Dear Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who came out this Tuesday for our second Senior Resource Fair!
Approximately 150 seniors were able to connect with legal assistance, health and mental health support, transportation and disability services, case management, housing and home care assistance, long term care, LGBTQ services, government benefits, and more.
Seniors were also able to obtain vision, hearing, memory and blood pressure screenings, as well as flu shots.
A huge thank you to all of the participating agencies and organizations, the office of Council Speaker Corey Johnson for co-sponsoring, Project FIND's Clinton Senior Center for hosting us, and center director Ms. Trenace Simmons and staff who made it all the more fulfilling. We were thrilled that seniors saw this as an opportunity to connect with eachother and obtain one-on-one assistance for a wide range of issues.
Public Safety
I joined many of you in attending this week's 20th Precinct Community Council meeting during which Dep Inspector Malin spoke about recent disturbing events in our community. It's more important than ever that all of us support the NYPD's Neighborhood Policing Program -- maintaining a strong relationship between our community and the police is key to keeping the Upper West Side safe.
I encourage all community members (individual residents, schools, community centers, and other local institutions) to attend their local "Build the Block" meetings and get to know their Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs). Find your meeting here, or in our monthly events calendar. You can also invite your local NCOs to meet with you and your neighbors. Let's work with our local precincts to keep the Upper West Side safe for all of us.
Don't Forget to Vote!
Just a reminder that early voting is taking place at select sites across the city through Sunday, November 3rd. To learn more and find your early voting location, click here.
If you don't vote early, you can of course vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th. This year, voters are selecting New York City's Public Advocate, as well as Judicial posts and County Committee members.
Voters also have the opportunity to approve or reject five major changes to the New York City Charter, our city's constitution. If approved by voters, these ballot questions would make changes relating to elections, police oversight, ethics and governance, the City’s budget, and the City’s land use review process.
Click here to learn more about each of the five ballot questions. Please learn about the questions before you go to vote -- they are very detailed. Changes to the City Charter are not proposed on a regular basis -- don't miss this important opportunity to make your voice heard.
NEWS FROM CITY HALL
I was proud to vote "yes" this week on legislation which will fundamentally reform the private sanitation industry. Overhauling this industry, which picks up trash from restaurants, retailers and other businesses, has been urgently needed for years.
Intro 1574 will establish Commercial Waste Zones across the city, limiting the number of carting companies serving each neighborhood and creating major efficiency and customer service improvements. Organized routes will also reduce air pollution and improve public health -- our district will see a two-thirds reduction in vehicle miles traveled by private sanitation trucks!
Celebrating the passage of the Commercial Waste Zone bill this week.
A better regulated industry means enhanced safety for workers and residents. Thank you to Council Member Antonio Reynoso, partners across city government, and all of the residents, workers and advocates who have worked so hard and for so long to bring this plan to reality.
This week the City Council also passed Speaker Johnson’s streets master plan legislation. The Dept of Transportation is now required to issue and implement a transportation master plan every five years, with pre-set benchmarks. Key goals for the five-year plans will be prioritization of the safety of all street users, increased use of mass transit, reduction of vehicle emissions, and access for individuals with disabilities. Read the bill here.
And the Council passed my resolution which encourages New Yorkers to partake in “Meatless Mondays." A plant-based diet not only provides enormous health benefits, it's also good for animal welfare and our environment -- using fewer resources and creating far less pollution than diets centered around animal products.
Click here to learn more about other bills passed by the Council this week -- including an animal welfare legislative package and a law establishing a "specialized high schools task force."
As always, don't hesitate to contact my City Hall (212-788-6975) or District (212-873-0282) offices with any questions.
Finally, thank you to all the ghosts and goblins who visited my district office yesterday for Halloween. We so enjoyed seeing you!
Warmly,
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