Is there a community issue you want to discuss with me? Join me in person at my next Java with Jo Anne this Friday, September 30th at 9:30am. We will meet in the backyard of Ovenly on Court St. Please RSVP here.
Wishing all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a bright, sweet year and a safe High Holiday season.
Sincerely,
Jo Anne Simon
Flu Shot Drive: Thurs. 10/6/2022, 3-7pm. I am once again partnering with NYU to provide flu shots to the community at the NYU Langone Health Cobble Hill ED (83 Amity St, at Hicks St), along with Senator Brian Kavanagh, & Councilmembers Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Restler. Insurance is not required. Appointments are available every 15 minutes; please sign up here.
BQE Engagement Sessions: Wed. 9/28 or Thurs. 10/6, 6:30-8:30pm. Mayor Eric Adams and NYC DOT announced that community engagement for fixing the BQE will begin this month, with the goal of improving the BQE corridor in Brooklyn and reconnecting communities divided by the creation of the highway.
NYC DOT will work with communities along the BQE corridor on two initiatives: BQE Central will fix the City-owned structure from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street (including the triple cantilever) and BQE North and South will identify upgrades for all other segments of the BQE corridor in Brooklyn. New federal funds, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide a unique opportunity to upgrade the BQE for the 21st Century. The City DOT is aiming to apply for the first round of funding for BQE Central by March of 2023, and then make subsequent applications. I have concerns about conducting the engagement in time for that first deadline, but my office is looking forward to participating after the years-long delay on tackling this corridor.
Your input is necessary. Here are ways you can participate:
- Attend one of the City's two corridor-wide kick-off events. The kick-offs will have the same content, so it's only necessary to attend one (virtual):
- Wed., 9/28, 6:30-8:30pm. RSVP.
- Thurs., 10/6, 6:30-8:30pm. RSVP.
- Click here for the full list of BQE Central South & North Events after the kick-off forums.
- Apply to be part of the Community Visioning Council (CVC) by 9/29. The CVC will advise NYC DOT and its consultants on engagement, and meet regularly to discuss concerns, plan for engagement, process information from engagement, and share feedback.
- Review the updated NYC BQE website: https://bqevision.com/
Gowanus Brownfields. A number of Brownfield cleanups are underway in and adjacent to the Gowanus area. NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has established an onsite repository where information is publicly available using the NYS DEC info Locator - Gowanus Area.
As you may have read or seen my comments recently in the news, there was a volatile organic compound (VOC) exceedance which required a "take action" level alert at 240 Huntington on July 27. According to DEC, petroleum tanks were being extracted from underground and the air monitor at the site detected the VOC exceedance and the necessary action steps were taken: odor suppressant was sprayed and thick poly sheeting was also used to cover the excavated soil and prevent dust from escaping, etc. DEC tells us that action levels are set much lower than health-based risk levels.
However, members of the community are understandably concerned and I am, as well. We were first alerted to this issue when children and their parents who were playing at the playground across the street from the site smelled odors and reported a "chemical" smell to our nearby office. We reached out to EPA, who directed us to DEC since it is a brownfield site under their oversight. We have asked DEC a number of follow-up questions about the occurrence and have also requested a more timely and direct communication system to keep residents informed and safe. In the meantime, if you see something (or smell something), please alert our office. We will keep you apprised of DEC's response to our follow-up questions.
Shelter Update. A new shelter in Downtown Brooklyn is having its final inspection soon and is expected to open shortly thereafter. It is a shelter for single men with 160 beds run by the African American Planning Commission Inc. (AAPCI). The opening will be staggered with a small number of folks invited in over the course of a couple of weeks. Our office toured the space recently, along with several members of the public, and we are looking forward to welcoming new folks into our community. You may recall that the City held a public meeting on this shelter late in 2021. If you have any questions or concerns or would like to welcome our neighbors, you can reach out to [email protected].
Rat Academies. We are receiving a higher number of reports about rodents, especially in and around Carroll Park. NYC Rat Academy trainings can help you learn safe and effective methods for rat prevention in your home and community.
Register here for a virtual or in-person training here.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Apply by 10/31/22. The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on your Federal student loans, but you must apply by October 31, 2022. Due to the Covid emergency, the US Department of Education has been able to make changes to the original 2007 PSLF program to create an easier path of eligibility for millions of Americans. 250,000 New Yorkers are eligible to have all their student loans erased.
The PSLF is available to a variety of government or nonprofit sector workers (CUNY, Bellevue, DOE, etc.). If you have worked in public service for 10 years (or received 120 monthly credits) since October of 2007, you are eligible to have your federal loans fully forgiven. If you are a borrower with fewer than 10 years, there are still certain steps you must take right now to start the clock on the program. Further, most applicants will get nearly 3 years of free credits (~33 credits toward the 120) for periods during Covid even if you weren’t paying your loans.
What to do:
Get Help:
- 1 on 1 help is available for Parent PLUS loans and loans in default. Contact the NYC Financial Empowerment Center: Visit nyc.gov/TalkMoney or call 311 and say "FinancialCounseling“
- The Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program supports all NY State residents via webinars, email, phone, and 1:1 counseling: edcapny.org, 888-614-5004, [email protected]
- More resources: https://www.pslf.nyc/get-support
In other student loan news, the Biden administration announced last summer that all student borrowers will have $10k forgiven, Pell grant borrowers will have a total of $20k forgiven, and that the income-driven repayment will be improved - but these programs are different than the PSLF and are not yet finalized.
Free Lawn and Leaf Bags. Now that Fall is officially here, leaves will begin their annual Fall Foliage journey. Once again, we’re offering free lawn and leaf bags to the community. Biodegradable and compatible for composting, you can pick up a bag or a few at our 341 Smith Street office, Mon-Fri, from 9am - 5pm.
NYPD Community Council and Build the Block Meetings. NYPD Community Council meetings and Build the Block meetings are a good way to engage with your local police precinct and get to know your local Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs). Most of the meetings have been taking place over Zoom since the pandemic. Check with your Community Board or call your precinct for updates on how & when to join.
- 84th Precinct (718-875-6850): Community Council meetings typically take place on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00PM.
- 78th Precinct (718-636-6410): Community Council meetings typically take place on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30PM .
- 76th Precinct (718-834-3211): Community Council meetings typically take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30PM.
- Across all three precincts, click here to find your local Build the Block Meeting
Summer Reading Challenge for Youth - Certificate Time! Did you complete the Summer Reading Challenge? If you did, congratulations! And even if you didn’t complete it, but you read throughout the summer, good for you. Submit the calendar to my office at 341 Smith Street (stop by or drop it in the mail) to receive an Excellence in Reading certificate. Give us a call to let us know when you’ll be coming by: 718-246-4889 or email [email protected].
Covid Updates. New boosters are here! Covid-19 vaccine boosters have been updated to target the latest Omicron variants. Schedule an appointment for your booster to help NYC fend off a fall and winter surge.
BCID for People with Disabilities: The Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) may be able to help you. BCID can give advice on housing issues, Social Security/Disability insurance and Medicaid, and connect you with people who have similar disabilities. For more information about how BCID can help you or how to get involved with their advocacy campaigns, call 718-998-3000 during business hours or write to [email protected].
Community Events:
- Hand in Hand hosts Creating a Work Agreement Webinar on Sept. 28 at 8pm. One of the most difficult tasks for domestic employers is drafting a work agreement. Hand in Hand NYC will hold a webinar on how to create or amend a work agreement when you hire a nanny, house cleaner and/or a home attendant. Having a work agreement ensures the employer and the employee have a clear and mutual understanding of the legal obligations under the NYC and NYS laws, and the responsibilities that are expected of the job. Register here.
- Brooklyn Book Festival 9/25-10/3. The Brooklyn Book Festival is NYC’s largest free literary festival and connects readers with local, national and international authors and publishers during the course of a celebratory literary week.
- The Atlantic Antic, NYC’s biggest and best street fair, will return on Sunday, Oct. 2! Don’t miss the fun on Atlantic Avenue from 4th Avenue to the water. Check it out here.
Mammogram Bus Event, Nov. 18, 2022. I’m so glad to provide this service to the community in partnership with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. We are scheduling appointments for Friday, Nov. 18th, between 9am and 4:30pm right in front of my district office at 341 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens.
Screenings are open to those who are medically eligible for a screening mammogram, aged 40-79, currently living in New York City, who have not had a mammogram in the past year. The mammograms are provided at no cost: no co-pay is required if you have insurance. YOU DO NOT NEED INSURANCE to be screened! If you'd like to schedule an appointment, please call or email our office: 718-246-4889; [email protected].
Election & Voter Deadlines. Here are important dates for the upcoming November 8th General Election:
- Voter Registration Deadline - Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 14th and received by the board of elections (BOE) no later than Oct. 19th. You can also register in person at the BOE by Oct. 14.
- Change of address form from registered voters must be received by the BOE by Oct. 19th.
- Request your Absentee Ballot by phone (1-866-868-3692), fax, or here online by Oct. 24th. November 7 is the last day to apply IN-PERSON for an absentee ballot.
- More details here.
