Dear Neighbors,

We continue to live through a time of great uncertainty, which is exhausting and stressful for all. While it's a relief to know that our new national leadership has committed itself to science and evidence-based policies, the burden of the pandemic weighs on all of us.

We are closely following the executive orders coming from Washington -- targeting climate change, access to healthcare, economic relief, and of course, the pandemic. Below you will find information on ways to make a vaccination appointment. Please be advised that the City is only taking appointments for the amount of vaccine currently on-hand.

A special note that Dr. Anthony Fauci will be discussing the pandemic and vaccines with NYC's Health Commissioner today at noon. You can post your questions for Dr. Fauci via social media -- details are below.
 

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Ranked-Choice Voting Is Here!
Approved by New York City voters in 2019, ranked-choice voting will be used in next week's Special Election to select the Council Member representing District 24 (Queens).

Going forward, New York City will use ranked-choice voting in Primary and Special Elections for our Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough Presidents, and members of the City Council. Learn how ranked-choice voting works here.
 

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Something to celebrate as we await Spring: repair work on the Cherry Walk in Riverside Park is now complete! This beautiful stretch of greenway has been re-opened to walkers, runners, and cyclists.

COVID-19 Updates

NYC Health Commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi, will be joining Brooklyn's own Dr. Anthony Fauci for a conversation about COVID-19 and vaccines TODAY (Friday, Jan 29th) at 12pm. 

You can watch live via any of these platforms: Twitter; Youtube; or Facebook.

The Dept of Health is also soliciting your questions for Dr. Fauci -- post them in the comments section on any of the platforms in advance.
 

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We know that many of you have had difficulty scheduling your vaccinations. As the City replenishes and expands its vaccine supply, the situation should improve. We will share any useful information we receive, and please check these sources regularly for updates. Other steps we are taking to advocate for vaccine availability:

• We are in regular contact with City and State officials, and are passing constituent reports on to them directly.
• We are part of Borough President Brewer's new Manhattan Vaccine Task Force which is working to identify solutions for distribution issues. (Your State elected officials have also been sharing their concerns and suggestions for how to improve distribution.)
• Together with other Council Members, we are urging the de Blasio Administration to utilize the City's senior centers as vaccine outreach, scheduling, and distribution sites.
• New Yorkers can suggest a building they own/control to be considered as a public vaccination site by visiting https://airtable.com/shr7kmERtMbZH0LgK

Vaccination Eligibility 
On January 11th New York State expanded COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to "1B" groups, including anyone 65 and older. Click here to see all persons eligible to receive the vaccine.

Contingent on supply -- vaccinations can be scheduled via the City of NY’s Vaccine Hub or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC or 877-829-4692.

Veterans: VA New York Harbor is offering vaccinations to veterans 65 and older who are enrolled in VA Healthcare. Click here to learn more or call 1-877-877-9267.

Transportation for Seniors to Vaccination Appointments
New Yorkers age 65 and over who make a vaccination appointment at a City-operated site will be asked if they need transportation to get to and from their appointment. Seniors will be directed to options including Access-a-Ride, ambulette services, and cab service via Curb.

Seniors living in NYCHA developments: please be advised that the City is starting to open clinics at NYCHA buildings, providing vaccinations for residents 65 and older. A clinic at the Polo Grounds Towers in Manhattan has opened and we will keep you posted about additional sites.
 

• Download the NYS Covid Alert App + sign-up for daily e-mail updates from the NYS Health Dept.
• Up-to-date information on NYC's COVID response.
• COVID testing and locations of testing sites. New Yorkers can also call 212-COV-ID19; or text COVID TEST to 855 - 48.
• NYC Health + Hospitals Testing Sites.
• Find out whether you are in a New York State-designated COVID-19 zone.
• Learn more about NYC Care, the City’s healthcare access program.
• Track COVID-19 cases across the city and in our community.

• “Take Care” packages which include enough personal protective equipment for a household of three to quarantine for 10-14 days. Learn more here.
• A free hotel room for up to 14 days if quarantining at home is impossible. Click here 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.

Especially for Tenants

Housing Clinic: Wednesday, February 3rd Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our February Housing Clinic -- "Getting Repairs Done In Your Apartment During COVID-19." The clinic will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, February 3rd, 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 Goddard Riverside Law Project. Eviction Moratorium A reminder that the NYS Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 essentially blocks evictions through May 1st. The Act pauses all eviction proceedings until the end of February. After that, tenants will need to sign hardship declarations which attest either to financial hardship due to COVID-19 or increased risk of contracting COVID. Signing this declaration will protect the tenant from eviction through May 1st, 2021.  If you have questions about these new protections and/or are in danger of eviction: Please contact one of the housing organizations listed on our website. Click on "Housing." Watch our January 13th Virtual Housing Clinic, which includes a presentation on the Eviction Prevention Act. Our great thanks to TakeRoot Justice for its very thorough presentation. Watch the clinic here. Visit the City's Tenant Resource Portal which connects residential renters with free public and private resources to help prevent evictions. Contact the City's Tenant Helpline by clicking here or calling 311 for legal advice, counseling, and access to other useful resources. 2nd Round of NYS COVID Rent Relief Grants New York State's COVID Rent Relief Extension Program provides eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. The State has opened a second round of applications, which closes this Monday. February 1st, 2021.   Previous applicants for COVID Rent Relief will not have to reapply to be reconsidered. The NYS Dept of Housing & Community Renewal will re-evaluate all applications that were denied according to new criteria, and issue revised determination letters to applicants. Learn more and apply here. Watch Brooklyn Legal Services' webinar on the State's COVID Rent Relief program by visiting their Facebook page.

Resources for Seniors & Persons with Disabilities

LiveOn NY Virtual Conference This Week LiveOn NY is hosting its 31st Annual Conference on Aging & Vendor Show from January 25th through 29th. The conference is being held virtually, featuring workshops, continuing education opportunities, and a session on virtual programming hosted by Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) Executive Director Tom Kamber. Click here to register and see all the conference programs. Getting More Older Adults Online In the U.S. nearly 22 million seniors 65 and older still lack broadband access at home. Aging Connected is a new national campaign dedicated to closing the technology adoption gap for older adults -- the goal is to bring one million seniors online with high-speed internet by 2022. Visit agingconnected.org to learn more. Aging Connected is helping to connect older adults with low-cost internet options and learning opportunities through Senior Planet. If you're a new internet user, visit seniorplanet.org/aging-connected to find a selection of introductory classes curated just for you.  Webinar: Living with Vision Challenges as We Age During COVID-19 Hear from Lighthouse Guild experts on these topics: Lighthouse Guild: What We Do; Calvin W. Roberts, MD, President & CEO Aging and Vision: Living Better with Vision Challenges; Janet Weinstein, Director of Outreach Volunteers: Make a Difference; Cheryl Pemberton-Graves, Chief Volunteer Officer Technology in Action (includes a demonstration); Angel Pacheco, Program Administrator, Vision Rehabilitation Services Click here to watch the webinar. UPDATE: SCHE/DHE Renewals Due to a new law passed in response to COVID-19, most current Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE) and Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE) recipients are not required to renew their benefits this year. The NYC Dept of Finance (DOF) will mail homeowners a renewal letter if you need to take any action before the March 15th renewal deadline; otherwise, the benefit will automatically renew at its current level. Please Note: renewal applications are still required in the event of: Changes to the recipient’s primary residence The addition of another owner to the deed The transfer of the property to a new owner  Also, if your income decreased in 2020, you have the option to submit a renewal application so that DOF can determine whether you are eligible for a larger benefit. (If your income last year was less than $50,000, you are almost certainly receiving the largest possible benefit.)   Owners with questions should contact www.nyc.gov/contactpropexemptions. Not yet a SCHE or DHE recipient? The deadline for initial applications is March 15, 2021! Learn how to apply on-line here. Attend a DOF on-line information session by clicking here.

Track COVID-19 cases in New York City public schools by clicking here.

It's Time to Apply to High School! All current eighth grade students in NYC must apply to high school by February 23, 2021. Log in to MySchools.nyc to explore high schools and apply. Learn more about the application process.

NYC Dept of Education Virtual High School Admissions Events. Join DOE representatives to learn more about high school admissions in NYC, and any changes to the process due to COVID-19. See all available dates and register.

February 11th On-line Workshop: Navigating the High School Admissions Process. Presenters from the DOE's Office of Enrollment and the Panel for Education Policy will explain changes to this year's admissions process, provide tips on researching schools, and more. Click here to learn more and register.

Have questions about applying to high school for students with IEPs? Watch Advocates for Children of NY's recent webinar about the application process for students with disabilities.

Special Education in New York City: On-Line Forum
Join news outlets THE CITY and Chalkbeat New York, on Saturday, Jan. 30th, from 2 to 4pm, for a conversation about what’s working and what’s not for those involved with special education in NYC.

This second of two programs brings parents, teachers, advocates, experts and anyone else interested from across the city together to answer questions, share resources and shed some light on how to navigate issues within special education in New York City public schools, and discuss potential solutions. Learn more and register here.

January 30th INCLUDEnyc Fair for NYC Young People with Disabilities. The annual event goes virtual this year -- an opportunity for young people with disabilities to connect with summer camps, recreational programs, supports, services, and more. Learn more and register.

The Student Leadership Network provides free resources to help guide high school seniors through the college application process. Click here to learn more

Apply for City Council Funding 
A reminder that the application period for City Council FY22 expense funding for non-profits is now open. Programmatic or expense funding includes operating expenses, supplies, and/or personnel costs. Deadline for submission: Tuesday, February 16th.

The City Council also provides funding for capital --bricks and mortar-- projects. Please visit my website to learn about our specific requirements and for funding applications.

Musical Storefronts
From January through March, Kaufman Music Center brings live music back to the UWS with a new pop-up concert series featuring more than 100 of our city’s finest performers, including chamber musicians, Broadway stars, soloists and artists you’ll know from the Merkin Hall stage. To limit crowd size and ensure social distancing, artists and programs will be announced at the storefront on the day of performances. Learn more here!

Health Coverage: NYS Enrollment Period Extended to March 31st 
If you have lost your health insurance or have not had coverage, go to https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ for a comprehensive list of affordable options -- including subsidized individual health plans and Medicaid. New York State's current open enrollment period has been extended until March 31st, 2021. New Yorkers can enroll in Medicaid all year long.

Free Vision Screenings: University Eye Center
Free screenings are available Monday, February 1st from 1pm to 3pm and Thursday February 11 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

Screenings are by appointment only. All ages welcome. Infants under 18 months can have a complete eye exam done for free instead of a screening.

• Phone (212) 938-4001, Monday - Friday (9am - 5pm) and Saturday (8:30am - 4:30pm)
• Location: University Eye Center, SUNY College of Optometry, 33 W. 42nd Street

Free Tax Prep Services for New Yorkers
If you earned $68,000 or less in 2020, you can file for free— including from home — with the help of an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer. Preparers can help you file your taxes safely now, and transmit the returns to the IRS when they open the tax season on Friday, February 12, 2021.

Learn more at nyc.gov/taxprep; or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance. Services available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, and Russian. Additional languages available through phone interpretation. 
Important: Any preparer promising a tax refund BEFORE February 12 may be selling you a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL), which may come with fees and high interest rates.

Additional Tax Season Resources:

• NYC Free Tax Prep brochure
• Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers. (Available in 12 languages.)
• Information about Economic Impact Payments. (Note: NYC Free Tax Prep preparers can help eligible New Yorkers claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.)
• How to become a NYC Free Tax Prep Volunteer

Cash Assistance: You may be eligible for an emergency cash grant if it will meet certain special needs. For more information call the NYC Human Resources Administration’s Infoline at (718) 557-1399 or visit: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/.

Financial Empowerment Services 

• The City of NY's "Financial Empowerment Centers" provide professional financial counselors who can help you manage your bills and credit. Most financial counseling sessions will be conducted over the phone. Book an appointment here.

• The NY Legal Assistance Group can help you improve your finances and remove barriers to economic security—for free. NYLAG financial counselors and coaches assist New Yorkers in developing strategies to pay off debt, manage personal finances more efficiently, navigate through financial crises, and build long-term financial stability. Click here to learn more and make an appointment.

Federal Relief for Small Businesses
The NYC Dept of Small Business Services is connecting small business owners to federal relief funds, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance. 

Available resources include: 

• Daily webinars to review the PPP and EIDL Advance programs and how to apply 
• One-on-one assistance to find the best financing options and get help applying 
• Connections to PPP lenders 
• Information about additional SBA resources   

Resources are available in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese. Businesses can learn more about the PPP and available assistance by visiting www.nyc.gov/ppp or calling the SBS Hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC.  
 
Information about federal relief continues to be released -- check the Small Business Administration's website regularly for updates. 

2021 Manhattan Community Board Applications: Deadline Extended
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 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. Deadline: Monday, February 22nd (5pm).

Stay Connected!
Are you missing your library? Click here for the latest on-line and telephone-based programs and services from St. Agnes Library. 

Gas Upgrade Work
Please be advised that Con Edison is performing gas upgrade work on West End Avenue between W. 70th and 72nd Streets, with an estimated completion date of April 10th. Work is being done Monday - Friday (9am - 3pm), Saturday (8am - 6pm), and Sunday (9am - 6pm).
  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.

Domestic Violence & On-Line Harassment 

Domestic Violence Services & Support for Young People
One of the most insidious aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it is far more difficult for domestic violence survivors to seek and receive support. Non-profit Day One partners with youth to end dating abuse and domestic violence through community education, supportive services, legal advocacy, and leadership development. They are currently providing direct services virtually, via phone, text, and video calls.

Over the last 9 months, Day One has also raised and distributed over $35,000 to clients for food, medication, housing, clothing, childcare costs, and taxis and/or housing to transition a client and family to safety. 

This month, Day One has launched free digital workshops for parents and caregivers covering topics such as -- talking about dating abuse at home and modeling healthy relationships. Learn more here.

Social Media Safety
As our lives move online, our interactions with social media platforms have also multiplied. Being online has allowed us to connect, but the threat of harassment and abusive behavior continues to rise. Advocacy group Hollaback has put together Social Media Safety Guides to give you the information you need to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. 

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.