Dear Neighbor,

As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend, I want to thank New Yorkers who work hard both from home and in-person to keep our city running as we continue to fight Covid-19 and its variants.

Noise has been the top complaint since I took office in 2014 and we remain committed to making our streets quieter, this time with legislation to automate noise enforcement using technology capable of isolating sounds coming from a single vehicle, even in moving traffic.

In preparation for school starting in September, we gave away dozens of children’s backpacks at Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, and it wouldn’t have been summer without a game of “Basketball with Ben”.

Please join us in September for more movies under the stars including the Rise of Skywalker, Frozen II, and In the Heights, as well as the return of skate night, jazz in the park, and for the first time ever Tango Fridays. We are also hosting First Friday Politics in the Park edition on Friday 9/3.

Regards,

Ben Kallos
Council Member
District 5

Taking on Loud Vehicles with Automatic Noise Enforcement

Any New Yorker can attest to hearing a rich cacophony of noises through their window each night, from cars blasting bass that shakes windows as they drive by to motorists leaning into their horn out of anger to roving motorcycle gangs revving engines as they speed down sidewalks. Residents have had enough and have come out to meetings with elected officials demanding they do something about it. I am answering the call with new legislation for automated noise enforcement using video cameras and microphone triangulation to catch the booming vehicles and mailing violations of up to $1,575. As I shared with the New York Daily News:

“I get these complaints all the time and I have my own panic response of picking up my daughter when I hear them. Every New Yorker knows how bad this is.”

Major cities around the world and other states have moved forward with automated enforcement including California, United Kingdom, Austria, France, Switzerland, and Canada. Technology has advanced to a point that noise can be isolated to individual vehicles in moving traffic. Video and triangulated audio would be captured automatically and reviewed by the police later with violations issued and mailed to the vehicle’s owner. Violations would be $150 to $525 for the first violation, $300 to $1,050 for the second offense, and $450 to $1,575 for third and subsequent offenses. For more information, read the release or see full coverage in ABC 7, Gothamist, and the New York Daily News.

In the News

"Upper East Side 'can tipper' picked up for psychiatric observation: police," Daily News, 8/30/21
"Upper East Side homeless ‘can tipper’ has caused unchecked mayhem for years, frustrating neighbors," Daily News, 8/28/2021
“Garbage Trucks Clog Traffic, Water Main Break” Patch, 8/20/2021
“Why Andrew Cuomo’s taped statement was so cringeworthy, hard to watch” USA Today, 8/4/2021
“Where Upper East Side Lawmakers Stand On Andrew Cuomo’s Scandals” Patch, 8/3/2021

Announcements

Out and About

Basketball with Ben

As part of an office tradition, my staff and I faced off against our summer interns in a friendly game of basketball at Samuel Seabury Playground for the third annual “Basketball with Ben.” Thank you to my staff and to all of the interns, fellows and social work students who joined us for another great summer of working hard on behalf of the community.

Mammogram Van and Backpack Giveaway

My office teamed up with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation and the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center to provide mammograms to women in the district at no cost. Working with the Holmes-Isaacs Coalition, we also gave away free children’s backpacks just in time for the back-to-school season.

Five Boro Bike Tour

This is the 9th year I have participated and helped kick off the TD 5 Boro Bike Tour. After last year's cancellation of the event this year more than 20,000 people took part in the massive event and rode their bikes through 40 miles of New York City streets.

Special thank you to Congressman Tom Suozzi, State Senator John Liu, Assembly Member Kenny Burgos, and fellow Council Member Carlos Menchaca who joined the ride.

Events

Movie Night: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Movie Night: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Friday, September 10, 7:45pm
Samuel Seabury Playground (Lex Ave & E 96th St)
RSVP

Join us on Friday, September 10th for a free Family Movie Night at Samuel Seabury Playground, sponsored by my office, NYC Parks, Assembly Member Dan Quart, Council Member Keith Powers, Carnegie Hill Neighbors, Metropolitan Hospital and Lexington Houses. Bring your family (and a blanket) to our screening of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!

No registration is required and admission is first-come, first-served. The movie will begin at dusk or around 7:45pm. For more information or to RSVP, visit BenKallos.com/Events

Movie Night: Frozen II

Movie Night: Frozen II
Friday, September 17, 7:30pm
Carl Schurz Park (East 86th St & East End Ave)
RSVP

Join us on Friday, September 17th for a free Family Movie Night at Carl Schurz Park, sponsored by my office and NYC Parks. Bring your family (and a blanket) to our screening of Frozen II (2019)!

No registration is required and admission is first-come, first-served. The movie will begin at dusk or around 7:30pm. For more information or to RSVP, visit BenKallos.com/Events

Movie Night: In the Heights

Movie Night: In the Heights
Friday, September 24, 7:15pm
St. Catherine’s Park
1245 1st Ave
RSVP

Join us on Friday, September 24th for a free Family Movie Night at St. Catherine’s Park, sponsored by my office, NYC Parks and the East Sixties Neighborhood Association. Bring your family (and a blanket) to our screening of In the Heights (2021)!

No registration is required and admission is first-come, first-served. The movie will begin at dusk or around 7:15pm. For more information or to RSVP, visit BenKallos.com/Events

Skate Night

Skate Night
Friday, September 17, 3pm
Stanley Isaacs Playground
East 96th St & 1st Ave
RSVP

Join me and NYC Parks on Friday, September 17th at 3pm for a fun skate night at Stanley Isaacs Playground, co-sponsored by the Holmes Isaacs Coalition. Dance and enjoy an outdoor roller skating night with a live DJ, jumbo games and much more!

Skates will be provided but are limited. Feel free to bring your own skates. Socks are required for all skaters. Reservations are valid for one session only, any duplicates will be eliminated. RSVP at BenKallos.com/Events

Jazz Night: Concert in Andrew Haswell Green Park

Jazz Night: Concert in Andrew Haswell Green Park
Thursday, September 9, 3pm
East 60th Street & York Avenue
RSVP

Join me and NYC Parks on Thursday, September 9th at 3pm for a fun, free afternoon of jazz in the park. Gabriel Chakarji is a Latin Grammy Award nominee pianist and composer who merges his Venezuelan music background with the sounds of New York City Jazz. For more information or to RSVP, visit BenKallos.com/Events

Tango Fridays at Sutton Place

Tango Friday at Sutton Place Park
Friday, September 10, 3pm RSVP
Friday, September 17, 3pm RSVP
Friday, September 24, 3pm RSVP

Join me and NYC Parks next month for three Fridays of free tango lessons and live music in the park. Put on your dancing shoes and learn with Strictly Tango NYC Dance School. Come with your partner, your friends or come by yourself and find a new dancing partner! For more information or to RSVP, visit BenKallos.com/Events

Save the Date: Family Days in October

Family Day at John Jay Park
Saturday, October 2, 1pm - 4pm
John Jay Park (FDR Dr btwn E 76th & 78th Streets)
RSVP

Family Day at St. Catherine's Park
Saturday, October 16, 1pm - 4pm
St. Catherine’s Park
1245 1st Ave
RSVP

Join me and NYC Parks for a fun afternoon of crafts, games, and more. Come ready to have a great time! Contact (212) 360-1430 or [email protected] for more information regarding accessibility. For more information or to RSVP, visit BenKallos.com/Events

Fresh Food Box

Fresh Food Box
Thursdays, 3:30pm - 6:30pm
93rd St & 2nd Ave
RSVP

Through the partnership with my office, GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box program has been providing affordable, healthy food since 2016. We are happy to announce that Fresh Food Box has returned to District 5 for the 2021 season from now through December 21st, every Thursday from 3:30pm to 6:30pm outside of my district office!

To purchase a Fresh Food Box, complete the registration form, then come to the site in person to sign up and pay for the Box at least one week before you’d like to pick it up. For more information, or if you have any questions, visit grownyc.org/foodbox/district5

First Friday In-Person Politics in the Park Edition

First Friday In-Person Politics in the Park Edition
Friday, September 3, 8am–10am
Ruppert Park
1741 2nd Ave
RSVP

First Friday remains one of my favorite parts of my job representing you as your Council Member. Join me next month for the first time since the pandemic in-person at a new location, Ruppert Park starting at 8 am on Friday, September 3rd for a conversation with friends and neighbors. If rain is forecast for the morning we will host over Zoom.

You must RSVP to participate.

Please submit questions with RSVP or by email to [email protected]

RSVP now at BenKallos.com/events

Taking on Loud Vehicles with Automatic Noise Enforcement

In the News

Announcements

Out and About

Resources