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Dear John,

You might have noticed we've had a lot of groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings lately, and we have. We've been busy all these years, and we are seeing a great return on our investment. We broke ground on a $3.5 million project to rebuild Carl Schurz Park Playground (#breaking) , which hasn't seen investment since I was a kid. We also cut the ribbon on a new hydroponics lab for P.S. 183 (#RibbonPS183) that we funded after the school won Participatory Budgeting. Have you proposed an idea ([link removed]) for residents to vote on?

Speaking of voting, Election Day (#EarlyVoting) is on Tuesday, November 5, but you don't have to wait to vote. Early Voting (#FlipBallot) started on October 26 and will continue through Sunday, November 3. Don't forget to flip the ballot (#FlipBallot) and vote on changes to the city's Charter (#FlipBallot) .

We continue to fight for better commutes, with automated bus-lane enforcement (#Automated) , accessible subways (#MNN) , bike safety (#BikeSafety) , and taking on delivery companies (#CitySidewalks) who use our streets as their personal warehouses (did you see that New York Times (#CitySidewalks) story?).

In November, as we celebrate Thanksgiving (#Thanksgiving) , we look to how we can give back with a day of service (#LoveYourNeighborhood) . We also continue our annual tradition of providing turkeys (#Thanksgiving) to low-income residents of public housing as we advocate to fight hunger at the Food Tank Summit (#FoodTank) . We also have a Pumpkin Smash (#pumpkinsmash) , dramatic reading, and drag queen (#dragqueen) story hour at the 92Y. Save the date for our annual holiday party (#SaveHoliday) .

This season I am thankful for you and all that we have been able to accomplish together. What are you most thankful for?

Sincerely,

Ben Kallos
Council Member


SPECIAL EVENTS

Love Your Neighborhood Day ([link removed])
Saturday, 11/2, 10am – 6:30pm

Pumpkin Smash ([link removed])
Sunday, 11/3, 1pm – 4pm

NY Classical Theatre: "The Force of Habit" ([link removed])
Monday, 11/4, 7pm – 9pm
Medicare Enrollment Event ([link removed])
Wednesday, 11/6, 4pm – 6pm

Drag Queen Story Hour ([link removed])
Sunday, 11/17, 11am – 1pm

Save the Date: Annual Holiday Party ([link removed])
Tuesday, 12/17, 6pm – 8pm

MONTHLY EVENTS

First Friday ([link removed])
Friday, 11/1, 8am – 10am

Policy Night
Tuesday, 11/12, 5pm – 6pm
(By Appointment Only)

Free Legal Clinics ([link removed])
(By Appointment Only)

Fresh Food Box
Thursdays, 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Ending 11/14
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(If you experience trouble with the links below, click here ([link removed]) )

UPGRADING OUR PARKS
1. Breaking Ground $3.5 Million Upgrade for Carl Schurz Playground (#Breaking)
2. New El Barrio Bait Station on the East River Esplanade (#NewElBarrio)
3. Protect Parks from Pesticides (#Protect)

ELECTION DAY
4. Election Days - Early Voting is Finally Here (#EarlyVoting)
5. Flip the Ballot to Vote on City Charter Revision (#FlipBallot)

EVENT INVITES
6. Love Your Neighborhood; Day of Service Upper East Side (#LoveYourNeighborhood)
7. Medicare Enrollment Event (#Medicare)
8. NY Classical "The Force of Habit" (#NYClassical)
9. Drag Queen Story Hour (#dragqueen)
10. Pumpkin Smash at Andrew Haswell Green Park (#pumpkinsmash)
11. Food Tank 2019 Summit (#FoodTank)
12. Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway for NYCHA Tenants (#Thanksgiving)
13. Save the Date Holiday Party (#SaveHoliday)

EDUCATION
14. New $600,000 Science Lab at P.S. 183 (#RibbonPS183)
15. Breaking Ground on New Marymount Campus (#BreakingMarymount)

TRANSPORTATION
16. City Sidewalks Are Not Warehouses (#CitySidewalks)
17. Automated Bus-Lane Enforcement From Bus-Mounted Cameras (#Automated)
18. Subway Accessibility Discussion (#MNN)
19. Bike Safety (#BikeSafety)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
20. City Council Votes to Close Rikers Island Jail (#CityRikers)

WORKING FAMILIES AND JOBS
21. Op-Ed: All New Yorkers Deserve Retirement Security (#RetirementOpEd)
22. Better Wages for Subcontracted Con Edison Workers (#BetterWages)
23. City and State Procurement Conference (#cityandstate)
24. Standing up for Employees at Housing Works (#StandingHousingWorks)
25. M/WBE Resource and Job Fair Thank You (#MWBEFair)

COMMUNITY
26. CIVITAS Height Forum Proposal (#Civitas)
27. East Harlem Heat & Hot Water Workshop (#East Harlem)
28. Domestic Violence Fundraiser (#Domestic)
29. Senior Health Fair Thank You (#SeniorHealth)
30. MV4NY Thanksgiving Food Drive (#MV4NY)
31. Awarding Proclamation for David Rosenstein (#AwardingDave)
32. Sutton Place Parks Conservancy, It's My Park Day (#SuttonPlaceParks)
33. Halloween Community Events Thank You (#Halloween2019)
34. Zero Waste NYC Workshop for Roosevelt Islanders (#ZeroWaste)

IN THE NEWS
35. New York Daily News (#NYDN1) : Loophole in candidate contribution limits law (#NYDN1)
36. City Limits (#Citylimits) : City Campaign Finance System Charts Path for State Reform (#Citylimits)
37. City and State (#cityandstate) : Are business improvement districts the future of NYC? (#CityandState)
38. New York Daily News (#nydn2) : Advocates call on Long Island school officials to embrace bus stop arm cameras (#nydn2)
39. The Real Deal (#realdeal) : NYC lawmakers to fix property taxes … in 2030? (#realdeal)
40. Habitat (#Habitat) : A New Way to Level the City’s Lopsided Property Tax System (#Habitat)

EVENTS FUNDED BY MY OFFICE
41. Jewish Museum Family Day Festival (#JewishMuseum)

RESOURCES
42. TADA! Theater Program Sign Up (#TADA)
43. Volunteer Lawyers for Veterans (#Volunteer)
44. DOROT’s Thanksgiving Meal Delivery (#DOROT)
45. The Computer Science Co-Op Program at City College (#ComputerScience)
46. 2020 Census Job Opportunity (#2020Census)
47. Roosevelt Island Pumpkin Smash (#Roosevelt)
48. Stop ‘N Swap on Roosevelt Island (#StopnSwap)
49. Learn to File the Right Tax Withheld Amount for 2019 (#learn2file)

OFFICE UPDATES
50. Fresh Food Box Last Month for 2019 (#FreshFood)
51. Free Legal Clinics (#FreeLegal)
52. Here to Help (#HeretoHelp)
53. Mobile District Hours (#MobileDistrict)
54. Ben in Your Building (#BeninyourBuilding)
55. Help the Homeless (#HOMELESS)
56. Community Boards (#CommunityBoards)
57. NYPD Events (#nypd)
58. Neighborhood and Tenant Associations (#neighborhoodassociation)
59. Events for Adults (#eventsforadults)
60. Events for Kids (#eventsforkids)

UPGRADING OUR PARKS

After parents reached out about poor conditions at Carl Schurz Park Playground I spent years securing $3.5 million dollars for brand new playground, with $2.5 million from my office and the City Council and $775 thousand from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. We waited until after the busy summer season to break ground this October with Manhattan Parks Commissioner Bill Castro on what Parks Department has promised will be a 12-month renovation.
I grew up playing in this park and so has my daughter. This new playground will be a more vibrant design thanks to improved play equipment, additional swings, a new sprinkler, new game tables, plantings and benches. The smaller Catbird Playground at the north end of the playground will remain open during the renovation. The new playground will also ADA-accessible ramps connecting Catbird with the larger playground. For more information about the yearlong project, read the press release ([link removed]) , watch the ground breaking at BenKallos.com/videos ([link removed]) , or check out coverage by Upper East Side Patch ([link removed]) .

There is a new attraction on the East River Esplanade. The new El Barrio bait station on 100th Street provides a hand-pump that draws water from the East River and a surface for cleaning fish along with lighting for the people fish along the East River. I joined the Friends of the East River Esplanade who funded the station with a $15,000 grant from Sea Grant New York. Any investment to the East River Esplanade is one I am in favor of. Read coverage of ribbon cutting in Upper East Side Patch ([link removed]) .

Our fight to ban the use of Monsanto's Roundup in City parks took a step forward this month as several more Council Members sponsored my legislation, Int 1524 ([link removed]) . We are now up to 25 sponsors and need to get to 34 to force a hearing the bill.

In October, CityLab ([link removed]) reported that major cities, like Seattle, Miami, Austin, and Los Angeles have recently joined San Francisco in either restricting or banning the use of Glyphosate. The World Health Organization labeled the chemical a probable carcinogen to humans in 2015. Additionally, juries in the past year have ruled in favor of plaintiffs who have sued for damages of working with Glyphosate/RoundUp for an extended period of time that caused cancer. Find out more about the bill at BenKallos.com/Press-Releases ([link removed]) then sign the petition in support at Benkallos.com/petition/BanToxicPesticides ([link removed])

ELECTIONS


Although Election Day is not until November 5th the new Democratic majority in the state Senate passed legislation to let New Yorkers vote early. Thanks to this new law, for the first time New Yorkers have been able to vote at the beginning of October 26th at 61 locations throughout the City.

If you are reading this before November 5th and want to vote early you still can. If you check your address versus the nyc.pollsitelocator.com ([link removed]) , it will direct you to where you can vote early and of course where you should vote on November 5th if you choose to wait.

Find your early voting polling site ([link removed]) at nyc.pollsitelocator.com/search. Depending on where you live in the district, available days include:
* Friday, Nov. 1: 7 a.m. to 8 pm ([link removed])
* Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. to 4 pm ([link removed])
* Sunday, Nov. 3: 10 a.m. to 4 pm ([link removed])



New Yorkers now have the chance to amend our Charter — the City’s constitution. By voting on ballot proposals covering a wide variety of issues, from elections to police accountability in this month's election. Make sure you go out and vote. The issues on the ballot this year have the potential to change New York City.

QUESTION 1: Elections - Ranked Choice Voting
QUESTION 2: Stronger CCRB Oversight Over NYPD
QUESTION 3: Two Year Revolving Door Ban For Elected Officials & Citywide Office Dedicated to Contracting with Women and People of Color.
QUESTION 4: Budget Independence for the Public Advocate and Borough President
QUESTION 5: Early Involvement for Community in Neighborhood Planning

Learn more about the questions as they will appear on the ballot ([link removed]) , abstracts explaining the questions ([link removed]) , and a fact sheet ([link removed]) by visiting BenKallos.com/Charter2019 ([link removed]) and remember to flip the ballot.

EVENT INVITES


On Saturday, November 2, join Council Member Powers and I for the inaugural Love Your Neighborhood Day on the Upper East Side. This is a day of service organized by our offices and made possible by community organizations that contribute so much to our neighborhoods.

Join us for any of the three activities:

East 86th Street Beautification: Help us beautify and clean East 86th Street with the East 86th Street Association. 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 PM
Meet-up location: Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues

Community Park Improvements: Remove stickers and graffiti between Lexington and Fifth Avenues with Carnegie Hill Neighbors. 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Meet-up location: 97th Street Garden on the north mall of Park Avenue

Preparing Meals for Those in Need: Work with the Holy Trinity Neighborhood Center to serve food to neighbors in need. 3:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.
Meet-up location: St. Christopher’s House, Church of the Holy Trinity, 316 East 88th Street, between First and Second Avenues

Please sign up to serve and choose an activity at BenKallos.com/Events ([link removed])

The Medicare Rights Center and I invite you to join us at our annual Enrollment Awareness Event. Find out what you need to know about the Medicare Fall Open Enrollment period ([link removed]) . Get connected to programs that help pay the costs associated with Medicare.
* Medicare eligibility, costs, and coverage
* Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help for the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit

Medicare Open Enrollment Event ([link removed])
November 6, 4PM – 6PM
Knickerbocker
1751 2nd Ave
RSVP ([link removed])

Join NY Classical Theater for a presentation of the 1625 Spanish Play “Force of Habit” by Guillén de Castro y Bellvís.

Force of Habit ([link removed])
November 4th, 7pm - 9pm
Brookfield Properties’ Tata Innovation Center, 11 East Loop Road, Roosevelt Island
RSVP ([link removed])

Drag Queen Story Hour captures the imagination and play of gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous and unapologetically LGBTQ role models. A drag queen will read inclusive books as well as storytime favorites and leads participants in a fun craft!

Drag Queen Story Hour ([link removed])
November 17th, 11am – 12pm
Warburg Lounge at the 92Y
1395 Lexington Ave.
RSVP ([link removed])

Upper East Siders will get be able to smash old Halloween Pumpkins this year thanks to Upper Greenside and Green Park Gardners. The leftover pumpkins bits will be used to create incredible compost for local gardens as well as giving folks of all ages - especially children - a very fun time! The event will take place Sunday, November 3, from 1pm – 4pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park on the East River Esplanade. Enter through the pedestrian bridge at East 63rd Street. & York Ave.

Pumpkins Smash at Andrew Haswell Green Park
East River Esplanade
Sunday, November 3, 1 – 4 PM
For more information contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

[link removed]
On November 2nd, I will be taking part in a panel discussion as part of the 3rd Annual New York City Food Tank Summit. The event will take place at NYU Steinhardt school which is also helping organize the event. This Food Tank Summit brings together 80 speakers and performers including major CEOs, disruptors, changemakers, activists, policymakers, and leaders from startups, media organizations, large companies, and nonprofits who are leading the shift in how food businesses look at sustainability. I am invited to the event as a result of my work to improve childhood nutrition through my Healthy Happy Meals law, my commitment to farmer's markets and home-cooked meals, my work with GrowNYC's Fresh Food Box program.

Food Tank 2019 Summit
Saturday, November 2
12:30pm – 5:30pm
566 LaGuardia Place Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
foodtank.com ([link removed])


Thanksgiving is just weeks away. As in past years, in collaboration with New York Common Pantry, I will be delivering free turkeys to residents in my district living in New York City Housing Authority developments. Last year we gave out over 150 turkeys, which were paid for by funds allocated by my office. Families residing at Stanley Isaacs, Holmes Towers, Lexington Houses, and Robbins Plaza received the turkeys. I also visited seniors at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House ahead of Thanksgiving to wish them a happy holiday.

If you live in a NYCHA development in Council District 5 and want a turkey this year, call my office next at 212-860 1950 to get on the list. You can also get additional food by joining the New York Common Pantry at nycommonpantry.org.

This year we will be co-hosting our party with Congress Member Maloney, State Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Members Dan Quart and Rebecca Seawright and my fellow Council Member Keith Powers at Brown Gardens. There will be food and wine along with light desserts. Join us!

Annual Holiday Party ([link removed])
Tuesday, December 17, 6pm – 8pm
Brown Gardens
225 East 93rd Street
RSVP ([link removed])

EDUCATION

As P.S. 183 Principal Martin Woodard said and I agree: “science is incredibly fun!” In October we cut the ribbon on a new $600,000 hydroponics lab for P.S. 183 that I funded after they won Participatory Budgeting in 2017 with 1,514 votes.

The ribbon-cutting was joined by students, parents, teachers, principals, PTA parents, District 2 Superintendent Donalda Chumney, CEC 2 Representative Dr. Ushma S. Neill, UFT, and many more. A special thank you to PTA member and PB delegate Michael Ekstract for creating projects for participatory budgeting and then seeing them through.

For more information on the new lab read the release or watch the ribbon cutting at BenKallos.com/Videos ([link removed])

We broke ground on a new educational facility for the Marymount School on 115 East 97th Street. My office worked hand in hand with the school and Community Board 11 to ensure the new building is built within the character and context of the neighborhood. My office also worked with Marymount to create a scholarship and mentorship program for girls and women in the surrounding East Harlem community. The $100 million dollars building will have 13 floors and open for the 2022 – 2023 school year. For more information on the project visit www.campaignformarymount.org/faqs


TRANSPORTATION

Our City sidewalks belong to New Yorkers, not delivery trucks and boxes. As the New York Times ([link removed]) reported 1.5 million packages are delivered to the New York City area by companies like FedEx, UPS and Amazon every single day. Unfortunately due to the high volume of deliveries and limited space on New York City streets some of these companies have turned to using our already narrow sidewalks as their own personal warehouse and distribution centers. Here in our district, my office has been working with the NYPD’s 19th precinct to ticket and tow delivery vehicles that block traffic and take over our sidewalks. My office will continue to work with individual delivery companies whenever residents complain and point out examples of abuse. For more information on this issue watch PIX 11 ([link removed]) reporting and read coverage from the New York Times
([link removed])

Bus riders shouldn't face delays because a truck or van is blocking the Bus Lane. Thankfully, buses will get faster with the inclusion of automated enforcement cameras. As of October 2019 cars parked on M15 lanes will be captured on cameras mounted on the buses. Drivers blocking the Select Bus Service Route will only receive warnings for the first few weeks of the system being in use, but after that any car caught blocking the bus lanes will be fined. The fines begin at $50 for a first violation and goes up to $250 for a fifth violation and each subsequent offense. Fifty-one buses that travel in dedicated bus lanes on the M15 Select route have been outfitted with the Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) camera systems. The cameras are designed to capture photos and videos of vehicles blocking bus lanes, which later gets passed along to the city’s Department of Transportation for review.

State Senator Liz Kreuger and State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein have sponsored legislation that I support to require the implementation of this program. Thanks to the hard work both of our offices have done it is finally here and will likely change driver behavior making our buses faster. For some of our advocacy on this issue visit BenKallos.com/Videos ([link removed])

For an episode of Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s RepresentNYC ([link removed]) , I sat down with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and State Assembly Member Karines Reyes of the Bronx to discuss issues of accessibility to the New York City subway system. The program also featured Sarah Kaufman of NYU's Rudin Center for Transportation, Jean Ryan of Disabled in Action, and Andrew Albert an MTA board member. Tune in on November 24th at 7pm or on November 27th at 9pm when the 30 mins episode will air on MNN. Sign our petition at BenKallos.com/petition/accessible-subway ([link removed])


Following an expansion of the Upper East Side’s safe streets network, coupled with an increase in education, safety equipment, and enforcement, bike safety from 30th to 97th streets on Manhattan’s East Side continues to improve as a result of a program led by Council Members Ben Kallos and Keith Powers. Since the program’s launch by Council Member Kallos in 2014 there has been a trend toward fewer injuries for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists injured in collisions. The trend also shows fewer collisions involving cyclists. Last year, the program included a new bike safety officer and the expansion of protected bike lanes.

Since 2013, when the program launched, injuries and deaths on the streets of the Upper East Side have consistently declined. In 2013, 1,564 people were injured and 11 people died, while in 2018 there have been 998 injuries so far and 4 deaths. Pedestrians have seen the greatest safety improvements, with pedestrian injuries falling this year to nearly half their number in 2013. Since 2013, no pedestrian has been killed by a bicycle, and as of 2018 only 13 of the injuries to pedestrians were caused by a bicycle.

This positive trend is a result of the continuing bike safety program sponsored by Council Members Kallos and Powers is a partnership with the Department of Transportation, Bike New York, Citi Bike operated by Motivate, the East 72nd Street Neighborhood Association, and the New York Police Department’s 17th and 19th Precincts. The program was designed with advice and support from Transportation Alternatives and Streets PAC.

Infrastructure improvements include:
* Improving the bike lane on Second Avenue between 68th and 59th streets from shared to partially parking-protected planned for 2019.
* Providing a pedestrian and bike crossing for the 59th Street Queensboro Bridge planned for 2019.
* Doubling bike lanes from just First Avenue and 90th & 91st Street pair to include Second Avenue, 70th & 71st Street and 77th & 78th Streets in 2017.
* Leading pedestrian intervals along York Avenue to give pedestrians a chance to cross before vehicles get the green light in 2016.
* “Safety neckdowns” have extended the curb and islands have been added at dangerous intersections throughout the Upper East Side, so pedestrians have less distance to cross.

NYPD traffic data ([link removed]) 17th and 19th precinct report Year to Date (YTD) as of October:
* 18,134 moving violations issued to vehicles, the violations were issued for infractions such as improper turns, disobeying a traffic control device for red lights, not yielding the right of way to pedestrians among other violations;
* 1,749 summons issued to bicycles mostly for not giving right of way to pedestrians and disobeying a steady red signal; and
* 81 seizures of “e-bikes” with most receiving summonses to appear at ECB/OATH.

For more information on the Bike Safety program visit BenKallos.com/bikesafety ([link removed])


CRIMINAL JUSTICE


The City Council made it official in October, voting to close Rikers Island. Now the plan is to replace it with new modern community-based jails and, as Upper East Side Patch ([link removed]) reported, $391 million has been invested in systemic change to end mass incarceration.

The New York Times ([link removed]) called for the closing of Riker's over the many injustices that have occurred over the decades in a facility that is no longer considered humane by 21st century standards. The Times also felt that the isolations from family and support networks actually impeded rehabilitation.

Criminal justice and bail reforms at the state level ([link removed]) , New York City now has almost half the people in jail than it did just 5 years ago, and the need for mega-jails has decreased. The City Council vote is the last step in the Uniform Land Use Review Process, clearing the way for the proposed jail sites in at 60 Centre St. in Lower Manhattan, 275 Atlantic Ave. on Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, 126-02 82nd Ave. in Kew Gardens, Queens, and 320 Concord Ave. in Mott Haven, the Bronx, by 2026 when Rikers Island is mandated to close.

WORKING FAMILIES AND JOBS

New Yorkers face the same problem as many Americans: employers do not provide a retirement plan at work. If we don’t address our inadequate retirement system, 2 out of every 5 older American households will fall into poverty or near-poverty when they retire ([link removed]) at 62. Along with this human toll, massive downward mobility among the elderly will hurt our economy, cutting demand and jobs while increasing the need for more government and social spending.

Due to federal inaction, 43 states ([link removed]) (and the city of Seattle) have made various proposals to expand their residents’ access to retirement coverage. New York State is one of 11 that has passed reforms into law.

That’s why we introduced legislation ([link removed]) that will create a required program for workers in the city. Our plan requires employers with more than five employees to automatically deduct a percentage of their workers’ pay and forward it to city-facilitated not-for-profit IRAs. Such accounts will be individually owned and professionally managed by an independent board. While employers are required to participate, employees maintain the right to change their contribution rates or opt-out of the program.

Read the full op-ed in the New York Daily News. ([link removed])


Rallying with Con Edison ([link removed]) subcontractors demanding higher wages and benefits.

Thank you to City and State for hosting the first-ever government Procurement Conference. As chair of the City Council's Committee on Contracts it is a pleasure to get a chance to talk to attendees about the over $19 billion in contracts that were available for procurement in New York City. We also had the opportunity to discuss best strategies for successfully navigating the procurement process, something that remains difficult and out of reach for many deserving organizations. The event was also a great place to encourage new business partnerships between the city and state level government, prime contractors, and small, minority, service-disabled veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses.

Thank you all the city agencies and to Silicon Harlem for helping us put on a successful job fair for New Yorkers.


As the New York Times ([link removed]) reported, employees of the non-profit Housing Works are trying to unionize after years of dealing with low wages, lack of training, being overworked and concerned for their personal safety on the job.

I joined dozens of protesters at Brooklyn Borough Hall in support of their demands to push the non-profit which is dedicated to helping end homelessness and to ending the aids epidemic, let their negotiate fairly with workers and to let them unionize.

COMMUNITY


I joinedCIVITAS ([link removed]) for a Community Conversations Series in October. At this event I had the opportunity to speak to residents and CIVITAS members about the work my office continues to do to fight super-tall towers. CIVITAS presented its new plan for fighting out of context buildings in our district. The proposed C1-9 Zoning Revision to create clear height limits to maintain existing neighborhood character and increase the production of new affordable housing and preserve existing affordable housing. In short the proposal would incentivize the construction of affordable housing by creating a height limit for tower-on-base buildings where developers could only build higher if they were building affordable housing. This would apply in the C1-9 districts along York, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Avenues on the Upper East Side. For more information on the plan visit CIVITASnyc.org ([link removed]) .


On November 7th from 12pm to 1pm, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House continues its East Harlem Workshop Series. This month, residents are encouraged to attend and learn about heat and hot water regulations ahead of the cold weather season. This workshop will inform tenants of their rights to heat and hot water, how to keep a heat log in the absence of the service, how to report a lack of heat and hot water, and actions tenants can take against their landlords for not providing adequate services. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House will provide indoor thermometers and heat log charts for all attendees. For more information visit LenoxHill.org. ([link removed])

October was national domestic violence awareness month. To draw attention to this cause, I attended a fundraiser for The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) and also took park in NYC Go Purple Day. NCADV’s mission is to create a nation in which everyone is safe in their homes, free of harm and of domestic violence; something we can all agree is worthwhile cause. I have continued my legislative efforts to persist against domestic violence rely on Intro 1638, which is still waiting to be passed and to be heard by the Committee of Public Safety. Introduction No. 1638 ([link removed]) will allow New York City to know more about how domestic violence cases are being prosecuted; It will hold District Attorneys more accountable to be specific on several elements of domestic violence cases that are being introduced in the Introduction No. 1638. If you are dealing
with through domestic violence please call The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.

Speaking to local seniors with my colleague Council Member Keith Powers about the many services city agencies have to help seniors stay healthy.

[link removed]

MV4NY’s Thanksgiving Food Drive begins on November 2nd. The drive is conducted to benefit the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, the New York Common Pantry, as well as, City Meals On Wheels. Each of the beneficiaries serves a unique need for NYC’s food-insecure communities.

For more information visit MV4NY.org ([link removed]) or make you donation ([link removed]) at bit.ly/MV4NYTGDRIVE2019 ([link removed])


Presenting a proclamation to my good friend and longtime Community Board 8 Member David Rosenstein, honoring 50 years of service to the Upper East Side.


On Saturday, November 9 from 10 am to 1 pm, Sutton Place Parks Conservancy will host It's My Park Day at the 57th Street Sutton Place Park. For more information visit www.suttonplaceparks.org ([link removed])

Thank you to everyone who joined me at the Halloween events across town in October, including Asphalt Screams, the Carl Schurz Park Halloween Howl, the Carnegie Hill Neighbors Halloween Spooktacular, and more.

IN THE NEWS

Loophole allows people with city business to shower thousands on candidates despite contribution limits ([link removed])
“There is no question that someone doing business with the city is only going to bundle because they think it will help their bottom line,...hopefully that disincentives this behavior,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. October 14th, 2019.

City Campaign Finance System Charts Path—and Highlights Challenges—for State Reform ([link removed])
October 9th, 2019.

Are business improvement districts the future of NYC? ([link removed])
“As we have tried to reach out to businesses and landlords to sign on and support the business improvement district, we have so many LLCs, corporations and big-box stores that there is no there there. I have been in situations when I am calling pension funds from other states that own property in my district, and I have to talk to a state comptroller to see if they will sign off on our BID, and there is something wrong with that, Kallos said. October 7th, 2019.

Advocates call on Long Island school officials to embrace bus stop arm cameras ([link removed])
“City Council member Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) has proposed a bill that would allow the city to opt-in and institute the safety measure in the five boroughs. The idea is gaining momentum as lawmakers plan a hearing on the issue within the next month.” – Denis Slattery of New York Daily News. October 22, 2019.

NYC lawmakers to fix property taxes … in 2030? ([link removed])
“Last week, Helen Rosenthal and Ben Kallos introduced a bill mandating evaluation of the system in 2030. The idea is to prevent it from becoming warped over time, as has occurred since the last major change was made four decades ago.” – Erin Hudson of The Real Deal. October 22, 2019.

A New Way to Level the City’s Lopsided Property Tax System ([link removed])
City council members Helen Rosenthal and Ben Kallos, both Manhattan Democrats, have introduced a bill to require the periodic reviews as a way of preventing the system from becoming warped over time, as has happened since the last major changes were made four decades ago.“ – Editorial Board of Habitat. October 25, 2019.

EVENTS FUNDED BY MY OFFICE


Sponsored by my office, Family Day at the Jewish Museum is a day for educational enrichment for all ages. Discover masterworks of Georgia O’Keeffe, Jacob Lawrence, Ben Shahn and other notable artists collected by art dealer Edith Halpert ([link removed]) at this family extravaganza. Collage a pop-up cityscape, sculpt a playful figure, paint a colorful still life in our art studio, hear the jazz age stylings of Grammy Winner Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats ([link removed]) , collaborate on a giant work of art, participate in a gallery tour, and more. For more information visit Thejewishmuseum.org/ ([link removed])

RESOURCES

It is important that every New Yorker has access to fresh produce to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That is why my office continues to be a Fresh Food Box site every week. The program accepts various alternative payment methods including EBT/SNAP, Health Bucks, Greenmarket Bucks, Green Checks, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, and Women, Infants, and Children coupons.

Pickup and order days are every Thursdays from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. See our full schedule Fresh Food Box at BenKallos.com/events ([link removed])

Thursday, November 14th will be the last day to put in a Fresh Food Box order, and Thursday November 21 will be the final pickup. The program will resume at our office next spring.

TADA! is a nonprofit arts organization that has provided musical theater programming to children of different ages and backgrounds for 35 years. Read about their mission and history. ([link removed]) Registration for Winter and Spring Break Camps is now open. Sign up at tadatheater.com/ ([link removed]) or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
For all other questions or inquiries please call 212.252.1619 x5 or email [email protected].

The Volunteer Lawyers for Veterans 2019 Veterans Day Clinic, which will take place at Fordham Law School on Saturday, November 2nd, 2019. There will be know-your-rights presentations and one-on-one consultations with attorneys for veterans, military members, and their families.

To register for the Veterans Day Clinic, go to law.fordham.edu/VeteransDayLegalClinic19,
call 646-312-8725, or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


The Census Bureau is HIRING NOW for 2020 Census jobs in New York City! Apply now to make up to $27.50/hour and help New Yorkers get counted!

The Census Bureau needs to recruit 40,000 people in New York City to conduct the 2020 Census in the Spring, and it is essential that these jobs go to New Yorkers who reflect their communities. Positions include Census taker, recruiting assistant, office clerk, and office supervisor positions and will pay $20-27.50/hour based on position. The field positions are part-time and have flexible hours. Paid training is provided, no prior skills are necessary, and a 2020 Census job could be an excellent entry point to a career with the Census Bureau. It is crucial that these important jobs go to New Yorkers who reflect their communities. Apply now to be part of the largest field operation!

To apply for professional and managerial positions, go to USAJOBS.gov ([link removed]) .


DOROT, a nonprofit organization focused on alleviating the social isolation of older adults will be hosting our annual Thanksgiving Meal Delivery on Sunday, November 24th. Volunteers will attend a brief orientation on the Upper West Side and then will be given a package and the address of the older adult with whom they will be having a 1-hour friendly visit. This experience is truly meaningful for the older adults we serve as well as the volunteers that join us.

To register for this program, individuals should visit: dorotusa.org/thanksgiving ([link removed]) and complete the registration form by November 18th. To register a group, please contact me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for more information. DOROT's Thanksgiving Meal will take place on Sunday, November 24th at 10am.


The Computer Science Co-Op Program at the City College of New York is a two-semester-long program designed to deliver qualified tech talent to local employers and short-term professional opportunities to competitive NYC undergraduates. A partnership between the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline ([link removed]) and the university gathers valuable feedback from host businesses to better align tech education with the workforce needs of NYC employers.
Co-Op internship placements will start at the beginning of the spring semester and continue through the summer for a total of approximately 6 months. At no cost to the employer, the student will work 15 - 19 hours per week during the spring semester when the hourly wage is subsidized by NYC Tech Talent Pipeline from February 3rd till May 29th (17 weeks). After May 29th, the student will then transition to full-time hours at 35 hours a week and the employer will be responsible for compensating the hours at the rate of $18 per hour, from June 1st until the end of the summer term, August 7th.

Please visit https:// ([link removed]) www.ccny.cuny.edu/cpdi/computer-science-co-op-program-ccny ([link removed]) for more information and submit your information to express your interest in hosting a computer science student. A CPDI representative will then follow up with you to schedule a phone appointment

Don't let your pumpkins haunt the landfill! Grab your mushy pumpkin and reusable water bottle and join partner NYC Ferry and local Roosevelt Island groups for a smashing good time plus a chance to win one 30-day NYC Ferry Pass. Partner NYC Compost Hosted by Big Reuse will collect all pumpkin bits and process them locally into compost to amend NYC soil. Come enjoy refreshments sponsored by NYC Ferry, storytime with NYPL's Ms. Jen, the leaf crunch pile and more fun activities while we keep organic food scraps out of landfills.

Roosevelt Island Pumpkin Smash
Saturday, November 2nd, 11am - 2pm
Manhattan Park Lower Lawn between buildings #20 & #30 River Road, Roosevelt Island.


Bring good quality items such as clothing, toys, kitchen items, flatscreen televisions, even packaged food that has not expired (see flyer for details), and take items that are “new-to-you” home for free at the Roosevelt Island Community Stop N' SWAP. You don't need to drop an item to take an item, all items are free! GrowNYC and local partners RIOC, Manhattan Park, iDig2Learn, RIGC & Girl Scouts host the free Stop N’ Swap so that good quality items find a home rather than adding waste to the landfill. Gristedes will be donated reusable bags and dry goods and the RI Garden Club will host a plant swap table (no cuttings please). This event is good for our neighborhoods and our wallets and just in time for the holiday giving season. Fun Fact: In 2018, 4800 pounds of good quality items were dropped in 3 hours and nearly 70% went right back to the community, the remaining was donated to Goodwill.

Stop ‘N Swap on Roosevelt Island
Saturday November 9th
Noon to 3pm
Manhattan Park Theatre Club, 8 River Road
Roosevelt Island



Learn how to avoid single-use plastic, cut down on food waste, where and how to shop in New York City, and so much more.

An Opportunity Grant from Cornell University’s Office of Engagement Initiatives funded this
community-engaged workshop as part of an on-going effort to support sustainability and environmental practices on Roosevelt Island. RSVP at Engaged Roosevelt Island: Getting to Zero Waste in Your Daily ([link removed])

Thursday, November 14th
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Cornell Tech Campus
Tata Innovation Center
11 East Loop Road


Everyone should check their federal income tax withholding regularly to avoid an unexpected tax bill or penalty with next year’s return.

It’s especially important to check now if you:
* Had a large tax refund or tax bill the last time you filed
* Are a two-income family
* Have two or more jobs at the same time
* Work a seasonal job or only work part of the year
* Claim the child tax credit
* Have dependents age 17 or older
* Previously itemized your deductions
* Have high income or a complex tax return

Get ahead on managing your paycheck tax returns and find the number of allowances you should claim on your Form W-4 with the Withholding Calculator on the IRS website at irs.gov/paycheck-checkup ([link removed]) .

OFFICE UPDATES

Need a lawyer? Every month I sponsor legal clinics where you can get free legal advice in my District Office at 244 East 93rd Street from 3pm-6pm:
* General Civil Law, 3rd Tuesday
* Life Planning Clinic, 3rd Wednesday
* Family Law and Domestic Violence, 1st Tuesday
* Housing Clinics, Every Monday and 1st Wednesday

Please call my office at 212-860-1950 in advance to schedule your appointment.


We are here to help. My social work team can help you find out what services you are eligible for and assist you in your application. Some examples include:
* Seniors: Medicare savings, Meals-on-Wheels, Access-A-Ride
* Housing: searching for affordable units, free legal housing clinic at my office
* Job Resources: training resources and assistance, unemployment benefits
* Families: Universal Pre-K, Head Start, After-School programs
* Finances: cash assistance, tax credits, home energy assistance
* Nutrition: WIC, free meals for all ages

Please also call us at 212-860-1950 or email us at [email protected] with any unresolved 311 complaints


Get assistance wherever in the district you are when we bring our office to you. Please join us at monthly mobile district hours from 11am–2pm:
* Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center ([link removed]) , 415 East 93rd Street, 2nd Tuesday (11-2pm)
* Webster Library ([link removed]) , 1465 York Ave & 3rd East 78th Street, 3rd Wednesday (11-1pm)
* Roosevelt Island Senior Center ([link removed]) , 546 Main Street, 4th Wednesday NEW (11-2pm)




The "Ben in Your Building Program" is a chance to discuss issues of importance to you and your neighbors in person. Please consider inviting me to your cooperative or condominium annual meeting or tenant’s association meeting, and I will be happy to join you. Over the past year, I have visited several buildings to discuss matters of importance in the neighborhood, including street furniture, road conditions, homeless outreach, and sanitation issues. Please schedule a "Ben in Your Building" today by calling 212-860-1950 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Homelessness continues to rise with 21,766 children, 12,213 family members, 4,598 single women, and 12,116 single men in our shelters, and more than 3,675 people on the streets. I launched the Eastside Taskforce for Homeless Outreach and Services (ETHOS ([link removed]) ) with Borough President Brewer, Senator Krueger, Council Member Garodnick, Department of Social Services ([link removed]) (DSS), community and faith leaders and service organizations. We’ve already been able to help a chronically homeless individual in the community who we believe had long been suffering from mental illness, after a resident was willing to come forward working with me, the 19th Precinct, the District Attorney and DSS to get them the help they needed. We hope to get every unsheltered person living on the street the help they need. If you see one of our City’s most vulnerable on the street, please call 311 or use the NYC 311
App ([link removed]) (Android ([link removed]) /iPhone ([link removed]) ) to ask them to dispatch a “homeless outreach team.” They will ask where you saw the person, what they looked like, and offer report on whether the person accepts our city’s offer of shelter, three meals a day, health care, rehabilitation, and job training. By connecting our dedicated nonprofits and religious institutions with city services, ETHOS is really making a difference.

The Taskforce includes:

City Agencies:
* Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
* Human Resources Administration (HRA)

Churches:
* Church of the Epiphany
* Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
* Holy Trinity Neighborhood Center
* Jan Hus Presbyterian Church
* Madison Avenue Presbyterian
* St. James' Church

Synagogues:
* Congregation Or Zarua
* Temple Emanu-El
* Temple Shaaray Tefila

Non-Profits:
* NewYork-Presbyterian
* Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
* Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter
* New York Common Pantry
* Goddard Riverside (Manhattan Outreach Consortium)




11/13: Community Board 6 Full Board Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU School of Dentistry), Room 220

11/19: Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting
6:30 am- 8:30 pm, Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility
1752 Park Ave, New York, NY 10035

11/20: Community Board 8 Full Board & Land Use Meeting
6:30pm, New York Blood Center, Auditorium 310 East 67th Street (first-second)


11/4: 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00pm-8:00pm, 19th Precinct Station House, 153 E. 67th Street

11/26: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:30pm-7:00pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 E. 51st Street

11/27: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, 23rd Precinct Station House, 164 E. 102nd Street

First Wednesday, 11/6: Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Meeting
8:00 pm-10:00 pm, Good Shepherd (Downstairs), 543 Main Street

Second Wednesday, 11/13: Lexington Houses Tenant Association
6:00pm, 1539 Lexington Avenue

Second Tuesday, 11/12: Stanley Isaacs Tenant Associations
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street

Third Tuesday, 11/19: Holmes Towers Tenant Association
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street

11/1, 11/8 11/15, 11/22: Movement Speaks with Dances for a Variable Population
10:30 a.m. - 12 pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
Join us celebrating moving in strong and creative ways! From September 2019 - December 2019, Naomi and company will lead seniors on the Upper East Side in a series of dance fitness classes for older adults of all ages and abilities.
(NO CLASS ON THE 29TH)
Program is free for more information call 347-683-2691
Attendance at all sessions is recommended but not required.

11/2: Design a Flower Centerpiece
12:00pm Webster Library
Want to design your own flower centerpiece? Join us at the Webster Library!
Webster has teamed up with Uprooted Flower Truck to bring you this fun, creative workshop.
You’ll learn about different flowers, tips and tricks for design, and take home your own hint of spring! Space is limited!

11/2: How to Start a Business and How SBA Can Help You
2:00pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has helped thousands of startups get off the ground and grow with advice and with the necessary information and resources they need. In this program, Man-Li Lin, an Economic Development Specialist with the SBA, will present how to start your own business and explain the resources that the SBA can provide to assist you.

11/4, 11/16, 11/25: Yorkville Writing Circle
11/4 & 11/25 5:15-6:45, 11/16 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Want to meet local writers? Commit to a writing schedule? Practice your craft
through writing prompts? Read original work to get and give feedback? Then come to the biweekly meetings of the Yorkville Writing Circle! Writers of all genres and styles, at all levels, are welcome to participate. No sign-ups required.

11/4: Start Your Day with Art: Paint a Cozy Mug
11:30 a.m. Webster Library, Auditorium
Visit the Webster Library for a relaxing morning of creative expression. We'll be jazzing up some cozy mugs - all supplies provided! Join us and take home a piece of art.
First come, first served. No registration required.

11/4: Mystery Mondays
4:00 - 5:00 pm Webster Library
Please Join us on November 4 to discuss The Black Ascot by Charles Todd “An absolute winner! The Black Ascot delivers everything we’ve come to love about an Ian Rutledge novel.

11/5, 11/12, 11/19: Word Processing
3:00-5:00 PM 96th Street Library
Learn the basic features of Microsoft Word 2010, a word processing program you can use to create documents. Topics include: entering and editing text, saving files, and various formatting options. This is a comprehensive course, so please make sure you can attend all sessions. Call 212-289-0908 to register. ([link removed])

11/5: BYOP (Bring Your Own Poem)
4:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Bring a poem you love and one you've written to the
library for a workshop in which we'll discuss each other's
poems and suggest ways to make them more awesome
than they are already.

11/5, 11/19: Webster Writing Circle
6:00 pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
Let your stories unfold! Join Webster for an exploration in creativity. This writing circle is informal in style and structure: there is no experience necessary. We’ll spend time writing and talking about what we have written. There's no registration or sign up required. Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6 PM

11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26: We Speak NYC
11:30 am-1:00 pm Webster Library 1465 York Ave
We Speak NYC (formerly We Are New York) is an Emmy Award-winning TV show created to help people practiceEnglish. Each story is about everyday situations, like going to the doctor or talking with a child;s teacher. The characters speak slowly and clearly. Adult learners will have the opportunity to learn English by watching We Speak NYC videos and discussing them with other adults from around the world. The program works best for people who speak some English
and want to practice. *This is a conversation class.*

11/6: Webster @ the Movies: Carrie
11:15 a.m. Webster Library, Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Carrie Wednesday, November 6, 2019, 11:15 a.m. In this chilling adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel, withdrawn and sensitive teen Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) faces taunting from classmates at school and abuse from her fanatically pious mother (Piper Laurie) at home.

11/6, 11/13, 11/20: Learn To Play Chess For Adults
2:00 pm Webster Library
Learn to play the most popular game ever: A game of strategy and problem solving. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced player you can learn the strategies that will make you a better chess player. Best part of all CHESS IS FUN!

11/6: Author Talk: Alexander Veytsman
5:30 pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Please join us as the Russian American Cultural Center presents an author talk by Alexander Veytsman.

11/7, Film - A RIN TIN TIN DOUBLE FEATURE
2:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Where the North Begins (1923)
As a pup, Rinty is lost while crossing Alaska and is adopted by a wolf pack. As a grown "wolf-dog" Rinty rescues McGrail who has been waylaid while carrying furs and abandoned for dead.
Clash of the Wolves (1925)
A fire in the mountains drives a wolf pack, led by Lobo (Rinty), into the desert where they terrorize residents. ADMISSION FREE

11/7: 96th Street Library Book Discussion: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
6:00 - 7:00pm 96th Street Library
Please join us for our November 2019 book discussion. We will be reading If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin. Copies are available at the 96th Street Library one month before the book discussion.

11/9: Music - Bellini's I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI recital by New York Opera Forum
1:00 - 4:00pm 96th Street Library
Presented by the New York Opera Forum
New York Opera Forum performs the complete opera of I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI by Vincenzo Bellini. A live musical recital performed in concert with piano accompaniment.
The musical program is co sponsored with New York Opera Forum ([link removed]) which was founded by Richard Nechamkin in 1983 to give classically trained singers the opportunity to learn and perform standard operatic repertoire in the original languages. ADMISSION FREE

11/ 9, 11/16, 11/ 23, 11/30: Computer Tutoring Sessions
12:00 noon Webster Library, Auditorium
Join us for an one-on-one tutoring sessions! Our computer tutors can help you with everything from learning how to use a mouse, formatting a resume, setting up an email address, posting photos on the internet, starting a blog, using Microsoft Office, and more.

11/ 9: Business Plan Writing
2:00 pm Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Are you interested in starting a business? Creating a business plan is one of the most important steps you will take because the plan serves as your road map for the early years of your business. SBA's Business Plan Writing workshop provides you with a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

11/10: ACC Mobile Adoption Event - Petco Turtle Bay
12:00 - 4:00pm, Petco Turtle Bay, 991 2nd Ave
ACC’s Mobile Adoption Center will be at Petco Turtle Bay with great cats and dogs looking for loving homes! Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.

11/12: Poem Revision
4:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
It's a blast from the past! Join us to share your revised poems and we'll discuss them, and trace their journey from start to revision to finish.

11/13: Volunteers of Legal Service - Elderly Project Clinic @ Carter Burden Network
2:00 pm, Carter Burden Network - 415 East 73rd Street (bet. 1st and York Ave)
The Elderly Project staff and pro bono attorneys provide free legal advice, information, document drafting, and other brief services to low-income New York City residents aged 60 and over, and to the social workers and advocates who assist them. These services include direct counseling on critical issues involving housing, government benefits, and consumer debt, and the drafting and execution of wills, powers of attorney, and other essential life-planning documents.

11/ 13, 11/27: The Art of the Short Story with Renee Trainer
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Webster Library, Auditorium
If you're a reader and thought you might like to try your hand at short story writing but just don't know how to get started, this course will help!
Local author Renee Trainer will take you through the entire process…preparing your mind, getting ideas on paper, and help you through the editing process. You'll learn new writing skills and techniques, and find new ways to express yourself. No registration is required, and all are welcome.

11/13, 11/20, 11/27: Balance Training with Peggy Levine, Once a week
4:15PM-5:15PM, NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, Thayer B Conference room
The event is free of cost. For additional information Please call 212-932-5844 to join.
This class will focus on Aerobic exercise that are low impact, meaning the exercises will be low impact and gentle, and will have minimal stress on the muscles and joints.

11/14: Film - JEWEL ROBBERY (1932); & MIN AND BILL (1930)
2:00 pm 96th Street Library
Jewel Robbery (1932): A gentleman thief charms a Viennese baron's wife and also conducts a daring daylight robbery of jewels.
Min and Bill (1930): With the help of Bill, a younger man working for her, the elderly Min has kept a girl whose mother left her years ago. ADMISSION FREE

11/15: Volunteers of Legal Service - Elderly Project Clinic @ Stanley Isaacs Senior Center
10:00 am, Stanley Isaacs Senior Center - 415 E 93rd Street (east of 1st Ave)

11/16: Music From China Performs Masterpieces of Erhu and Pipa Music
2:00 pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
Masterpieces of Erhu and Pipa Music Wang Guowei, erhu; Sun Li, pipa The duo of Wang Guowei and Sun Li performs music of the erhu and pipa, two of the most iconic and virtuosic Chinese instruments.

11/16: Organic Gardening Workshop: Winterizing Your Garden & Planning Next Year’s Garden Layout
12:00 noon, Roosevelt Island Library
Join us for FREE Monthly Workshops on Organic Gardening. This workshop will show how to winterize your garden through mulching. We will also review the different types of mulch: bark chips, leaves, straw, pebbles and/or compost. We will also review processes on how to put your garden to sleep; whether or not to prune, and how to decide what to plant the following year.

11/16: Marketing Strategies and Building a Blog for Your Business
2:00 pm, Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Join Small Business Administration Economic Development Specialist Man-Li Lin to learn marketing strategies and how to build a blog for your business.

11/ 18: Coffee & Connections
11:30 a.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Coffee & Connections Support for those who are experiencing homelessness or who know someone who is homeless. New York has many great resources and services for people experiencing homelessness but it can be challenging to gain access to them.

The Elderly Project staff and pro bono attorneys provide free legal advice, information, document drafting, and other brief services to low-income New York City residents aged 60 and over, and to the social workers and advocates who assist them. These services include direct counseling on critical issues involving housing, government benefits, and consumer debt, and the drafting and execution of wills, powers of attorney, and other essential life-planning documents.

11/18: Author Talk: Maxim D. Shrayer
5:30 pm, Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Please join us as the Russian American Cultural Center presents a reading by Maxim D. Shrayer, internationally acclaimed author of the memoirs Waiting for America and Leaving Russia and of the story collection Yom Kippur in Amsterdam. Shrayer’s new book of fiction, A Russian Immigrant: Three Novellas, explores the lives of immigrants from Russia and the former USSR.

11/19: Found Object Poetry
4:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Join us at the library to experience writing poems in a new
and exciting way. You'll find various objects set up in the
library that will serve as the subjects of your amazing
poetry that you'll write on the spot.

11/ 20: Mobile Hours with NYC Council Member Ben Kallos
11:00 a.m., Webster Library
Join a representative from Council Member Ben Kallos's office to discuss important neighborhood topics. This is your opportunity to speak with local officials without leaving your neighborhood.
3rd Wednesday of Every Month, 11 AM – 1:30 PM
Registration is recommended but not required: [link removed]

11/20: Webster @ the Movies: Network
11:15 a.m. Webster Library, Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Network Wednesday, November 20th @ 11:15AM In this lauded satire, veteran news anchorman Howard Beale (Peter Finch) discovers that he's being put out to pasture, and he's none too happy about it.

11/21: New York City Council Member Keith Powers Mobile Office Hours
12:00 - 2:00 pm Yorkville Library
Talk about the issue in the district you care about with Council Member Keith Powers' office, and work toward solutions. RSVP: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

11/21: Reel Classics: Citizen Kane
4:00 pm Webster Library, Auditorium
Webster Library Presents: Citizen Kane Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance.

11/23: Webster @ the Movies: Men in Black: International
2:00 pm ,Webster Library, Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Men in Black: International Saturday, November 23th @ 2PM The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe but so have the villains of the universe. To keep everyone safe, decorated Agent H and determined rookie M join forces -- an unlikely pairing that just might work. When aliens that can take the form of any human arrive on Earth, H and M embark on a globe-trotting adventure to save the agency and ultimately the world from their mischievous plans.

11/27: Webster @ the Movies: A Clockwork Orange
11:15 a.m. Webster Library, Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: A Clockwork Orange Wednesday, November 27th @ 11:15AM In an England of the future, Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his "Droogs" spend their nights getting high at the Korova Milkbar before embarking on "a little of the old ultraviolence," while jauntily warbling "Singin' in the Rain." After he's jailed for bludgeoning the Cat Lady to death, Alex submits to behavior modification technique to earn his freedom; he's conditioned to abhor violence. Returned to the world defenseless, Alex becomes the victim of his prior victims.

11/30: Selling to the Global Market and Government Contracting
2:00 pm , Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
The Small Business Administration has helped thousands of startups get off the ground and grow with advice and with the necessary information and resources they need. In this presentation, Man-Li Lin discusses selling your products on the government and global markets.


11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22:Learn To Play Chess at Webster
3 pm Webster Library Auditorium
Are you a chess champion? You want to show off your best moves against other chess fans? Whether you're a chess master or just starting out, come join us for some board time Fridays at 3 pm Learn how to play, practice your skills, or to play a game. All materials will be provided, and an experienced instructor Timothy Mobley will lead the group.

11/2,11/9 11/16 11/23 11/30: New York Therapy Dog!
10:30 a.m. Webster Library
Come read to our therapy dog Tugboat! These licensed therapy dogs and their owners can't wait for you to come read them a story. Enjoy one-on-one, no-pressure reading time with a furry friend! Pre-registration is required for each 15-minute slot and opens 1 week in advance.

11/ 2: Design a Flower Centerpiece - for Kids!
1:30 pm Webster Library
Want to design your own flower centerpiece? Join us at the Webster Library!
Webster has teamed up with Uprooted Flower Truck to bring you this fun, creative workshop.
You’ll learn about different flowers, tips and tricks for design, and take home your own hint of spring! Space is limited! First Come, First Served: Limited to 12 Participants

11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26: Teen Space
3:00- 5:00 pm Webster Library
Come hang out with your friends on Tuesday afternoons! Play board games, work on homework, read a book, exercise your creativity, or just chill. Laptops, assorted art supplies, and light snacks available.

11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 11/27: Game On At Webster
4:00 pm, Webster Library
Come in and join to test your gaming skills against your peers, with games such as Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart for Wii. Feel like trying something new try playing on our PS4 with games such as Street Fighter 5 and TMNT, just to name a few. Also laptops will be available for anybody that's just wants to sit down and relax.

11/7: Writing the College Admissions Essay
4 - 5:30 pm Yorkville Library
Do you need to write a personal essay for a college application? At this workshop, you’ll learn how to choose a meaningful topic and write a great essay that will make you stand out from the crowd! We'll also discuss ways to overcome anxiety and writer's block.

11/7: Found Objects Mask Making
3:30 pm Webster Library
Join us in this hands-on workshop where you will learn how just about anything can become part of a mask! From the smallest mask (a red clown nose) to gigantic parade headpieces, you will learn about mask making around the world. Our facilitator will show you how objects you might readily discard, such as bottles, cans, paper tubes, etc. can be recycled to create wearable masks. Every participant will create, and learn how to use his/her own original mask. Presented by Urban Stages.

11/7: Graffiti Art Remix
4 pm 67th Street Library
Join us and learn how to create traditional and futuristic graffiti art lettering and character design. Create the hottest manga and anime characters and mash with abstract, symmetrical and geometrical artwork. Presented by DJ SpazeCraft.

11/7, 11/14, 11/21: Early Literacy Family Storytime
11:00 am, Webster Library
Toddlers from birth to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, and spend time with other toddlers in the neighborhood.
There is a limit of 15 children and their caregivers. Tickets are given out the morning of the program on a first come, first serve basis. Times of the programs are approximate.

11/7, 11/14, 11/21: Free Play
11:15 a.m., Webster Library
Join us on Tuesday afternoons for a fun chance to socialize with other kids from the community! Toys are provided. Please note: This program is for both caregiver and child. It is not a structured program. *Take care to supervise children at all times.

11/7 Book Discussion Group: Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
6:00 - 6:45 pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
Join us to discuss Another Brooklyn on November 7 at 6:00 pm. Admission is free. Registration is required.How to register: Phone or in-person. Book club participants must reserve copies of each title through the Library's catalog system. You can reserve your copy by placing a hold on-line at www.nypl.org ([link removed]) or visiting your local branch.“In Jacqueline Woodson’s soaring choral poem of a novel four young friends navigate the perils of adolescence, mean streets, and haunted memory in 1970s Brooklyn, all while dreaming of escape.” (Vanity Fair) Learn more and browse all of our book groups online here. ([link removed])

11/7: Graffiti Art Remix
4 pm, 67th Street Library
Learn how to create traditional and futuristic graffiti art lettering and character design. Create the hottest manga and anime characters and mash with abstract, symmetrical and geometrical artwork. Presented by DJ SpazeCraft. For ages 13 to 18 years

11/14, Webster @ the Movies: Pokémon Detective Pikachu
4 pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Pokémon Detective Pikachu Ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son, Tim, to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry's former Pokémon partner, wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth Detective Pikachu. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Pikachu, they join forces to unravel the tangled mystery.

11/16: Organic Gardening Workshop: Winterizing Your Garden & Planning Next Year’s Garden Layout
12 noon, Roosevelt Island Library
Join us for FREE Monthly Workshops on Organic Gardening. This workshop will show how to winterize your garden through mulching. We will also review the different types of mulch: bark chips, leaves, straw, pebbles and/or compost. We will also review processes on how to put your garden to sleep; whether or not to prune, and how to decide what to plant the following year.

11/20, 11/27: New York Presbyterian | Mindfulness Meditation - NYP Weill Cornell, Once a week
12:30PM-1:00PM, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065
The public will be able to practice of being present in the moment. It will be led by Linda Van Ness

11/21: Carter Burden Gallery Exhibition | Holiday Show, On the Wall: Stephen Spiller
6:00 - 8:00 PM, Carter Burden Gallery
The goal of the Carter Burden Gallery is to create a dialogue with the arts community supporting our belief that older, lesser-known artists must not be overlooked due to age or decreased marketability in the current art scene. Stephen Spiller’s work involves social, political, and cultural themes that offer a window into understanding how contemporary life is shaped and lived. He explores those themes by focusing on drivers of individual passions as well as on manifestations of such passion originating from unstated, suppressed, or otherwise hidden events.

11/22: Understanding the Brain’s Model of the External World | The Rockefeller University
3:45PM - 5:00PM, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, Caspary Auditorium
Fully accessible to wheelchairs. It will be hosted by Gaby Maimon. Refreshments will be served
For additional information contact Justin Sloboda, Phone number 212-327-7785

11/25: Early Literacy: Art Buffet
4 pm Webster Library
Let your imagination run wild! Join us for an hour of uninterrupted, creative fun. Pick and choose from our craft supplies to make a masterpiece to take home.

11/27: Art Inspired by Emily Carr
6:00PM-8:00PM, Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center
Fully accessible to wheelchairs. For additional information please contact Lakira Marshall at 212-397-3059 or at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . To RSVP please visit NYC Parks, events. It is free of cost. The workshop is a hands-on project, you will be able to create your own art based on the methods, techniques, and concepts taught.

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