Dear Neighbors,

I hope you will find this week's information on community resources and special events useful, especially our vaccine updates. Also below -- important deadlines for public school families, plus details on how to apply for 2021 Summer Youth Employment positions. 70,000 slots are available and applications are being accepted now!

In-Person Learning Opt-In Period
The DOE has reopened its opt-in period for in-person learning following the release of new CDC guidelines which say students can be spaced three feet apart, instead of six -- increasing the number of students permitted in classrooms. Read the CDC press release.

The opt-in period is open to all students through Wednesday, April 7th. Learn more here. To opt in, select “Blended Learning” in the Learning Preferences Survey or call 311. Students in 3K, pre-K, and elementary grades (including in District 75) who opt in will return to the classroom in April. Return dates for newly opted-in middle and high schoolers have not yet been announced.

Apply for Gifted & Talented Programs Through April 9th
Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs offer accelerated instruction to eligible elementary school students in New York City. All NYC families with children born in 2016 can apply to G&T Kindergarten programs this year. 

How to Apply: On your child’s application, you can apply to 12 G&T programs that interest you. Be sure to list them in your true order of preference, with your first-choice program as #1. There are three ways to submit your application by the April 9th deadline:

• Online at MySchools.nyc,
• Through your local Family Welcome Center—learn how at schools.nyc.gov/FWC, or
• By phone at 718-935-2009.

Learn More: Join the Dept of Education for an event to find out more about G&T programs, learn how to apply, and ask your questions. Find specific event dates, times, and interpretation information at schools.nyc.gov/GT. 

3-K for All Expansion
The DOE has announced plans to expand 3-K for All to every school district, and will be adding up to 15,000 more seats by the end of the 2021-22 school year. The City says there will be approximately 43,000 3-K seats available across all 32 community school districts.

Applications for 3-K for All have been extended to May 28th. Programs in new school districts will be added to the applications as options for families in April and May. Families can visit nyc.gov/3k to sign up to receive email updates when new programs are added, and to learn how to create a MySchools account to explore and apply to programs.
 

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New York City's Summer Youth Employment initiative is back and offering paid work experiences and project-based learning opportunities for 70,000 young people.

Applications and information now available by clicking here! You can also call 311 or the NYC Dept of Youth & Community Development's Community Connect at 1-800-246-4646. 
 

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Support for Small Businesses
Borough President Brewer has released a new report, “Saving Manhattan Small Business: A Roadmap for Recovery,” which outlines how local government can play a key role in supporting and strengthening our small business sector, especially storefronts. As is obvious in our community, the pandemic continues to exacerbate the chronic struggles faced by small businesses. Read the report here.
 

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Tonight: Building a Care System that Works for All
A reminder to join me for an important public conversation about domestic care work with Upper West Side caregivers and employers -- tonight, Wednesday, March 24th at 8:15pm. RSVP here to receive an event link.

COVID-19 Updates

1.) New Yorkers 50 and older, along with additional public facing essential workers, are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more here. Visit the City's Vaccine Finder to schedule an appointment, or call 1-877-829-4692. 

Pharmacies are now vaccinating New Yorkers with underlying conditions, in addition to those who are 60+, P-12 school faculty and staff, and childcare workers. You can make a vaccine appointment at Walgreens by calling 1-800-WALGREENS.

2.) Vaccine Webinar TODAY: Experts from NYC Emergency Management and the NYC Dept of Health will discuss the three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration this Wednesday, March 24 at 1:30pm. Register and view here.

3.) Vaccine Town Call for the Arts, Entertainment & Nightlife Community: Wednesday, March 31st at 3pm. The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment and the NYC Dept of Health will share updates on the COVID-19 virus in NYC and available vaccines. Join this session to learn about eligibility and access to the vaccines. Register here.

4.) Vaccinations for Homebound Seniors: New York City is providing in-home Covid-19 vaccinations (Johnson & Johnson) to eligible NYC residents who are fully homebound, have not yet been vaccinated, and do not already have access to a vaccination program.

If you wish to receive in-home vaccination, click here or call 877-829-4692. You will receive a phone call to confirm the homebound individual’s eligibility and schedule the appointment; on that call, please also make sure to request in-home vaccination for other eligible household members (eligibility criteria listed here).

5.) The Vaccine for All Corps is enlisting 2,000 New Yorkers to support City vaccination efforts across the five boroughs. Hiring for the first tranche of these positions is now live at nyc.gov/vaccinejobs.

Healthcare experience is not required for many of these positions, which include roles in site management, operations, and client services, in addition to the clinical roles. Residents from NYC communities hit hardest by COVID-19 are especially invited to apply.

Please check these sources regularly for vaccination updates:
Transportation for Seniors to Vaccination Appointments
New Yorkers age 65+ who make a vaccination appointment at a City-operated site will be asked if they need transportation to get to and from their appointment. 
 

• 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.
• Learn more about NYC Care, the City’s healthcare access program.

 

Especially for Tenants

Eviction Moratorium A reminder that the NYS Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 essentially blocks evictions through May 1st. The EEFPA paused all eviction proceedings until the end of February. Tenants now need to sign a hardship declaration which attests 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.  The NYC Bar Association's new flyer regarding the EEFPA helps both homeowners and renters understand their rights, and provides resources if they need assistance. If you have questions about these new protections and/or are in danger of eviction, please watch our March Housing Clinic. You can also:  Contact one of the housing organizations listed on our website. Click on "Housing." 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. Call the Housing Court Answers hotline at (212) 962-4795, Monday thru Friday, 9am-5pm. Language interpreters available. Information on Housing Court / housing law, plus rent arrears assistance and homelessness prevention guidance. NYCHA tenants also assisted. Assistance With Submitting Your Eviction Moratorium Hardship Form Right to Counsel, Housing Justice for All, and JustFix.nyc have launched a new website to help tenants submit their hardship declaration forms on-line. The site, EvictionFreeNY, provides an accessible, easy to use format that ensures tenants can take full advantage of the temporary protections provided by the new law. NYCHA Tenants "Blueprint for Change" Resident Town Hall This Friday Have questions about NYCHA’s "Blueprint for Change" Re-Organization Plan? Join NYCHA Chair Greg Russ and leadership for a presentation on Blueprint this Friday March 26, from 3pm – 4:30pm. Registration required. Language assistance is available in Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. If you need a reasonable accommodation in order to participate, please contact the Resident Engagement Department by phone at (212) 306-8436 or by email at [email protected]. Watch Council Member Rosenthal's March 1st Town Hall about the Blueprint for Change. We were joined by NYCHA Chairman Gregory Russ; VP of Intergovernmental Relations Brian Honan; and tenant association presidents from Upper West Side developments.

Gun Buy-Back Event: March 27th
The NYPD encourages any New Yorker in possession of a firearm to turn it in, no questions asked. Their annual gun buy-back event is this Saturday, March 27th, from 10am to 4pm. Location: Convent Avenue Baptist Church, 420 W. 145th Street. Learn more here.

Healthy Home Workshops
The NYC Dept of Health offers monthly workshops for parents, seniors, and other interested residents on topics related to maintaining a healthy and safe home. Workshops also offered in Spanish, Bengali, Russian, and other languages. Topics include:

• Preventing Lead Poisoning
• Cleaning Safely in the Home 
• Getting Rid of Mold 
• Controlling Roaches and Mice Safely 
• Installing Safe Window Guards

Registration is required to join by WebEx. See all of the workshops and register here.

Health Coverage: NYS Enrollment Period Extended to May 15th 
If you have lost your health insurance or have not had coverage, go to https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/get-covered 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 May 15th, 2021. New Yorkers can enroll in Medicaid all year long.

Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY (CIDNY) is a "Navigator" agency for NYS of Health enrollments, and works with all New Yorkers to help them find affordable health insurance. Services are free and confidential. Contact CIDNY at (917) 810-2566 or by clicking here.

No-Cost Mammograms
Early detection of breast cancer is proven to save lives. No-cost mammograms are available now via the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. No co-pays required and deductibles are waived. Uninsured patients are welcome. 

For more information and to make an appointment, call 1-877-628-9090. Click here to learn more. Eligibility:

• Women age 40 - 79
• Currently living in New York City
• No Mammogram in the past 12 months

Free Vision Screenings: University Eye Center
Free screenings are available Monday, April 5th, from 2pm to 4pm.

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

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 For City Employees
If managing your stress is beginning to feel like a full-time job, consider reaching out to the NYC Employee Assistance Program. All EAP services are available Monday through Friday, 8am – 9pm. Contact the EAP by email at [email protected] or leave a message at (212) 306-7660.

See some of the Women's History Month events in our district by clicking here.

For local and citywide environmental news and events, sign up for newsletters from UWS Recycling, which come out 6 times/year. Read the March/April Eco Letter here!
 

• How to comply with New York's rent regulations
• Landlord-tenant mediation
• Access, non-payment, and holdover evictions
• How to navigate Housing Court

We have received many questions about the re-design of Central Park's Lasker Pool. Last March the Public Design Commission approved a design for what the Central Park Conservancy says is a "significantly more integrated, accessible, and sustainable pool and rink facility." Read more here.

Residents have asked about the size of the new rink and pool. The new facility will be about 3/4 the size of the current one, but still larger than Olympic-size. As you know, the previous skating rink could be sub-divided. The new rink will be regulation sized and can also be sub-divided. The Conservancy notes that the design seeks to "provide the largest possible pool and rink that can fit on the site while re-establishing the broken connection between the Harlem Meer and North Woods as well as complying with current environmental standards and regulatory codes."

Construction is expected to begin later this spring and be completed by summer 2024. If public health conditions are favorable, residents can use other public pools this summer, including the Riverbank and Frederick Douglass pools in West Harlem, and John Jay pool on the Upper East Side.

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.