View this email in your browser ([link removed])
Dear John,

Happy New Year!

Please join me for our annual State of the District ([link removed]) for our volunteer fair, reflecting on our accomplishments over the past 6 years and set our goals for 2020.

We secured an additional 184 K-8 public school seats for the Upper East Side (#UES) as a result of a law I authored to make the seat planning process more transparent. With one in five disabled students not getting the services they need (#disabilities) , I carried legislation authored by former Public Advocate now Attorney General Tish James that passed and will hold the Department of Education more accountable. Legislation I authored to require stop-arm camera on public school buses (#Legislation) to automatically ticket drivers who put our children in danger as they get on and off also received a hearing and you can sign our petition to keep our children safe ([link removed]) . With school ending so many hours before most parents get home to care for their children, I have proposed Universal After School and ask you to come testify in support (#afterschool) .

As chair of the Committee on Contracts, I questioned Department of Homeless Services officials regarding alleged self-dealing by homeless service providers (#hearing) that made headlines in the Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) .

If you or your children love books as much as I do please join us to celebrate the reopening of the East 67th Street Library (#library) .

Sincerely,

Ben Kallos
Council Member
SPECIAL EVENTS

State of the District ([link removed])
Sunday, 1/26, 12:30pm

67th Street Library Ribbon Cutting & Winter Festival ([link removed])
Friday, 1/3, 3:30pm


MONTHLY EVENTS
First Friday ([link removed])
Friday, 1/3, 8am – 10am

Policy Night
Tuesday, 1/14, 5pm
(By Appointment Only)

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



TABLE OF CONTENTS
(If you experience trouble with the links below, click ([link removed]) here ([link removed]) )

EDUCATION
1. School Seats Secured for the Upper East Side (#UES)
2. Invitation to Testify: City Council Hearing on Universal After School (#afterschool)
3. Helping Students with Disabilities Get the Services They Need (#disabilities)
4. School Bus Stop-Arm Legislation Moves Forward (#StopArm)
5. French Dual Language Public School Program Sought (#French)

INVITES
6. State of the District 2020 (#sotd)
7. 67th Street Library Ribbon Cutting and Winter Festival (#library)

BUDGET AND LAND USE
8. City Council Funding for Non-Profits (#funding)
9. Scaffolding Update (#scaffolding)
10. Homes-Isaacs Residents Sue NYCHA (#isaacs)

FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS
11. Oversight of Homeless Service Providers (#hearing)
12. Sleep Out in Times Square with Will Smith (#sleepout)
13. Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day and ETHOS (#ethos)

HUMAN RIGHTS
14. Roosevelt Island Nellie Bly Memorial (#Memorial)
15. Human Rights Day (#Human-Rights)
16. Kirby Center Patient Relocation (#Kirby)

COMMUNITY
17. Fire Safety at First Friday (#first-friday)
18. Cyber Security for Small Businesses (#Cyber)
19. Proclamation for Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (#Proclamation)
20. Annual West Side Tenants’ Conference (#Tenants)
21. LaborPress’ Leadership Awards Reception (#LaborPress)
22. Alliance of South Asian American Labor 12th Annual Convention (#ASAAL)
23. Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York (CACAGNY) (#CACAGNY)
24. 19th Precinct Annual Holiday Party (#Precinct)

EVENTS SPONSORED BY MY OFFICE
25. Fresh Food Box from GrowNYC at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House (#Sponsored)

RESOURCES
26. Child Mind Institute City-Wide Education Initiative (#Child-Mind)
27. 37th Annual FRIENDS Awards Call for Entries (#Friends)

OFFICE UPDATES
28. Free Legal Clinics (#Clinics)
29. Here to Help (#help)
30. Mobile District Hours (#Mobile)
31. Ben in Your Building (#Building)
32. Community Boards (#Community-Boards)
33. NYPD Events (#NYPD)
34. Neighborhood and Tenant Associations (#NTA)
35. Events for Adults (#Adults)
36. Events for Kids (#Kids)


EDUCATION

An additional 184 public school seats are coming to the Upper East Side as a result of legislation I authored and passed in 2018. The legislation forced the Department of Education and the School Construction Authority to provide more transparency around where the city planned to build new school seats and how they determined need. Thanks to a report published as required by the new law, it was determined that neighborhoods within school district 2 which covers Upper East Side, Roosevelt Island and Midtown East had an additional need for more seats. As reported by Upper East Side Patch ([link removed]) with this announcement the School Construction Authority is planning to build a total of 864 new seats in our district by 2024
([link removed]) . Since I was elected, our efforts have resulted in over 1,500 new public schools seats funded, built or secured for pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade on the Upper East Side, Roosevelt Island and Midtown East. For more information on the new seats read the release at Upper East Side Patch ([link removed]) .

I believe providing after-school programming to all New York City students will increase and equalize educational opportunities, keep kids out of the criminal justice system, and make life easier for parents whose jobs keep them at work until at least 5pm. It is far more common than a generation ago for parents to work late and far less common for children to have a stay at home parent. The gap between school dismissal and when parents are able to pick up their kids can be difficult for many families, and can leave kids without food, shelter, or mentorship if after-school programming is not available.

I have been pushing for universal after school since I first ran for City Council in 2013 and am excited that my Universal After School legislation ([link removed]) will receive a hearing by the New York City Council's Committee on Youth Services on January 14. I invite you to share your experience with after school by testifying at the hearing. With after-school programming we can meet Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ([link removed]) and slow the school to prison pipeline.

Invitation to Testify
Hearing on Universal After School
New York City Council Committee on Youth Services
Tuesday, January 14
10am – 1pm
City Hall
City Council Chambers
RSVP to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=RSVP%20to%20Hearing%20on%20Universal%20After%20School&body=Name%3A%0AOrganization%20(if%20any)%3A%0ATitle%20(if%20any)%3A%0APhone%3A)

Helping Students with Disabilities Get the Services They Need

Our education system has been failing one in five children with disabilities by neglecting to give them the mandated services they need to perform in school. In 2016, then-Public Advocate Tish James filed a lawsuit ([link removed]) to force the Department of Education to track how many New York City Public School students with disabilities were getting the services they needed in school. She also introduced legislation ([link removed]) , which I co-sponsored, and now that she is Attorney General, I am proud to have carried and passed the bill that seeks to guarantee that students with disabilities receive all necessary services by increasing reporting done by the Department of Education from an annual basis to three times a school year.

In December, the legislation, which will help our City’s children who have disabilities get the services they need and are entitled to, passed the City Council and became law. The law also expands what is reported to include: speech therapy, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, hearing education services, vision education services, assistive technology services, and special transportation services. Thanks to this bill, instead of only having data from previous years, we will finally be able to hold the Department of Education accountable to deliver services to children with disabilities.


School Bus Stop-Arm Legislation Moves Forward
The school bus Stop-Arm Camera bill I authored got a hearing with the City Council’s Transportation Committee in December. The bill seeks to make our streets safer for our children by forcing the City to install cameras on all of the City’s school buses equipped with automated enforcement technology to ticket drivers who illegally pass buses while the stop-arm is down and children are either getting on or off. The need for this legislation in New York City is supported by results of study a performed ([link removed]) just outside New York City by the New York Association for Pupil Transportation ([link removed]) . The study found that 50,000 drivers throughout New York State illegally pass a stopped school bus every day. Prior to the hearing, I joined Transportation Committee Hearing chair Ydanis Rodrigues for a rally at City Hall Park to call attention to this bill
([link removed]) and other transportation bill related bills heard that day. To show your support, sign the petition at BenKallos.com/petitions/StopArm ([link removed])

French Dual Language Public School Program Sought

I joined parents from all over Manhattan at the Isaacs Center to discuss the need for dual language programming in the district. Participants included Department of Education District 2 Superintendent Donalda Chumney, Community Education Council District 2 President Maud Maron, French Consulate cultural attaché Fabrice Jaumont and the French Embassy. With help from my office and the support of nearly 30 French-speaking, bilingual families living in the district, it is their hope to forge a path toward establishing a French dual-language program in the Upper East Side. Sign the petition if you support starting Dual Language Programming for School District 2 at BenKallos.com/petition/french-dual-language ([link removed])

INVITES

[link removed]

You are invited! Please join me for my annual report at my State of the District. We will recognize all the work members of our community have done together with my office over the past 6 years and giving a preview of what’s in store for 2020. At 12:30, we will have our volunteer fair before the State of my annual report at 1:00pm. Be sure to stay until the end as we have free “Bagels with Ben.” RSVP by calling 212-860-1950 or BenKallos.com/Events ([link removed])

State of the District
Sunday, January 26, 1pm – 3 pm
12:30PM Volunteer Fair
Memorial Sloan Kettering
430 East 67th Street
RSVP ([link removed])


67th Street Library Ribbon Cutting and Winter Festival [link removed]

On Friday, January 3rd, the New York Public Library and my office will be holding a celebratory ribbon cutting after months of remodeling work has been completed at the East 67th Street Branch. The Winter Festival will be open to the community for everyone to join.

67th Street Library Ribbon Cutting and Winter Festival
Friday, January 3rd, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
New York Public Library
328 East 67th St
RSVP ([link removed])

BUDGET AND LAND USE

Each year private non-profit organizations that serve thousands of residents of Council District 5 can apply for grants of $5,000 to $20,000 from my City Council office to supplemental essential services in the neighborhood. You can review past budget results and resources funded through this process at BenKallos.com/budget ([link removed])

The application is available at the City Council website ([link removed]) from January 2^nd until February 10^th.
Cultural organizations can additionally seek resources via the Cultural Development Fund ([link removed]) which is also available until February 10^th.

Learn more by contacting my Budget Director Sushant Harite at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])


Scaffolding Update

There are 9,273 scaffolding structures covering 304 miles of sidewalk in New York City. As recently reported by The New York Post ([link removed]) , most of that scaffolding is in the borough of Manhattan and continues to be a scourge that creates unlit spaces and secluded corners in our streets, lending itself to crime and the opportunity for individuals to build encampments where drug use often occurs and trash accumulates. Since I have been in office I have introduced several pieces of legislation to reform how the real estate and scaffolding industry operate in our City. The first bill, Introduction 87 of 2018 ([link removed]) would give building owners a total of 90 days to complete facade work on a building and if the work is not done the City would then step in and do the work and send the costs to the property owner.

As reported by ABC 7 ([link removed]) last year, scaffolding falling and injuring residents after a storm or strong wind was becoming a more common occurrence. Under my newest legislation Int. 1353 of 2019 ([link removed]) scaffolding that has been up for a year or more will be required to undergo safety inspections by the Buildings Department at least once every three months at the expense of the building owner. Currently, the scaffolding system operates by self-inspection; the companies that put them up are charged with making sure the structures are secure and up to code. After more than six years of my office pushing for improved scaffolding legislation, the Buildings Department recently announced a reform of its inspection procedure
([link removed]) with the hiring of 12 new staff positions to its façade inspection team, more frequent and thorough inspections for property owners with buildings greater than six stories in height, and the introduction of city contractors at the owners' expense when they have failed to implement public safety measures. Furthermore, the Department's issuance of a 60-day timeframe in which repairs must be made is an even more aggressive approach than the 90 days I initially proposed in my first bill, but one that will hold building owners responsible and get the job done.

Scaffolding is supposed to be temporary, meaning it goes up quickly once potential danger is identified and comes down immediately after facade repairs are made. Sadly, in mid-December Erica Tishman was killed near Times Square when a piece of stone fell from an office building at 729 Seventh Ave, a building that had been issued violations back in April 2019 for a “failure to maintain building wall(s) or appurtenances” in reference to damages considered hazardous for pedestrians. This was a tragedy that should have never occurred because safety should be prioritized. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be following up with the Department of Buildings as they conduct their investigation of Ms. Erica Tishman’s tragic death. For more reporting on the scaffolding plague and my bills regarding it, visit reports in Curbed ([link removed]) and in the New York Times
([link removed]) .

Holmes-Isaacs Residents Sue NYCHA

Every New Yorker living in a New York City Housing (NYCHA) development deserves heat and hot water year-round, that is why I fully support and helped fund a lawsuit filed by residents of two NYCHA properties here on the Upper East Side, Holmes Towers and Isaacs Houses. The lawsuit which was delivered in court in mid-December by tenants and Congress member Maloney demands that NYCHA makes all necessary repairs so that residents can have heat and hot water during winter months as temperatures plummet. As the New York Daily News ([link removed]) reported every year during this time of year residents of these two NYCHA developments call my office with complaints of no heat or hot water. My office then works to push NYCHA to do its job and correct the issues as soon as possible. This lawsuit which I have signed on to will help to make sure that the fixes actually get done and finished once
and for all. I commend the work La Keesha Taylor and Saundrea Coleman tenant-organizers from the Holmes-Isaacs Coalition have done so far rallying and organizing against NYCHA’s constants disrepair. Other complaints stated in the lawsuit include vermin infestation, doors that never lock leaks caused by old crumbling pipes and mold. For more information on the lawsuit read reporting from The City ([link removed]) .

FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS

The City Council’s Committees on General Welfare chaired by Council Member Steve Levin and Contracts which I chair held a joint hearing to look into how the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has handled recent controversy and allegations of impropriety and self-dealing by homeless services providers like the Acacia Network. As amNY ([link removed]) reported, I questioned First Deputy Commissioner of DHS on the 1,184 open violations that Acacia Network has and why the City continues to use their services despite important issues and that have not been addressed. As Contracts Committee chair, I want to make every dollar the City is contracting to homeless service providers is being used to help our homeless population and that the City gets value on every dollar spent for actual services being delivered. As the Brooklyn Eagle
([link removed]) reported, Cluster sites all over New York City are responsible for most of the open violations, yet the City continues to contact them. For more reporting on this read The Wall Street Journal’s ([link removed]) original reporting or watch the full hearing ([link removed]) .


Sleep Out in Times Square with Will Smith

In a show of solidarity with those who are homeless and to ignite a global conversation on tackling the issue of homelessness, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and I came out for The World’s Big Sleep Out in Times Square. The event partnered with several charities including Coalition for the Homeless ([link removed]) , Breaking Ground ([link removed]) , Unicef ([link removed]) and more as fundraiser recipients.

Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day and ETHOS

This year alone more than 150 homeless New Yorkers died either living in the City’s troubled shelter system or on our streets. As amNY ([link removed]) reported, just like I did last year I joined Care For the Homeless ([link removed]) and Urban Pathways ([link removed]) to remember and honor the 153 homeless men and women who died this year without a place to call their own. At the event, I was joined by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Assembly Member Richard Gottfried and Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi.

Homelessness has finally dipped below 60,000 ([link removed]) with 21,473 children, 16,125 family members, 4,584 single women, and 12,277 single men in our shelters, and more than 3,588 people on the streets ([link removed]) . 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, we hope that ETHOS can really make a difference.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochran) was arguably the most famous female American reporter of the 19th century. Aiming to expose cruelty and neglect at the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island) in New York City, she went undercover as a mental patient in order to gain access to the facility, where she stayed for 10 days. Her report, “Ten Days in a Mad-House,” quickly garnered an additional $1 million for the asylum’s budget and led to the eventual improvement of institutional treatment for the mentally ill. Now, 132 years after the heroic investigation, she’s returning to the island in the form of a monument that will honor her legacy. Recently at a town hall on December 3rd, Roosevelt Island community members got a first look at a mock-up of artist Amanda Matthews’ vision for the coming memorial and its placement near The Octagon, the landmarked site where the asylum once stood which now hosts a residential building. In addition to the $500,000 project budget, my
office has pledged $70,000 to fund the braille plaques, audio app and a secondary walkway. According to the Roosevelt Island Operation Corporation, construction on the monument is projected to commence in March 2020 for an unveiling in late May.

Human Rights Day

In observation of Human Rights Day on December 10th, Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, Council Member Antonio Reynoso and I stood in solidarity against mass jailing and excessive bail at City Hall.


[link removed]
Kirby Center Patient Relocation

The New York Times reported on plans to relocate 50 patients of Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center on Wards Island to a nearby facility that is not as well equipped for patients struggling with mental illnesses that put them at risk of self harm.

As the Times wrote, I believe elected officials are ultimately responsible for the safety and well-being of the patients at Kirby and throughout our city. These patients are not violent for violence’s sake; they are mentally ill. If we put them in a situation in which we are told they could harm someone, and then they harm someone that’s on us. I have asked the Governor to look into this issue to ensure the safety of the patients and the employees who serve as their caretakers.

COMMUNITY

At the last First Friday meeting of 2019, the New York City Emergency Management
provided dozens of community members with Go-Bags and the New York City Fire Department gave a fire alarm presentation, in addition to distributing free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Cyber Security for Small Businesses
I joined the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for their quarterly cybersecurity lecture series along with the New York City District Attorney’s Office and NYC & Company offered by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, the New York City District Attorney’s Office and NYC & Company.


Proclamation for Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

Together with Council Member Keith Powers, I recognized Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza with a City Proclamation for 20 years of advocacy and preservation. Since its opening in 1999, the nonprofit community organization has collaborated with NYC Parks and Recreation to organize events in the interest of the community, with the 17th precinct to address the impact of homeless and ensure safety, and with City government to secure sufficient funding for the park’s maintenance and beautification.

Annual West Side Tenants’ Conference

The 14th Annual West Side Tenants’ Conference at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center offered free public workshops to inform citizens about finding and obtaining affordable housing, tenants’ rights in subsidized housing programs, public benefits for seniors and more. I spoke to tenants about the city's campaign finance program that matches small dollar donations with public city dollars at an 8:1 ratio, the mechanical void loophole I petitioned against that is allowing developers to build super-tall towers with floors of empty space, the benefits of requiring landlords to register all city-subsidized housing in a centralized housing portal, and legislation I led that makes it illegal for tenants who sue their landlords to be blacklisted.


LaborPress’ Leadership Awards Reception

Celebrating individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their profession, this year’s LaborPress Leadership Awards Reception ([link removed]) congratulated its honorees: Matthew Chartrand of Ironworkers Local 361, Mark Cannizzaro of the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, Mark Gregorio of TEI Group, Nicholas LaMorte of the CSEA Long Island Region and James Slevin of Utility Workers of America. Senator Robert Jackson was also in attendance. As large corporations and the media lead the national conversation surrounding unions, LaborPress gives them a voice and platform through which they can control their own narrative. Read about the awards from Labor Press ([link removed]) .


Alliance of South Asian American Labor 12th Annual Convention


I joined the Alliance of South Asian American Labor’s at their 12th Annual Convention.

Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York (CACAGNY)

I gladly attended the Third Anniversary Dinner celebration of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York.

19th Precinct Annual Holiday Party

The 19th Precinct’s Annual Holiday Party & Awards Ceremony brought lots of community members to St. Vincent’s Church for a chance to enjoy food, wine, and ice cream while honoring the year’s fallen officers and recognizing eight of the precinct’s officers for their exemplary service and devotion to citizens’ safety. In addressing the recent issue of reckless motorcycle and ATV driving, Commanding Officer Kathleen Walsh encouraged community members to record anyone who they witnessed engaging in that behavior. I would like to congratulate all of the officers who were acknowledged for their hard work, and extend a special show of gratitude to Lt. Michael Lombardi who received the Officer of the Year award and who consistently lends his support to our office and the community whenever we need him. Our office thanks the entire 19th Precinct for their service and protection.

EVENTS SPONSORED BY MY OFFICE

Year-round at the Center at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, you can pick up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box of high quality, farm-fresh produce at below retail prices. For only $15, receive $20-$30 worth of fresh greens and fruit every week. CSA shares must be purchased a week in advance. For more information, please email site coordinator Idalia Bamert, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

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.

Fresh Food Box Pickup
GrowNYC
1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/27
3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Center @ Lenox Hill Neighborhood House

RESOURCES

The Child Mind Institute is making its City-Wide Education Initiative available to schools in our neighborhood. Over the years their services have provided critical mental health support and training to over 40,000 students, caregivers, educators, and mental health providers. The Child Mind Institute provides support, guidance, and treatment to New York City schoolchildren in the wake of scary and upsetting events.

Services include:
* Treatment for students struggling in the aftermath of traumatic events, struggling with mood dysregulation, and struggling with emotion and behavior regulation;
* Coaching and consultation for educators to foster more productive, happier classrooms;
* Social-emotional learning curricula for classes of students;
* Professional development and workshops for educators and caregivers to learn how to identify signs and symptoms of a mental health disorder among their children;
* Training for mental health providers in the delivery of our interventions so we may provide support to even more students across the city in partnership with our city’s schools.

For more information visit childmind.org ([link removed])



This spring, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts ([link removed]) will celebrate outstanding achievement in preservation, architecture, and advocacy on the Upper East Side during our 37th Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony.

The awards categories are flexible and can vary each year. Among other areas of accomplishment, previous winners have demonstrated excellence in Restoration, Rehabilitation, Design, and Stewardship. Individuals and advocacy groups are also eligible.

FRIENDS seeks nomination for both architecture and advocacy. The awards committee will consider all submissions, large and small, that have furthered the cause of maintaining the special sense of place of the Upper East Side. Submit nominations by January 6, 2020.

Contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for more information, or click here ([link removed]) to download the nomination form.




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] (mailto:[email protected]) with any unresolved 311 complaints.


Get assistance wherever you are in the district when we bring our office to you. Please join us at monthly mobile district hours on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 11am–2pm at the Roosevelt Island Senior Center, 546 Main Street. RSVP at BenKallos.com/events/mobile ([link removed])


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 tenants 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])

1/8: Community Board 8 Transportation Committee ([link removed])
6:30 p.m.
New York Blood Center Auditorium
* DOT Presentation on Bike Lane Offset Crossings
* ADA Accessible path for Queensboro Bridge
* UES Preparation for Congestion Pricing

1/8: Community Board 6 Full Board
7:00 p.m.
NYU Dentistry 433 First Ave

1/21: Community Board 11 Full Board
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Mt. Sinai, Hatch Auditorium, 2nd floor

1/22: Community Board 8 Full Board
6:30 p.m. - 9:30p.m.
New York Blood Center 310 East 67th Street, Auditorium


1/6: 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
19th Precinct Station House
153 E. 67th Street

1/22: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
23rd Precinct Station House
164 E. 102nd Street

1/28: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:30p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sutton Place Synagogue
225 E. 51st Street


First Wednesday, 1/8: Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Meeting (Holiday Exception)
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Good Shepherd (Downstairs)
543 Main Street

Second Tuesday, 1/14: Stanley Isaacs Tenant Association
7:00 p.m.
Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center
415 East 93rd Street

Third Tuesday, 1/21: Holmes Towers Tenant Association
7:00 p.m.
Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center
415 East 93rd Street


1/2: Film: The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)
2pm, 96th Street Library
A pilot in need of money plans to take an unwitting heiress to a group of kidnappers with whom he will share the ransom they've asked. Admission is free. This film is 92 minutes long.

1/2: 37th Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibition
9:00am-5:00pm, 830 5th Ave, 3rd Floor
Celebrate the 37th Annual Wreath Interpretation Exhibitions. The wreath includes the work of 40 or more artists and designers. This event is free to the public.

1/2: Book Discussion Group: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
6pm - 7pm, 96th Street Library
Please join us for our January book discussion. We will be reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Copies are available at the 96th Street Library one month before the book discussion.

1/2: Book Discussion Group: The Promise by Chaim Potok
6:00pm - 6:45pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
Join us to discuss The Promise on January 2 at 6:00 pm. Admission is free. Registration is required. 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. "A superb mirror of a place, a time, and a group of people who capture our immediate interest and hold it tightly."

1/4, 1/11, 1/18,1/25: Year-Round Volunteer Gardening
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 86th Street at East End Avenue
Join neighbors and friends and pitch in at this fun, local event! PLEASE NOTE: The Carl Schurz Park Volunteer Gardeners are an adult group that meets monthly to work in the park. Students or children who wish to participate must be accompanied by adults or parents who work along with them.

1/4, 1/7, 1/21, 1/28: Adult Coloring
11am - 12pm, 96th Street Library
Come join us at the 96th Street Library as we color and bring out our inner child. We are reminded of the days when life was simple when we worry less. Coloring is the latest craze and where you might expect to see children, you find adults. They have immersed themselves in patterns of mandalas, curved flowers and runaway stems.

1/6: Book Discussion Group: Mystery Mondays
4pm - 5pm, 67th Street Library
Join us to discuss The Birdwatcher by William Shaw. The book is British crime fiction at its finest; a stirring portrait of flawed.

1/6, 1/11, 1/25: Yorkville Writing Circle
5:00p.m.- 6:45 p.m., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 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 Yorkville Writing Circle where writers of all genres, styles and levels are welcome to participate. No sign-ups required. Late-comers Welcome.

1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28: Adult Coloring
11am, Roosevelt Island Library
Come to the library and relax by coloring some beautiful artwork. Feel your troubles and bitter cares melt away at each stroke of your pencil!

1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28: TechConnect: Word for Beginners
3pm -5pm, 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.

1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28: Teen Space
3-5 p.m., 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.

1/7, 1/14, 1/28: Terrific Tolkien Discussion
4pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Calling all elves, hobbits, orcs and dragons! Join us for a 7-part discussion of the epic poems of J.R.R. Tolkien at the library!

1/7, 1/21: Webster Writing Circle
6 p.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Join Webster for an exploration in creativity. This writing circle is informal in style and structure: no experience is necessary. We’ll spend time writing and talking about what we have written. There's no registration or sign up required.

1/8: Chelsea Fitness Marathon
9:00am-9:00pm, Chelsea Recreation Center
Start the new year with a fitness motivation exercised and join the Chelsea Fitness in their 12-hour marathon. For more information, contact Rich Martinez at 212-255-3706.

1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29: SNAP Assistance Clinics
10:00am-1:00pm, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, 331 East 70th Street
Interested in determining whether you are eligible for SNAP benefits? Join the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in their year-round SNAP assistance. For more information about the SNAP Assistance Clinic, including the documentation needed click here ([link removed]) .

1/8: Webster @ the Movies: Kong: Skull Island
11:15a.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean. Cut off from everything they know, they venture into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. This film is 118 minutes long.

1/8, 1/22: Adult One-on-One Computer Help Workshop
11:30a.m. - 1:00p.m., Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Work one-on-one with a volunteer tutor to improve Internet skills, create and use e-mail, and get help with cell phone and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point) usage. Pre-registration required in person or by phone at 212-744-5824. Seating is limited.

1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 11/29: Learn To Play Chess For Adults
2 p.m., 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. The best part of all: CHESS IS FUN!

1/8, 1/15, 1/ 22, 1/ 29: Game On! @ Webster
4 p.m., Webster Library
Come in and 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. Laptops will be available for anybody that just wants to sit down and relax.

1/8, 1/29: Crochet & Knitting Group
10:30am - 12:30pm, 96th Street Library, Conference Room
Do you like to crochet? Do you like to knit? Join our volunteer led group! Whatever your passion, come socialize with others who share your interest and perhaps even pick up some extra tips and tricks as you work your own creations. Please bring your own supplies. Pattern books will be provided to peruse and get inspiration and are available to check out with your library card!

1/9: Carter Burden Gallery Exhibition
6:00pm-8:00pm, Carter Burden Gallery
Join the Carter Burden network in their opening ceremony for the Carter Burden Gallery Exhibition.

1/9, 1/16, 1/23: Arts, Culture & Fun: Make your Mark - Watercolor Series
6:30pm-8:30pm, Recreation Center 54
Join the Recreation Center 54 to learn the foundation of watercolor painting. The event is free of cost but because there is limited space, please RSVP at wcrc54.eventbrite.com ([link removed]) or call 212-754-5411.

1/10: The Storyteller Olivia Beens Through the Decades
10:00am-6:00pm, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109
The El Barrio’s Artspace will present the "Storyteller: Olivia Beens Through the Decades," a career retrospective of the artist’s oeuvre.

1/10: Lunchtime Lecture: Clock-making in Early America
12:30pm, 421 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
The curator of our current exhibit, “Revolutionary Revolutions: Clocks and Industry in Early America,” will speak about the widespread success of American-made shelf clocks in the 19th-century and the interrelated forces of technological convenience, comfort, taste, and affordability that drive the consumer habits of a middle class, then and now. Bring your lunch. Tea, conversation, exhibit, and optional Museum tour included. This event is free with admission and for Museum Members.

1/11: Second Saturdays Trailwork Party + Bike Share at Highbridge Bike Park
10:00pm-3:00pm, BMX Jump Park in Highbridge Park
Bring your friends and family for a day of fun in the woods and learn what it takes to ride your bike in the most progressive urban bike park in America. The event is free of cost but please register for the event here ([link removed]) . If there are any questions please feel to call at 734-358-2826 or contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

1/13: Reading Level Parent Workshop
5:30pm, 67th Street Library
Learn about various book leveling frameworks for children’s books, as well as tools and resources to find the best book! Pre-registration required by phone (212) 734-1717 or in person.

1/15: Mobile Hours with NYC Council Member Ben Kallos
11a.m. - 1:30p.m., Webster Library
Join a representative from Council Member Ben Kallos' office to discuss important neighborhood topics. This is your opportunity to speak with local officials without leaving your neighborhood.

1/15:Webster @ the Movies: 10 Cloverfield Lane
11:15a.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
After surviving a car accident, Michelle wakes up to find herself in an underground bunker with two men.

1/16: Film: "The Breaking Point" (1950)
2pm, 96th Street Library
A sailor allows smugglers to use his boat until they go too far by murdering his friend. Admission is free. This film is 97 minutes long.

1/18: Breast Cancer Support Group
4:00pm-5:00pm, NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center Harkness Pavilion, HP-2-Emily Westfall Conf Room
Support breast cancer patients on their journey. Join NewYork-Presbyterian and share, encourage, and support those on their experience.

1/18: Family Wellness Day
11:00pm-2:00pm, Highbridge Recreation Center
Join the Highbridge Recreation Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital for their monthly fitness fun in the park with the entire family. This event is free of cost. For more information call 212-927-2012, or contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

1/22: Webster @ the Movies: Trumbo
11:15a.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
In 1947, successful screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and other Hollywood figures get blacklisted for their political beliefs. This film is 124 minutes long.

1/23: Film: "Criss Cross" (1949)
2pm, 96th Street Library
An armored truck driver and his lovely ex-wife conspire with a gang to have his own truck robbed on the route. Admission is free. This film is 84 minutes long.

1/23: Theater of the Warped Political Bodies
5:30p.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Author and professor Catalina Florina Florescu discusses her latest volume of three plays, "The Rebelled Body Plays (NoPassport Press)," a collection part of the Library of Congress and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, to name a couple. Her interest in the human body, how it breaks and how it heals, has been part of her academic and creative research and writing, a passion that she discovered by accident following a traumatic event in her life.

1/23: Community Garden Murals: History and How-To
6:00pm-8:00pm, Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
Join the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in learning and partnering with local artist to develop a design, prepare for a space, and install murals. Learning how to get permits will also be addressed, as well as recommendations on how to engage with neighbors to create a mural yourself. The event is free of cost; if you have any questions please contact, 212-602-5300.

1/25: Music - Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda" recital by New York Opera Forum
1pm - 4pm, 96th Street Library
Presented by the New York Opera Forum
New York Opera Forum performs the complete opera of "Maria Stuarda" by Gaetano Donizetti, a live musical recital performed in concert with piano accompaniment.
The musical program is co-sponsored with the New York Opera Forum, 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 is free.

1/25: Historic Craft Workshop: Clock-Making
2pm, 421 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
In conjunction with our current exhibit, learn about the history of clock-making in early America, and then design your own clock face, inspired by those on display. At the conclusion of the workshop, you will have a personally-designed working clock to take home. All supplies included. Advance tickets are required: $20 Adults and $15 Members and Students with IDs. Call the Museum or purchase tickets here ([link removed]) .

1/25: Webster @ the Movies: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
2:00p.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Actor Rick Dalton gained fame and fortune by starring in a 1950s television Western, but is now struggling to find meaningful work in a Hollywood that he doesn't recognize anymore. This film is 161 minutes long.

1/27: Webster @ the Movies: Fast & Furious presents: Hobbs & Shaw
11:15a.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Brixton Lorr is a cybernetically enhanced soldier who possesses superhuman strength, a brilliant mind and a lethal pathogen that could wipe out half of the world's population. This film is 137 minutes long.

1/28: Chinese New Year Family Fitness
2:30pm-7:00pm, Recreation Center 54
Join recreation center 54 for a fun day of family activities such as Tai Chi, fortune cookie-making, dragon dancercise, Tae Kwon Do, and much more! This event is free of cost; if you have any questions please contact 212-754-5411.

1/28: Weill Cornell Wellness Series: Important Topics in Sleep Medicine
5:30p.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Humans spend nearly a third of their lives asleep. In general, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night, but what can go wrong, and what can we do about it? Come join us for a talk on sleep during the Weill Cornell Medicine Wellness Series at the Webster Library.

1/29: Webster @ the Movies: The Monuments Men
11:15a.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
During World War II, the Nazis steal countless pieces of art and hide them away. Some over-the-hill art scholars, historians, architects and other experts form a unit to retrieve as many of the stolen masterpieces as possible. This film is 118 minutes long.

1/30: Film - "The Great Waltz" (1938)
2pm, 96th Street Library
This is a musical biopic of the life of young Johann Strauss and his rise to fame in Vienna. Admission is free. This film is 104 minutes long.

1/31: Middle School Alliance Event
4:00pm-5:00pm, Stanley Isaacs
The Isaacs Center will be hosting the MSA-paired events with 7th graders. Students will be preparing valentines day with the seniors at Isaacs center. If there are questions, please contact your MSA representative directly.

January - March 2020: DSNY Organics Collection and Electronics Recycling
1326 Madison Ave, Garden Level | New York, NY 10128 (enter at 94th Street)
DSNY Organics Collection partners with CHN to reduce waste sent to landfills. The program provides rodent-resistant bins in order to deter pests. Neighbors are encouraged to bring their unwanted electronic hardware to the site designated for responsible recycling.

1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/ 23, 1/30: Early Literacy: Family Storytime
11:00a.m,11:30a.m, 11:45a.m, Webster Library
Toddlers from birth to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, finger-plays, 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.

1/2, 1/ 9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30: Early Literacy: Free Play
11:15a.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.

1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30: Early Literacy: Pre-School Story Time
4 p.m., Yorkville Library, Children's Room
Come meet your friends at the library and listen to some of your favorite picture books.
It's a great way to end a busy day.

1/3, 1/10, 1/17. 1/24, 1/31: Learn To Play Chess at Webster
3pm, Webster Library, Auditorium
For children, ages 5 to 12 years, ages 13 to 18 years, children
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 on Fridays at 3 p.m. Learn how to play, practice your skills, or play a game. All materials will be provided and an experienced instructor Timothy Mobley will lead the group.

1/3, 1/10, 1/17,1/24, 1/31: Arts & Crafts
4:00p.m., 67th Street Library
Create based on the theme or art technique of the month, or choose to create wherever the inspiration takes you! Younger children must have a parent or caregiver present and ready to participate.

1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25: Read to our New York Therapy Dog!
10:30a.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. Available every Saturday!

1/4, 1/5, 1/11, 1/12, 1/18, 1/19, 1/24-1/26: Yeti, Set, Snow! + Holiday Puppet Building Workshop
1:00pm-1:45pm, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre
An original story and marionette show produced by City Parks Foundation will be shown to families and kids. The cost of the event will be $10 per children and $12 for adults. These fees include the materials to build one felt hand puppet and one finger puppet. To purchase tickets click here ([link removed]) .

1/4: January Craft Time
3p.m., Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
It's Craft Time at Yorkville!!! Drop in for a quick craft. Bring your creativity and make something special to take home.

1/6, 1/13, 1/27: Early Literacy:Toddler Story Time
11:30 a.m., Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
First come, first served toddlers from 18-36 months old (walkers) and their parents/caregivers can enjoy great books, lively songs and rhymes, and meet other toddlers in the neighborhood. Please note: There is no elevator available and stroller parking is limited.

1/6: 2020 Vision Board Bash
4p.m., Webster Library
What are your hopes and dreams for 2020? Manifest them as we cut and create vision boards for 2020.

1/6, 1/27: Read with Murphy, our New York Therapy Dog!
4p.m., Yorkville Library, Children's Room
Come read to our therapy dog Murphy! 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.

1/7, 1/14, 1/21,1/28: Early Literacy: Baby Storytime
10:30 - 11a.m., Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Babies from birth to 18 months old (pre-walkers) and their parents/caregivers can enjoy great books, lively songs, and rhymes, and meet other babies in the neighborhood. Program will be ticketed to 30 children and their caregivers. Tickets will be distributed at the door 15 minutes prior to the start of the program. Please note: There is no elevator available, and stroller parking is limited.

1/8: Early Literacy: Hora de Cuentos (Spanish Storytime)
11a.m., 67th Street Library, Community Room
¡A leer y a cantar en español! Join us to read and sing in Spanish.

1/8, 1/15,1/22,1/29: Early Readers Storytime
4p.m., 67th Street Library, Community Room
This program aims to continue the practice of storytime for older children. Each week, participants will discuss a book within the framework of an opening question. At the conclusion of storytime, there will be a craft or related reading activity. For ages 5-7. Parents and caregivers welcome.

1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29: Young Readers Read Aloud
4:30p.m., 67th Street Library, Community Room
Following the practices of guided and shared reading, participants will read one book throughout the month, taking turns reading aloud. When the group finishes the book of the month, there will be a craft or related reading activity. This event is limited to 10 participants. Parents and caregivers welcome.

1/9: Webster @ the Movies: Toy Story 4
4p.m., Webster Library, Auditorium
Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody's slight detour leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. This film is 100 minutes long.

1/9, 1/16, 1/ 23, 1/30: Early Literacy: Chinese Rhyme Songs
11a.m., Roosevelt Island Library
Julia Gu brings you popular Chinese rhyme songs, both the ones from her childhood and the current ones in China. Children and their caretakers will be encouraged to express themselves through their physical movements, their own voices (using Chinese or English words or just sounds), and any other expression they have responding to the rhymes. The songs will be in Chinese, while the sessions are conducted in English. Join us to learn some Chinese! No registration required. Presented by Urban Stages.

1/10, 1/17, 1/ 24, 1/31: Early Literacy: Baby Sign Language and Literacy Series
11:00a.m., Webster Library
A 4-week sign language and literacy series. Learn American Sign Language through songs, stories and play. Go home each week with new vocabulary and new tunes to enhance communication between you and your child! This event is limited to 15 participants only. Presented by Baby Fingers.Tickets will be distributed the day of starting at 10:30am, first come first served.

1/13, 1/27: Homework Time and Quiet Study
3:30p.m., 67th Street Library
Quiet time will be enforced during this program so everyone can have a space to complete homework tasks. The librarian will be available for some homework help.

1/13, 1/27: Early Literacy: Art Buffet
4:00p.m., 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.

1/13: Reading Level Parent Workshop
5:30p.m., 67th Street Library
Learn about various book leveling frameworks for children’s books and tools and resources to find the best book! Pre-registration required by phone (212) 734-1717 or in person.

1/27: Kid Flicks
4p.m., Yorkville Library, Meeting Room
Join us in our community room for our children's film showing. Watch short films based on popular picture books.The perfect way to meet up with friends and end a busy day.

1/27: Graphic Novel Book Club
5p.m., 67th Street Library, Community Room
Join us to discuss graphic novels! We will take the first half of the program to discuss the book and the second half will be an open comics-creating studio.
This month: Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk. Parents and caregivers welcome.

1/28: Chinese New Year Family Fitness
2:30p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Recreation Center 54-348 East 54 Street, Manhattan
Join us for a day of family fun as you make your way through various activities such as Tai Chi, fortune cookie-making, dragon dancercise, Tae Kwon Do, and more! This event is FREE and open to the public.

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