saying goodbye to your tree at Mulchfest! The City will convert it into mulch to make NYC even greener. Bring your tree to one of the following locations from Dec. 26, 2020–Jan. 9, 2021.
* W. 65th & Central Park West;
* W. 81st & Central Park West (at Bridle Path);
* Morningside Park West -- 123rd & Morningside Ave; or
* Riverside Park -- Riverside Drive & W. 83rd.

You'll also be able to bring mulch home from select locations in early January! Learn more here ([link removed]) .

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] (mailto:[email protected]) ; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com ([link removed]) . 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 ([link removed]) . Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) , and/or Instagram ([link removed]) .

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