Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to the New Year!

I am excited to share updates with you on what my office and I have been working on these last four months. Below you will find news from City Hall, a recap of my visits around the community, events I have hosted, important resources, articles I have been quoted in, and more! Please do not hesitate to reach out to the office with any of your questions or concerns.

In Community,

Council Member Amanda Farías

Holy Family Church’s Mechler Hall Senior Center has re-opened! R.A.I.N. is now ready to serve our seniors with programming, events, hot meals and more every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM - 4 PM. I am proud to have restored and fully funded the Mechler Hall Senior Center with $160,000 from my local budget after years of defunding and ready to enter this year with great partners, like R.A.I.N, Assembly Member Karines Reyes, and Senator-elect Nathalia Fernandez. Thank you to all the residents in the community for showing up and a special thank you to Julia Rodriguez for all your advocacy!

I joined the Jaime Towers Board Meeting to announce the $2,000,000 that I allocated in capital funding to upgrade and provide an elevator modernization that will the entire Jaime Towers community!

Turkey Giveaways

My office hosted several turkey and fresh produce giveaways for Thanksgiving this year. I partnered with organizations like Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Rap4Bronx, the Bharati Foundation, Albanian American Open Hands Association, the Caribbean Equality Project, the Hispanic Federation, and more to make sure families have a full meal. Thank you to everyone who gave back to our CD 18 community!

I worked with the Castle Hill Houses TA association, Borough President Gibson, Food Bank NYC and Stop and Shop to host a Thanksgiving Food Distribution for Castle Hill residents. Not only did we have tons of turkeys and fresh produce, but we also had ginger and some peppers to add some much needed spice and culturally relevant dishes to our Thanksgiving tables.

Holiday Celebrations

I got to join the Westchester Square BID and community members for a fun tree lighting ceremony with Santa as a special guest! And then we jumped on a holiday float to spread cheer with the Castle Hill BID!

I stopped by CD18’s local temple, the Vishnu Mandir, for service on Day 6 of Navaratri! To all my CD18 neighbors and everyone who celebrates - May Durga Ma continue to bless you and your loved ones.

Office Sponsored Events

CD18 had our first skate party at Caserta Playground! It brought me so much joy to see so many families and friends getting to spend quality time together. Thank you NYC Parks and Go Sports for your partnership!

I co-hosted a NYCHA Accountability Roundtable at Bronx River Houses with NYC Comptroller Lander and Community Voices Heard. It was great to have a citywide elected official hear from our Bronx River community on what they are facing, how NYCHA is managing those needs and issues, and what the Comptroller can do for residents.

I hosted our first Fall Festival this October! Thank you to the NYC Parks Department for bringing so many fun activities for our families and kids, like face painting, zorb balls, a pumpkin patch, and more. Thank you to all the agencies and organizations who came out to Soundview Park to provide resources like free bags and books and information regarding fire safety, environmental protection, and financial resources.

I partnered with the Stevenson Family Health Center and Mount Sinai to promote a day of Free Mammograms for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Stevenson Family Health Center and Mount Sinai partner on this every month so make sure to call tel:845-332-8823 and schedule an appointment.

School Visits

District 18 showed out at District 8's First Annual Car-nival on Stickball Blvd. I got to meet so many students from our local public schools and see amazing performances by the Marching Cobras drumline, Tai Chi Sigma Steppers, and Prime Example dancers. Thank you CEC 8 and Superintendent Joynt for putting this together and inviting my office!

I joined Publicolor’s Design Studio at Linden Tree Elementary to check in on their programming and talk with students and faculty. Art was always my favorite subject when I was growing up and I wanted to make sure to pass that opportunity to the youth of CD 18. I am so proud to fund this program for our incredible students!

Community Safety Program Visits

I joined our PSA 8 Precinct Council for their Annual Thank An Officer Day event for our local precinct! I was able to honor CD18’s finest for their hard work and dedication with City Council citations to show my office and our community’s gratitude.

I had the privilege to welcome neighbors and participate in the Interfaith Center’s community safety and anti-gun violence workshop at the Parkchester Library. It was so great to be in community with so many leaders who are dedicated to creating real, intentional change. I funded the Interfaith Center to promote training and supporting more diverse faith leaders to become non-violence ambassadors in and for communities like mine.

Supporting Our Schools

I greeted our scholars from Millennium Art Academy at their first school trip of the season at the Bronx Zoo! MAA is an important school in our district because it is one of two high schools in the Bronx that partners with NYU’s Nest Program to provide resources for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to succeed in their classes. This was the first of many partnership events my office is doing to provide effective programming for our students!

I joined the P.S. 536 community to celebrate the grand opening of the UFT Teacher Center. This center will support our hard working teachers so that they have the resources they need to help our community and our schools thrive.

Youth Program Visits

I got to visit our star athletes and students at Parque de Los Niños in Soundview and give away some more backpacks at the Watson basketball tournament!

I visited the Soundview Library's After-School Program, which is a homework help program designed for children ages 6 to 12. I appreciate the intentionality of our library, as they had designated areas for different age groups.

The future of basketball is in CD18! My office had so much fun at the Castle Hill YMCA’s  Basketball Clinic with the New York Knicks! Thank you to the Knicks, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and the YMCA for supporting this important program that gives our CD18 athletes a safe space to learn the important skills from the very best.

NYCHA Visits

I walked through Sonia Sotomayor Houses with Ms. Regina Howell. She showed me a number of concerning issues as well as new ideas to make sure we are meeting our residents' needs for parking, safety, and accessibility.

Community Center Visits and Supporting Seniors

I brought backpacks to the Castle Hill YMCA to give away more back to school supplies to our families and students. I also passed out free vouchers for new riders to use NYC Ferry at the Soundview stop!

I joined City Meals on Wheels to hand out hot, ready-to-eat meals to our Parkchester older adults who are homebound. I met some of our neighbors and handed them kosher and hot meals while saying hello! It is so important we continue to show up for our seniors and check in on the work our great partners are doing everyday for them.

Family Day Visits

I had the pleasure of spending time with our Stevenson Commons community at their first family day in 20 years! It was so great seeing the kids and families having such a fun time, and I was reminded of how different this courtyard looked when I was their age running around here with my cousins. I was also able to hand out more free book bags and school supplies thanks to my partnership with the management company.

Supporting Community Leaders

I attended the Castle Hill YMCA’s beautiful Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Along with Executive Director Sharlene Brown, I was able to honor Fiordaliza Rodriguez with a City Council Citation. Not only is she a board member at the best YMCA in the City of New York but she is the first Dominican to ever serve as a judge on the Bronx Family court.

I stopped by 32 BJ's Building Service Worker Awards ceremony to honor Dan Davis Airport Worker of the Year and CD18 resident! Dan, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to keeping JFK passengers safe.

Advocating for More Funding and

Opportunities for the Bronx

I am happy to announce that the Hunts Point Produce Market was selected as the recipient of the USDOT’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects grant of $110 million! As the Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and a Bronxite, I am happy to see that all of the advocacy and hard work from my office, NYC EDC, Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Ritchie Torres, Council Member Salamanca, and our colleagues in government has paid off. I look forward to seeing improvements to the market’s infrastructure and the overall quality of life for the workers there and the surrounding community.

We have a new and improved Morrison Plaza! The Bronx has  dealt with lack of support and investment from every level of government for too long. This plaza represents a neighborhood that is built by and for Bronxites first- shoutout to the Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice for your leadership on this project.

I joined NYC Parks and the NYCEDC for their groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the $87 million invested to revitalize the Orchard Beach pavilion! This renovation will enhance visitor experience for all New Yorkers, but especially Bronxites who use and cherish this space like it's their own backyard. I am incredibly excited to bring holistic and sustainable economic growth and tourism for our communities and our borough.

Working with the Adams’ Administration

to Support Puerto Rico

I stood with Mayor Eric Adams and my colleagues in government to show our continued and collective support efforts for the islands of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. As a Puerto Rican and Dominican woman, my heart breaks over the storm damage we are seeing year after year on both islands. As climate change continues to become more of a presence, it is imperative that we focus on short term relief to organizers on the ground in all regions of the island, as well as support for long term climate resiliency plans.

I sent a letter with Speaker Adrienne Adams urging the Biden Administration to grant a Jones Act waiver to immediately facilitate the necessary delivery of food to Puerto Rico for relief efforts. I will continue to stand in solidarity with and fight for those on the islands.

Committee Update

As Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I chaired a joint hearing with the Transportation Committee on New York City's ferry systems. This hearing was an important public discussion about how this City is moving toward more accessibility and equity for riders and workers. We discussed my bill, Intro 236, which would guarantee ferry services to students enrolled in a high school within New York City at half the cost of a standard fare. You can watch the full hearing here.

Additionally, I Co-Chaired a joint hearing with the Committee on State & Federal Legislation on publicly owned heliports in New York City. We discussed how federal or regional jurisdiction affects the City’s management, and how we need greater cooperation between neighboring states to ensure they are following the regulations New Yorkers need for their daily quality of life. With noise complaints up 2,329% in the last 5 years it is clear that New Yorkers need more protections in place. Watch the hearing here.

I attended several other committee hearings in October, November, and December including, but not limited to, 

• Committee of Consumer & Worker Protection regarding:
• Two bills that work to expand protections for fast food workers, Intro 613 and Intro 640. As a former fast food worker myself, it is important that we continue to protect the rights of workers in every industry, as well as, approaching policy that makes sense for workers and businesses to meet their work-life balance. You can watch the full hearing here. 
• The “Skip the Stuff” bill which would restrict restaurants from providing utensils, extra eating containers, condiment packets, and napkins to customers for take-out and delivery orders unless the customer requests them. I am proud to be a co-sponsor on this important legislation! Watch the hearing here.
• Committee of Sanitation & Waste Management regarding:
• The impacts of single-use plastics and DSNY’s work towards our green goals. As a city, we are consistently working on bettering waste management and the impacts it makes on our communities, including our NYCHA’s. You can watch the full hearing here. 
• Critical changes to rat mitigation plans that will help the quality of life for New Yorkers citywide. I am also a proud co-sponsor on all of these bills! You can watch the full hearing here. 
• Committee on Public Housing & the Committee on Oversight & Investigation regarding:
• NYCHA's water testing protocols at Jacob Riis Houses and citywide. At this hearing I asked questions regarding procedures and showed the level of involvement I had to have in order to ensure language access and proactive measures were being put in place at Clason Point Gardens Houses during our ongoing positive legionnaires testing. Our residents deserve safe and stable housing and we have to do better. You can watch the full hearing here. 
• Committee on Transportation regarding:
• Ensuring that we are making proactive and protective measures happen 10 years after Superstorm Sandy hit our City. You can watch the full hearing here. 
• Safety measures across our City’s public transportation systems. Watch the hearing here.

The City Council also had nine stated meetings where I introduced 7 bills and passed more than 21! Some highlights include, 

• Intro 727, a bill requiring the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based violence to operate family justice centers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and to conduct a public campaign to inform the community of this change.
• Intro 720, a bill requiring the Department of Sanitation to collect solid waste from nursing homes at no cost to the nursing homes and regardless of whether the nursing home is a for-profit entity. 
• Intro 821, a bill requiring building owners to provide shower hoses and informational materials on Legionnaires’ disease to tenants when positive cases are found. I drafted this bill in direct response to the legionnaires' cases at Clason Point Houses. 
• Reso 392, a resolution supporting a democratically governed public entity that will provide reliable and affordable electrical power to the people of Puerto Rico and supporting the cancellation of the contract with LUMA Energy.

You can watch the full meetings here and learn more about my legislation here.

Women's Caucus Update

As Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus I have been working to create comprehensive solutions to better the lives of women across New York City. See highlights from my work at City Hall below:

The City Council has committed $1 million to The Brigid Alliance and New York Abortion Access Fund to help bolster their programming to ensure anyone who needs this critical healthcare option can receive it safely and with their privacy ensured.

I rallied with my Council colleagues and advocates to show support for the Support Survivors legislative package. This is a major step toward intersectional justice and I am a proud co-sponsor and advocate for survivors in this City.

Need to File a Complaint with my Office? 

Check my website at council.nyc.gov/district-18/ and click the “Get Assistance” button and fill out the form. 

Provide Feedback and Ask Questions about the Bronx Metro North

Do you have questions or concerns about the upcoming Bronx Metro North plan coming to Parkchester? Schedule a time to speak with the Department of Planning here.

Need Help with Utility Bills? There is a Credit Program for Low-Income Families

• Heating and Cooling Assistance (HEAP) 2022-2023: The HEAP season opened on November 1, 2022. More information including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can be found here.
• For Heat-Related Emergencies: The Emergency HEAP Benefit opens on January 1, 2023. The Emergency HEAP Benefit provides assistance to those who are in a heat related emergency. More information including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can be found here. 

Homeowners: The Deadline to Submit Renewal Applications for Tax Year ‘23-24 is March 15, 2023

If you do not renew, you could lose benefits and property taxes could increase. Please review the eligibility requirements for these benefits. Homeowners who receive a paper renewal application from DOF have the option to respond with the paper application or file online. Renewal application forms are available on DOF’s website. If your constituents need assistance, please contact www.nyc.gov/contactdof or call 311. 

4 NYCHA Campuses in CD18 are Eligible for Free Broadband

The Mayor’s Big Apple Connect Program with Altice is currently connecting Bronxites to broadband for free at Sonia Sotomayor Houses, Soundview Houses, Glebe Houses, and Monroe Houses. If you are currently living in one of these NYCHA developments make sure to take advantage of this opportunity!

For installation of a new account or conversion of an existing Optimum account residents should call 866.580.1410 (Monday – Saturday, 10am – 7pm ET), confirm their address at a participating NYCHA property, and then schedule an installation. Residents can also visit a nearby Optimum Store and speak with a representative.

Practice Fire Safety in Your Home 

According to the FDNY two-thirds of all electrical fires begin in plugs or cords of large appliances. These are a few reminders from the fire department for all of us to practice: 

• Never use an extension cord with large appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, clothes dryers or space heaters. 
• Unplug appliances such as toaster ovens, hair dryers, flat irons and coffee pots when not in use.
• Get a free smoke detector installed in your home by calling NY Red Cross at 877-733-2767 and press 5 from the menu options. 

*If you have any follow up questions on these resources please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.  

Read my Most Recent Column in the Bronx Times:

Eighteen Highlights from my First Year as District 18’s Council Member

1. Bringing $14.375 million in Capital and $3.014 million in Discretionary Funding to CD18.
2. Providing more than 1,500 turkeys.
3. Distributing 2,500 backpacks to students.



And so much more!

• AMNY: Pol Floats Half-Price NYC Ferry Tickets for Kids
• Bronx Times: Stevenson Commons holds Family Day Event and Back to School giveaway
• News 12: ROLL OUT! Skate Party Brings Good Vibes to Parkchester
• Bronx Times: Column: Participatory Budgeting is Back
• Bronx Times: Bronx Doctors Highlight Free Mobile Mammograms at Stevenson Family Health Center
• City Life: City completes $8.8 million transformation of Morrison Ave Plaza in the Bronx
• Plant Talk: Councilmember Amanda Farías Takes Part in Urban Advantage Family Science Day
• News 12: Council Member Farias hosts Thanksgiving giveaway at Sotomayor Community Center
• NY 1: Council Member Amanda Farías discusses the Bronx’s recovery
• Bronx Times: Column: Preparing for the Winter Weather
• QNS: City Council passes Queens lawmaker’s bill to curb catalytic converter thefts across the city
• News 12: It represents the future’ – $87M restoration project on Orchard Beach Pavilion begins