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What's Inside:
* Flu Shot Event in Cobble Hill, 10/6/22
* Yom Kippur
* BQE Engagement Sessions: 10/6/22 & more
* Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Apply by 10/31/22

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
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 my colleagues. Insurance is not required. Appointments are still available every 15 minutes from 4:30pm to 6:45pm; please sign up here ([link removed]) .

And, the new Covid-19 vaccine boosters are here! The boosters have been updated to target the latest Omicron variants. Schedule an appointment ([link removed]) for your booster to help NYC fend off a fall and winter surge.

Sincerely,

Jo Anne Simon
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Wishing all who observe Yom Kippur a meaningful and blessed fast.
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BQE Engagement Session: Thurs. 10/6, 6:30-8:30pm. Mayor Eric Adams and NYC DOT recently announced that community engagement for fixing the BQE is beginning, with the goal of improving the BQE corridor in Brooklyn and reconnecting communities divided by the creation of the highway. My staff and I attended the first corridor-wide kick-off event last week and there is a repeat of that same event tomorrow night if you couldn't make it last week.

NYC DOT will work with communities along the BQE corridor on two initiatives: BQE Central will fix the 1.5 mile City-owned section from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street that includes multiple bridge structures (and the 0.4 mile-long 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 federal funding for BQE Central by March of 2023, and then make applications in subsequent years for other sections of the BQE. 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 the City's corridor-wide kick-off event. The second kick-off (which will have the same content as the first 9/28 kick-off) is virtual and will take place this Thurs., 10/6, 6:30-8:30pm. RSVP ([link removed]) .
* BQE Central Workshop (in person). Thurs., Oct. 13, 2022, 6:30-8:30pm (details TBD)
* BQE Central Workshop (virtual). Tues., Oct. 18, 2022, 6:30-8:30pm. Register: bit.ly/bqecentral-1
* Click here ([link removed]) for BQE South & North Events starting Nov. 3rd.
* Review the updated NYC BQE website: [link removed]

The city is also creating a BQE Community Visioning Council ([link removed]) ; applications were due last Monday and we have asked DOT to extend the deadline at least until after the second kick-off event.
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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 much-needed 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:
* Start with the federal government's 20-minute Help Tool StudentAid.gov/PSLF ([link removed]) to see if you are eligible.
* Attend a free 45 minute webinar: Register ([link removed]) for Thurs. Oct. 13, 2pm. Additional Oct. dates are here ([link removed]) .
* More info: PSLF.nyc ([link removed]) and PSLF.us ([link removed])

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] (mailto:[email protected])
* More resources: [link removed]

In other student loan news, last summer the Biden administration announced 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.

Contact my office if you have additional questions: 718-246-4889.

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Mailing address: 341 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-246-4889

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