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Dear Neighbors,
 
Like so many New Yorkers, I have been carefully following the results of the State Attorney General's investigation into allegations that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple female staff members.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal -- no matter how elevated the office. I was proud to play a leading role in the passage of the City Council’s 2018 Stop Sexual Harassment in NYC Act, and the State passed its own anti-harassment laws, which the Governor celebrated at the time.

The real test, of course, will be whether the State Legislature is prepared to see this process through to the end and impeach the Governor. New Yorkers deserve leadership that understands and respects a basic fact: no one is above the law.
 

Please read below for community news and a wide range of helpful resources. 


I was very pleased to join Dep Inspector Naoki Yaguchi, the Commanding Officer of the 24th Precinct, along with NYS Senator Robert Jackson, as we honored three NYPD officers for their heroism and service to our community.

During their service as Neighborhood Coordination Officers for Sector B (W. 86th to W. 100th Sts; Central Park West to Broadway), NYPD Officers Nelson Gomez and William Bodner (pictured above) have been involved in the rescue of a suicidal resident, arrests of individuals with firearms, and multiple arrests of individuals stealing packages from residents. 

We were also very pleased to honor Sgt. Naqshaib Altaf (not pictured), who has been coordinating the efforts of the NCOs and the Youth Coordination Officers. We thank all three officers for their dedication to their fellow New Yorkers.
 
 
Services & Support for 9/11 Survivors and First Responders
Are you a survivor of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center? Or were you a first responder at the scene? Services and support are available for you via the World Trade Center Health Program, which is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Learn about services for September 11th survivors here, and for first responders here.

In 2010, Congress passed legislation authorizing the WTC Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Both programs have their own distinct mission, eligibility criteria, and enrollment process. Learn more about the Victim Compensation Fund and the WTC Health Program here.
 

Hearing on NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
The NYS Assembly will hold a hearing next Tuesday, August 10th at 10am regarding the application process and implementation of the State's ERAP program. Eligible tenants may seek up to 12 months of rental and utility arrears assistance, as well as three prospective months of rent, via ERAP. According to the State Assembly: "New York received approximately $2.6 billion in federal funding to enact ERAP, however, as of July 27, 2021, less than $1 million dollars have been dispersed....Since the federal government is authorized to reclaim funds if at least 65 percent of the original allocation is not utilized by September 30, 2021, it is imperative to examine the program."

Next Tuesday's hearing will be held in lower Manhattan (250 Broadway, Assembly Hearing Room). Click here for additional information, including how you can submit testimony. To view Assembly hearings live, click here.
 

New Restrictions on 3rd Party Delivery Services
Last week the City Council voted to extend measures passed earlier in the pandemic to assist local restaurants, and passed additional protections. Last week's legislative package includes bills which:
  • Prohibit third-party delivery platforms from charging restaurants more than 15% per order for delivery and more than 5% per order for all other fees, extending these fee caps until February 17, 2022;
  • Prohibit delivery platforms from charging restaurants for telephone orders that did not result in a transaction (extended until February 17, 2022);
  • Require delivery platforms to share information related to orders placed through their platform with restaurants that request it, including customers’ names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and addresses.
Customers will be able to opt out of their information being shared, and the bill prohibits restaurants from selling, renting or disclosing customer information without their express consent. Read more about the legislative package here.

New Resources from the City of NY

Resources for Residential Property Owners
COVID-19 has been a challenging time for owners as well as tenants. Click here to read the City's summary of resources which can assist property owners in securing rent payments, loans, foreclosure protections, and individualized assistance.

Grants for Artists
Grants are available via City Artist Corps, a new $25 million recovery initiative designed to assist artists who were both hard hit by the pandemic and may have been left out of other local and federal funding opportunities. Click here to learn more.
 

News For Families

Fall 2021 Academic Recovery Plan for NYC Schools 
Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Porter have announced an Academic Recovery Plan for the school year ahead. You can also read the Chancellor's latest message for families here.

Child Tax Credit
A reminder to families that the IRS has begun monthly distributions of up to $300 per child as part of the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) created by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Families can receive half of the fully refundable credit—worth up to $3,600 per child (under age 6) or $3,000 per child (ages 6 to 17)—as monthly payments in 2021 and the other half as part of tax refunds in 2022.

These payments could bring in more than $5 billion to NYC and, when combined with other stimulus funds, reduce child poverty by nearly half -- but only if every eligible family participates!

No action is necessary if you filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return or used the IRS "Non-Filer" tool. Otherwise, click here to learn how to claim the CTC and receive the payments quickly and safely.
  • NYC Free Tax Prep can assist anyone who needs to file to in order to receive the CTC.
  • The fastest way to receive the advance payment is by direct deposit to a bank account. New Yorkers can visit one of the City's Financial Empowerment Centers for help setting up a bank account if they don’t have one. 

Grants Available to Help Address COVID-19 Learning Loss
TD Bank is offering grants to eligible not-for-profit and charitable organizations which are developing innovative solutions to address predicted learning loss in math and reading for students in grades K-12 who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. 

Research predicts that remote and virtual learning may disproportionately increase learning loss among students who do not have consistent access to technology, a private space, and/or teacher supervision, including:
  • Students from low-income households
  • Students with limited access to internet
  • Indigenous and Racialized students
  • Students with disabilities
A total of $10 million (Canadian) in grants are available to eligible organizations in Canada and the U.S. Applications are being accepted until August 26th. Learn more at td.com/readychallenge.
Upper West Side Community Updates

Bike Helmet Giveaway!
Please join us on Saturday, August 21st in Riverside Park for our annual bike helmet giveaway event. Distribution will take place between 11am and 2:30pm, while supplies last.
  • We'll be on Riverside Drive between W. 88th and W. 89th Streets. Click here for more information.
  • Masks are required during the entire fitting.
  • A parent or legal guardian must be present for any child under age 18 who is being fitted. 
The NYPD will also be offering free bicycle registration, which can be very useful in the event your bike is stolen. Click here to learn more.
 


Planning for Safer & More Accessible Streets
A reminder that the City's Dept of Transportation is developing the first NYC Streets Plan and is asking residents to provide insights on the street safety issues that matter most to them. The NYC Streets Plan was mandated by Local Law 195 (passed by the City Council in 2019). The five-year plan seeks to improve the safety, accessibility, and quality of all city streets. Click here to learn more.

Street safety is one of the most urgent issues affecting our community. Your participation in the planning process is critical to ensuring that DOT understands the specific issues affecting the Upper West Side, and what should be included in the City's plan. You can submit feedback regarding the streets in which you live and frequent via this on-line platform. 


My office was delighted to participate in an Upper West Side "Bike Tune-Up & Registration" event for delivery workers this week. We thank Los Deliveristas Unidos for organizing this free event. Helping delivery workers keep their bikes safe and secure serves the whole community.
 
 
Summer Grab & Go Meals
Free “Grab & Go” meals are available for all residents this summer. No registration, documentation, or ID is required to receive a free breakfast or lunch.

To learn more and find a pick-up location: click here; text “NYC FOOD” or “NYC COMIDA” to 877-877; or call 311. 

The summer locations in our area are open Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm.
  • Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts: 100 Amsterdam Ave
  • Anderson School: 100 W. 77th Street
  • Urban Assembly School for Green Careers: 145 W. 84th Street
  • P.S. 75: 735 West End Avenue
  • P.S. 163 Alfred E. Smith: 163 W. 97th Street
  • P.S. 145, The Bloomingdale School: 150 W. 105th Street

Sign-Up for Curbside Composting! 
This fall the City will resume collecting food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from residents so that it can be turned into compost or renewable energy. This service is voluntary, and residents must sign up.
  • Sign-ups for curbside composting are now being accepted! Click here to sign up and learn more.
  • Encourage your building management or board members to sign-up. The Dept of Sanitation will notify the building representative when service will start in your area.
  • Service will resume on a rolling basis based on the number of sign-ups in your area. This way DSNY can ensure there will be enough material set out for their trucks to pick up. The more sign-ups in our area, the quicker service will start!
Have You Been Vaccinated?
 
1.) Local Pop-up Vaccination Event: Somos Community Care will be offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Thursday, August 12th, from 12pm-2pm, at B’nai Jeshurun. Location: 257 W. 88th Street.

No pre-registration is required but residents are asked to bring ID. Learn more here.

2.) Vaccination Incentives 
New Yorkers receiving their first vaccine dose at a City-run vaccine location are now eligible for incentives, including a $100 pre-paid debit card (as of July 30th). If you received your first dose on July 28 or 29, you can also click here to redeem your pre-paid debit card.

New Yorkers 18 and older can also win exclusive prizes. Once your first COVID-19 vaccine dose is complete, you will receive an email with instructions on how to select your money or incentive and enter the contest.
  • Book a vaccination appointment at any location on the NYC COVID-19 Vax4NYC Appointment Scheduler or call 877-VAX4NYC (877-829-4692).
3.) In-home COVID-19 vaccinations are now available to all New Yorkers ages 12 and older. Click here to learn more or phone 877-829-4692.

4.) All City-run vaccination sites are open to ALL New Yorkers. This  includes City-run "walk-up" sites (age 12+ accepted at Pfizer sites; age 18+ accepted at Moderna sites).

Click here for the most up-to-date list of walk-up vaccination sites. Vaccinations can also be scheduled via the City's Vaccine Finder, or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC or 877-829-4692.

Please check the NYS Dept of Health website and the NYC Dept of Health website regularly for vaccination updates and additional information.
 
5.) Vaccination Incentives for Community Organizations
The City is offering a special incentive to community and faith-based organizations to help get New Yorkers vaccinated -- $100 will be awarded to community groups for each referral for each first dose at a City-run site.

New Yorkers who make an appointment ahead of time, or who use a walk-in vaccination site, simply need to identify which community organization referred them. Once they receive their first vaccination dose, the referring organization will be credited $100 after the program ends. Organizations can earn up to $20,000 each. Interested organizations should sign up at nyc.gov/vaccinereferralbonus. 

6.) Stay Informed! Helpful COVID-19 information sources include: 
 
Important News for Tenants
 
NYS Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP)
Eligible tenants may seek up to 12 months of rental and utility arrears assistance, as well as three prospective months of rent, via the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Watch our August Housing Clinic with updates about ERAP here.
  • Applications are being accepted now. Click here to learn about eligibility and apply.
  • Tenants are eligible to apply regardless of immigration status if their household income is below 80% of "area median income," which you can look up here.
  • If you have an eviction case, it will be stayed while you apply, so you can't be evicted while your application is being processed.
Application Tips: TakeRoot Justice has prepared a very helpful: For assistance with the application, call New York State at 844-NY1-RENT (844-691-7368). If you live in Manhattan, the two organizations below are designated ERAP "enrollers" and can also answer questions.
  • Catholic Charities Community Services at 888-744-7900
  • University Settlement at 212-453-4500
Extra Tip: tenants should call New York State or an enroller organization as many times as necessary to have all your questions answered.

Other ERAP Resources
  • Older adults and persons with disabilities can contact LiveOn NY for assistance with the ERAP application. Phone (212) 398-5045 or email [email protected].
  • West Side Campaign Against Hunger is answering questions about the ERAP application. Contact them here.
  • The NY Legal Assistance Group is answering questions about the ERAP application. Contact them here.
NYCHA residents should click here if they are having difficulty paying their rent due to the pandemic.

Read about other resources for tenants here.

Eviction Moratorium
A reminder that Governor Cuomo has signed an extension of the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 and the Protect Our Small Businesses Act, effectively extending New York’s eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through August 31, 2021.

Tenants facing eviction must submit a declaration of pandemic-related hardship. Tenants who do not submit such a declaration as a justification for non-payment of rent, or who create safety or health hazards for other tenants, can still be evicted. Renters can use Eviction Free NY, an online tool that automatically sends the hardship declaration to housing court as well as your landlord at no cost. 

Job Listings: Spread the Word!

 
The West Side YMCA is recruiting for a number of positions. They offer great local career opportunities, especially for those looking to start a career path in youth development. Learn more here!

GrowNYC is hiring! See a variety of open positions here.

The Parks Department is hiring now. Click on the links below to apply for: Jobs Available with the City Cleanup Corps
The City Cleanup Corps (CCC) is a New Deal-inspired economic recovery program with the aim of creating 10,000 jobs and making New York City the "cleanest, greenest city in the United States." The CCC is funded via federal stimulus dollars and part of the Mayor’s Recovery For All of Us plan.

Hiring is taking place across 10 City agencies, including the departments of Parks & Recreation, Transportation, Environmental Protection, and the NYC Housing Authority. The CCC will focus on revitalizing New York City’s public spaces and neighborhoods -- prioritizing areas identified by local communities and elected officials, business districts, and the 33 neighborhoods hit hardest by the pandemic. 

Important Resources for Our Community

 
Mental Health Resources for District 6 Residents
Don't suffer alone. Support is available for any New Yorker coping with issues like depression, anxiety, substance misuse, crime victimization, and serious mental illness. Targeted services are being offered to older New Yorkers, veterans, families with young children, students, and people harmed by crime or abuse.
  • NYC Well is 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.

Free Wellness Classes: a wide variety of free, on-line wellness programs are available from:

Free Vision Screenings: University Eye Center
Free screenings are available on Monday, August 23rd, from 9:30am to 11:30am.

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
 
1.) Older adults may be eligible for a wide range of benefits, including assistance with food, medical, and utility costs, as well as rent freezes and lower property taxes.

If you missed our webinar with LiveOn NY about how to access these benefits, you can review detailed slides from the presentation here.

If you would like benefits screening and application assistance, phone (212) 398-5045, or email [email protected]. You can also complete an intake form with LiveOn NY here.

2.) Older adults may be eligible for assistance with their Medicare costs. Together with the Medicare Rights Center, our office hosted a special webinar in July regarding available assistance. We also reviewed COVID-19 Medicare coverage, Medicaid "Spend Down," and other important topics. Congress is currently considering strategies to improve health coverage and affordability. The MRC is encouraging older New Yorkers to weigh in now to make sure that Medicare is part of that discussion. Learn more here. 
 

Moratorium Extended on Utility Shut-Offs
Governor Cuomo has signed legislation extending a moratorium that prevents utility companies from disconnecting residential households and small businesses that are struggling financially due to the pandemic. The moratorium is extended for a period of 180 days after the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or 180 days after December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier. 

Financial Assistance for Internet Service & Devices
The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit program provides up to a $50 subsidy for internet bills and a potential $100 voucher to acquire a tablet or computer. 

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and ways to enroll, by visiting  
www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or calling 833-511-0311. 

Residents may be eligible if they:
  • receive Medicaid or SNAP
  • participate in free or reduced-price school lunch or breakfast programs
  • experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020
  • received a Pell Grant
  • are eligible for an internet service provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program
  • receive affordability benefits from a utility (HEAP, Lifeline, etc.)
LiveOn NY assists older adults with obtaining the benefit. Phone (212) 398-5045 or email [email protected].

Senior Planet helps seniors access technology through online courses, programs & activities. Call Senior Planet’s National Hotline at (920) 666-1959; Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm EDT or click here to learn more.

Community Events


Explore the Wonders of the Ocean
Join the New York Aquarium for a special FREE virtual and behind-the-scenes tour of their Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit on August 19th at 6pm. The tour will showcase the Aquarium's sharks, rays, sea turtles and more, with Aquarium keepers and educators. Space is limited: please RSVP here!
 

 

On August 7th and 14th, Summer Streets will open 6.9 miles of Park Avenue and connecting streets, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, to pedestrians, cyclists and joggers. Enjoy free fitness classes, performances and workshops on car-free streets. Learn more here!

For local and citywide environmental news and events, sign up for newsletters from UWS Recycling, which come out 6 times/year. Read the July/August Eco Letter here!
 
Outdoor Fun
  • Summer on the Hudson is NYC Parks' annual outdoor arts and culture festival in Riverside Park, from 59th to 153rd Streets. Click here to learn more about upcoming music concerts, dance performances, movies under the stars, DJ dance parties, kids shows, special events, wellness activities, and more. All programs and events are free and registration not required unless otherwise stated. 
  • Re-Growth, A Celebration of Art, Riverside Park, and the New York Spirit is a free, park-wide art exhibition with site-specific installations spanning several miles alongside the Hudson River. Learn more here and 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. 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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