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Dear Friend,

Vote Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6th, and don't forget to Flip Your Ballot!

We continue to focus on improving quality of life with new security cameras along the East River Esplanade and other hard-to-patrol areas, and we broke ground on a years-overdue library for Roosevelt Island.

Our fight against overdevelopment continues to grow with a rally to save our neighborhoods, while our lawsuit against the city and developer in Sutton resulted in a vital concession: the building construction will have to follow the community's rezoning for the first 150 feet.

At City Hall we've seen hearings on NYCHA infill and legislation I've authored to let parents track school buses, clean water towers, and prevent Legionnaires. We've stood up to hate throughout our country and even in our neighborhood, more unified than ever.

PS: I hope you had a Happy Halloween and that you enjoy your Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for (or scared of) this year?

Sincerely,


Ben Kallos
Council Member


HEADLINES

  1. Vote Tuesday and Flip Your Ballot
  2. Tracking School Buses with GPS to Make Children Safer
  3. 72 Proposals to Change Our City
  4. Protecting Public Health From Legionnaires & Dirty Water Towers
  5. $336,000 in Funding for Security Cameras on the Upper East Side
  6. Roosevelt Island Breaks Ground on New Library
  7. Denouncing Hate Groups on the Upper East Side

OVERDEVELOPMENT

  1. Sutton Super-Tall Construction Will Follow Community Rezoning as Court Case Proceeds
  2. Rally For Our Neighborhoods Draws 300 Activists
  3. Scaffolding Bill Update: Structure Removed after 14 Years

NOVEMBER EVENT INVITES

  1. Understanding Your Ballot: Community Board 8 Forum
  2. Medicare Open Enrollment Event
  3. Fire Safety Education Presentation
  4. Shred-A-Thon Thanksgiving Edition
  5. Night Life Office Town Hall

 
FIGHTING FOR WORKERS RIGHTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES

  1. Small Business Jobs Survival Act
  2. Building Service Awards with 32BJ and Our Town
  3. Count Me In Rally
  4. Fighting for Postdoctoral Student Worker Rights at Columbia University
  5. Working to Get Prevailing Wages for Building Workers

 
COMMUNITY

  1. You Can Now Stream Community Board Meetings
  2. College Affordability and Senior Health Fair Thank You
  3. Honoring Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and Sanford Meisner
  4. Working for More Pre-K Seats on the Upper East Side
  5. East 86th Street Neighborhood Association Meeting
  6. Right to Know Act Now in Effect
  7. Neighborhood Policing Comes to the 19th Precinct
  8. Cutting the Ribbon for Queens’ Newest Compost Site Serving Roosevelt Island
  9. Bike Safety: Folding Helmets
  10. Freakonomics of Government
  11. Harlem Educational Activities Fund
  12. Muslim Volunteers for New York Annual Food Drive
  13. New Affordable Housing Opportunity on West 30 Street
  14. Veterans Benefit Fair

 
OFFICE UPDATES

  1. Legislative Corner
  2. Fresh Food Box
  3. Free Legal Clinics      
  4. Here to Help
  5. Mobile District Hours
  6. Ben in Your Building
  7. Community Boards
  8. NYPD Events
  9. Neighborhood and Tenant Associations
  10. Events for Adults
  11. Events for Kids
OFFICE EVENTS 

Medicare Open Enrollment Event
11/1, 4PM – 6PM 

Fire Safety Education Presentation
11/8, 5PM – 6:30PM

Shred-A-Thon Thanksgiving Edition
11/18, 10AM – 2PM
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
11/1, 6:30PM – 9PM
 
MONTHLY EVENTS

First Friday
11/2, 8AM – 10AM

Fresh Food Box
11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 3:30PM – 6:30PM

Mobile District Hours
11/13 & 11/28, 11AM – 2PM



HEADLINES
 
Vote Tuesday and Flip Your Ballot


Vote tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6, and flip your ballot to vote on three proposals to amend the City Charter on the back. It has been almost 30 years since the City’s charter was updated so this is a once in a generation opportunity for New Yorkers to have their voices heard. 

You will be asked three questions:  The Campaign Finance amendments proposed in Question One are:
  • Halving contribution limits to participating candidates to a maximum of $2,000 citywide, $1,500 borough-wide, and $1,000 for City Council.
  • Matching each small dollar with 8 public dollars, up from 6.
  • Matching nearly every small dollar by giving candidates 75% of the money they need to run in public dollars up from only 55%.
Find and confirm your poll site using the poll site locator at https://nyc.pollsitelocator.com/search

Pledge to vote on both sides of your ballot on Tuesday, November 6 at BenKallos.com/charter/pledge
 

Tracking School Buses with GPS to Make Children Safer

As reported by PIX 11 News, I was joined in October by countless parents and advocates at a rally and hearing where we discussed legislation to fix the New York City Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT)’s issues getting kids to school and home on time and safely. No parent should have to wonder where their child is or when their child is finally getting home from a school bus ride gone off-track.
 
The bills I have proposed aim to fix the current state of affairs which has led to children getting lost and going on hours-long rides without parents knowing where the kids are:
  • Int. 1099 would install GPS trackers on all school buses so parents can track the school buses in real-time.
  • Int. 1148 would make bus routes available to parents at least 30 days before school starts, force trial runs, reporting annually on how yellow bus routes are determined, the number of buses and staff needed to meet those goals and recommendations for how buses can help improve access to academic opportunity and desegregate.
Together, these bills would help parents rest assured knowing when and where their school bus is going to pick up or drop off their child using an app on their phone. GPS tracking on school buses is technology that has been used effectively in school districts like Houston, Texas for years. There is no reason it should not work here.
 
Thank you to Council Member Chaim Deutsch and Education Committee Chair Mark Treyger for their support and work on this issue. The success we have in bringing attention to this problem would not have been possible without the advocacy of Advocates for Children of New York and The Law Offices of Regina Skyer and Associates. Learn more about this bill in the release, the press conference, or in coverage by the New York Daily News.

 
72 Proposals to Change Our City

It's time that the City's founding document its Charter be updated for the 21st century removing references to telegraphs or paying poll workers poverty wages of $1.25 an hour. Now that we've concluded the Mayor's Charter Revision Commission, the City Council is moving forward with its own Charter Revision Commission that will make proposals for the 2019 ballot, which has already started soliciting ideas to further improve the City Charter. Over the past few months, I have carried around a copy of the City Charter—reading and highlighting it—and I can tell you it is in desperate need of an overhaul.
 
Earlier this month I testified in front of this commission and submitted my list of 72 recommendation to improve the Charter with three main themes:
  1. Land Use: Empower communities in land use by changing the makeup of decision-making boards to have fewer mayoral appointments and include representation from the city council.
  2. Budget: Create a budget that anyone can review with budgeted amounts, actual spending, and a plan for the future, and create the lockbox we need to protect congestion pricing from unscrupulous politicians.
  3. Protect the Will of the People to Enshrine Campaign Finance and Ethics Reforms in the Charter: Reforms that are essential to the functioning of our democracy, established through previous referenda, local law, and city council rules, should be enshrined in the City Charter.
For a complete list of my recommendations submitted to this second revision commission separate from the Mayor’s commission visit BenKallos.com/charter2019


Protecting Public Health From Legionnaires & Dirty Water Towers

In 2015, a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in the Bronx was eventually connected to cooling towers in the neighborhoods where the deaths occurred. The 16 deaths and 130 cases were the impetus of Local Law 77, which sought to prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again. In the years since its passage, several legionnaires clusters have been discovered in neighborhoods around our City. In 2017, when we found a cluster of Legionnaires' on the Upper East Side it is this law that let us know where every tower was so that we could test them and stop the disease from spreading.
 
According to recent reporting by WNYC, half of the city’s cooling tower units remain out of compliance with Local Law 77. After working with WNYC’s reporter Sean Carlson I introduced new legislation requiring cooling tower owners to submit inspection results to the city as soon as they are received. The legislation, Introduction 1149 goes even further by forcing buildings to stay on top of upcoming inspection dates, with the City’s Health Department now required to send electronic reminders to cooling towers owners that cleanings are upcoming. A second bill, Introduction 1150, aims to prevent owners of buildings where water tanks are part of the drinking water supply from engaging in deceptive behaviors like not cleaning the towers until immediately before an inspection and then reporting results from after the cleaning.
 
If you are a resident in a building with a cooling tower or water tank, ask your building management to register online or review information on cooling tower registration and maintenance. Read coverage in WNYC.


$336,000 in Funding for Security Cameras on the Upper East Side

As reported by the New York Daily News, the Upper East Side is already known as a safe place to raise a family but with $336,000 in funding from my office to install security cameras in hard-to-patrol public spaces, it will be getting even safer. The locations for the security cameras were chosen in consultation with community organizations and the NYPD following a positive vote by hundreds of residents in Participatory Budgeting.
 
Location of new NYPD security cameras:
Hard-to-Patrol Parks - $160,000
  • 64th Street and FDR Drive to cover pedestrian bridge and Andrew Haswell Green - $35,000
  • FDR Drive at 65th Street and 68th Street to cover East River Esplanade - $90,000
  • 70th Street to cover the East River Esplanade - $35,000
Transit Hub - $141,000
  • 83rd Street and 2nd Avenue to cover Q subway station
  • 86th Street at 2nd Avenue to cover Q subway station
  • 86th Street at 3rd Avenue to cover 4/5/6 and Q subway stations
  • 86th Street and Lexington Avenue to cover 4/5/6 station
Quality of Life Hotspots - $35,000
  • 75th Street and 1st Avenue to cover local quality of life hotspot
The cameras are linked directly to the 19th precinct using fiber optics and the innovative ARGUS system with the intention to provide immediate police responses to criminal activity. NYPD officers are inconvenienced in patrols at the location due to it being only accessible via the pedestrian bridge on 63rd or 70th Street.
 
For more details on the new cameras along the East River Esplanade and on East 86th Street be sure to read Patch’s coverage or watch the press conference at BenKallos.com/videos

 
Roosevelt Island Breaks Ground on New Library

In October we finally broke ground on construction of the new library for Roosevelt Island. This is a project that had been stalled for years, dating back to before I was elected. I worked with Borough President Gale Brewer to put pressure on the City to get construction started. The project that started this year is now slated for completion in 2019.
 
The new building is an energy efficient 5,200-square building at 504 Main Street. Since I was elected I have secured $1.7 million for the Roosevelt Island Library to move to this new location and to bring technology upgrades to this branch. Thank you to New York Public Libraries President Tony Marx, RIOC President Susan Rosenthal, and to State representatives Serrano and Seawright for breaking ground with me. The new branch will be fully ADA accessible, with a canopy to enhance public safety and with automatic doors. The area surrounding the entry will be re-landscaped and an exterior book drop will be built. In addition, the library will serve as a local bus stop. Learn more in the release, watch the press conference or in coverage from Patch.


Denouncing Hate Groups on the Upper East Side

Violence, bigotry and anti-semitism have no place in our nation. This is why I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with my fellow elected officials at two separate press conferences as we worked with our NYPD to fully investigate and arrest members of a far-right group responsible for a brawl and beating that took place at a Republican Club just outside my district. Since the evening of October 12, when the violent brawl took place, the NYPD has arrested a total of 5 members of this group and continues to search for more. Thank you to Comptroller Stringer, Speaker Johnson, Assembly Member Quart, Council Member Powers, and all the elected officials who stood up against this incident and made sure the NYPD and the community at large were made aware that this type of behavior will never be tolerated here. Watch our press conferences at BenKallos.com/videos
 

OVERDEVELOPMENT
 
Sutton Super-Tall Construction Will Follow Community Rezoning as Court Case Proceeds

We won a victory in the fight against the Sutton Super-Tall Tower when the developer agreed to follow to the rules of the community’s rezoning for the first 150 feet which will be an enforced through an ordered by Judge Debra A. James. This was the result of oral arguments by Michael Hiller the attorney for ERFA and myself, who I joined for oral argument on October 12. This means if there is any construction before 2019, the building will adhere to tower on base standards, which require 45 to 55 percent of the building to be built below 150 feet, thus limiting the height of the building. The developer cannot start building a tower and then claim it is too late to reverse course if and when we win our case. The next court hearing is slated for early December.

Read coverage in The Real Deal and Manhattan Express. Join the fight against overdevelopment and super-tall towers in residential neighborhoods by donating at ERFA.nyc/donate
 

Rally For Our Neighborhoods Draws 300 Activists

It was truly a breath of fresh air seeing community members and activists from all over New York City come together and protest in front of City Hall against overdevelopment and how it is damaging our City. This is an issue which I have led advocacy on for years, successfully winning the first-of-its-kind grassroots rezoning of an entire neighborhood. Thank you to organizations like Human Scale, ERFA, Central Park West Neighbors, and Residents for Reasonable Development for organizing and pushing the event. Join the fight against overdevelopment at BenKallos.com/petition/stop-super-scrapers
 

Scaffolding Bill Update: Structure Removed after 14 Years  

There is no reason scaffolding should be up in front of a building for 14 years. As reported by Curbed, one of New York City’s longest standing eyesores was finally taken down in October after being up for way over a decade. The scaffolding was located in Harlem on Lenox Avenue and West 123rd Street. Under the legislation I have introduced and fought for, building owners would have up to 90 days to fix dangerous facade conditions and an additional 90 days for owners to fix dangerous conditions upon extension. After the 180 days, the city would step in to do the work correcting any dangerous condition and bill the owner for all the costs. Under the current version of this legislation, new construction would need to continue without more than seven days of interruption until the new development is safely capped off or completed. Exemptions in the legislation provide for weather, stop work orders, time awaiting permit renewals or in cases of safety risks. For more information on the bill see coverage in  The New York Times,  PIX11, FOX 5, New York 1.
 


NOVEMBER EVENT INVITES
 
Understanding Your Ballot

Watch WNET for a panel discussion hosted by Community Board 8 on November 1st at 6:30 pm. The educational townhall is an effort to help the public understand the choices available in the upcoming Charter Revision vote on Election Day. Other members of the panel include Comptroller Scott Stringer and Borough President Gale Brewer. The discussion will be moderated by Gotham Gazette Executive Editor Ben Max. For more information call 212 758-4340 or visit Info@CB8m.com
 
Understanding Your Ballot
November 1, 6:30PM-9PM
P.S. 59 Auditorium
233 East 56th Street
RSVP
 

Medicare Open Enrollment Event

The Medicare Rights Center and I invite you to participate in an Enrollment Awareness Event. Find out what you need to know about the Medicare Fall Open Enrollment period. Get connected to programs that help pay the costs associated with Medicare.
  • Medicare eligibility, costs, and coverage
  • Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help for the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit
Medicare Open Enrollment Event
November 1, 4PM - 6PM
Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center
415 East 9rd Street.
RSVP

 
Fire Safety Education Presentation

Fire safety educators from the New York City Fire Department will present a training focused on the most common causes of fire and fire injuries in the home. Educators will provide information on how to prevent fires and what to do in case of fire.
 
Fire Safety Education Presentation
November 8, 5PM-6:30PM
District Office
244 East 93rd Street
RSVP


Shred-A-Thon Thanksgiving Edition

I am looking forward to this year’s Shred-A-Thon Thanksgiving edition. Make sure you arrive early and have everything you want to be shredded prepared and ready to go. Bring any and all of your old personal documents that you no longer want laying around. Get them destroyed and protect your privacy and identity. You bring the paper and the giant shredder truck turns it into micro bits while you watch!  You can also bring compost, eyeglasses, corks, batteries and cords.
 
Shred-A-Thon
Sunday, November 18, 10AM - 2PM
92nd Street Greenmarket (at First Avenue)
RSVP
 

Night Life Office Town Hall

On Wednesday, November 28 at 5:30pm, I will be helping the newly minted Office of Nightlife continue its five-borough listening tour hearing from nightlife stakeholders regarding their issues, priorities, and ideas. At this event, agency officials will be available to listen to issues and ideas from the public, as well as to respond to any clarifying questions if necessary but not in a questions and answer format.
 
Night Life Office Town Hall
Wednesday, November 28
5:30PM - 8:00PM
The Town Hall
123 West 43rd Street


FIGHTING FOR WORKERS RIGHTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
 
Small Business Jobs Survival Act

It is no secret that small businesses are struggling in Manhattan and other parts of New York City. In October, I worked with local activists and small business owners to voice our demand for passage of the Small Business Jobs Survival Act. This bill would require property owners to offer minimum 10-year lease renewals to commercial tenants, among other measures. Small businesses have been pivotal for the growth of our city, they are crucial to making New York City a treasured place to work and visit.
 
The Small Business Jobs Survival Act would work by bringing the following reforms:
  • A minimum 10-year lease with the right to renew, so small businesses can better plan for the future of their business.
  • Equal negotiation terms when it comes time to renew commercial leases with recourse to binding arbitration by a 3rd party if fair terms cannot be found.
  • Restrictions to prevent landlords from passing their property taxes on to small business owners.
 For more information on the legislation and the recent hearing and press conferences in support of the bill read Patch.

 
Building Service Awards with 32BJ and Our Town

It was an honor to present Kristina Bellamy with the 2018 Helping Hand Award at the 32BJ Building Service Workers Awards. Thank you to 32BJ SEIU President Hector J. Figueroa for standing with me to hand out the award in service to the men and women of 32BJ. A special thank you to Our Town for putting on this event and making out building workers feel appreciated.

 
Count Me In Rally

When developers receive billions in government giveaways it is important that everyone receive a benefit including those constructing the building. I was proud to join construction workers calling for better wages, health benefits and the opportunity to one day retire as part of the year's long “Count Me In” campaign.

 
Fighting for Postdoctoral Student Worker Rights at Columbia University

I was proud to stand up for the graduate student workers at Columbia University in October. As co-chair of the Council’s Progressive Caucus, I hand-delivered a letter on behalf of the workers to University President Lee Bollinger and members of the Columbia University Board of Trustees urging them to begin negotiations with elected representatives of these workers who have voted to engage in collective bargaining. Recently, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) verified that postdoctoral researchers voted decisively – 68% – in favor of unionization.  The latest count indicates that 5,000 researchers and teachers have now voted by a more than 2 to 1 margin for UAW representation at Columbia University. I have supported the graduate workers’ efforts to unionize in the past, including their strike in April. I support the right of these workers to unionize with the goal of enhancing their ability to provide quality teaching and research at Columbia.

 
Working to Get Prevailing Wages for Building Workers

New York City’s building workers, whether in co-ops, condos, or in NYCHA facilities, are really what make life in the city possible. They deserve to be paid adequately and fairly. I rallied with a group of workers outside of City Hall calling on the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to pay their workers a prevailing wage. Any development that is being run by or getting subsidies from City government should be paying more than minimum wage. By paying City workers minimum wage instead of a prevailing wage, the city itself is creating workers that will only be able to afford public housing or need some kind of housing subsidy. As chair of the Committee on Planning and Dispositions, I have made it my business to ensure that any developer getting tax breaks from the City pays workers a prevailing wage. The City needs to renegotiate and do the same. Watch the press rally at BenKallos.com/videos


 
COMMUNITY

You Can Now Stream Community Board Meetings

After receiving requests from residents and Community Board 8 to stream their meetings live online, I allocated $20,000 in this year’s budget to put the Community Board. As of October 2018, a longtime partner of the community board public broadcast station WNET will professionally record and broadcast the full board meetings via youtube. For at least the next 12 months, the public will be able to watch full board meetings online. For information on the allocation and the work and cooperation, it took to make this happen to see the coverage in Patch or read the release on BenKallos.com/press-releases


Senior Health Event and College Affordability Forum Thank You

Thank you to everyone who attended last month’s Annual Senior Health Fair with Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright. Many Upper East Side residents turned out to receive no-cost flu shots among other services. A special thank you to the York Avenue Ramblers for keeping the music going throughout the event
 
Also last month, I also partnered with New York State Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright at our College Affordability Forum to discuss programs for affordable college in New York and the Excelsior scholarship program requirements.
 
The event was hosted by Eleanor Roosevelt High School and saw good turnout despite the torrential rains. The team of experts did an excellent job informing prospective students and parents on the many programs available to New Yorkers and how to best apply for the Excelsior program. For more information on the Excelsior Scholarship and how you or your loved ones may qualify visit ny.gov/programs/tuition-free-degree-program-excelsior-scholarship
 
If you missed the event but are still interested, watch the panel discussion at BenKallos.com/videos

 
Honoring Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and Sanford Meisner

Congratulations to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre on their 90th Anniversary and to Sanford Meisner on their legacy of bringing the arts to our community and New York City as a whole. From a small class of students starting in 1915, the playhouse and the late Meisner have made a significant cultural impact on the city with a list of incredibly talented alumnus. It was truly a privilege to honor Meisner with a proclamation, who joined the playhouse in 1935 and rose to head of the program in 1940 and the theatre as a whole with a proclamation from my office. His famous Meisner technique for acting has since been used by actors around the world. Thank you to Pamela Moller Kareman, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Playhouse, for the invitation and for helping me honor the organization. For more information read coverage in a story by Broadway World or watch the video of me presenting the proclamation to the theatre at BenKallos.com/videos

 
Working for More Pre-K Seats on the Upper East Side

Manhattan Express profiled my work my office has done to achieve the number of Pre-K seats our neighborhood has finally reached roughly 950 seats. In the last year, hundreds of seats have been added with new locations on Third Avenue and East 95th Street and on East 57th Street and East 82nd Street. In the coming year, another Pre-K Center will be opening on East 76th Street with an additional 180 seats — bringing the total of new seats to more than 450 in two years.
 
I am proud of this accomplishment but we have more to do. Based on 2015 and 2016 numbers detailing birth rates on the Upper East Side and the City’s expansion into 3K we will need over 5,000 seats in just a few years. If you need help with Pre-K admissions and applications or are looking for information on seats call my office at 212-860-1950 or email UPK@BenKallos.com

 
East 86th Street Neighborhood Association Meeting

Thank you to the East 86th Street Neighborhood Association for having me at their annual meeting in October. I spoke to residents about the recent changes by the NYPD toward Neighborhood Policing at the 19th Precinct and about ongoing construction at East 86th Street. I also had the chance to update the community on the recent progress on our efforts to create a business improvement district for the East 86th Street business corridor. Residents also asked questions about how the City Council is planning to help out small business and how Select Buses in the district have improved commutes. Thank you to East 86th Street Neighborhood Association leaders Elaine Walsh, Susan Gottridge, and Andrew Fine for extending the invite and keeping my office and staff up to date on conditions in his part of the District.

 
Right to Know Act is Now in Effect

As of October 19, the Right to Know Act is in effect in New York City. Passed in January, this new law serves as a start to the further conversation about civilian rights in police stops and aims to curb law-abiding citizens unnecessary encounters with police. This pair of laws which I supported and believed in since its inception works in the following ways to reform:
Consent to Search law -- When NYPD officers have no legal justification to search you, your vehicle or your home, they should not search you unless they get your “voluntary, knowing and intelligent” consent. This means that in these situations, officers should not search you unless:
  • The officers asks for your consent
  • The officer informs you that a search won’t be conducted without your consent & checks to make sure you understand
  • You give your consent.
NYPD ID law -- Requires that in certain situations officers should
  • Tell you their name, rank, command and the reason they are interrupting your day.
  • At the end of those interactions, if they have not given you a summons or arrested you, they should give you a business card that has their name, rank, and badge number, and their command.
The law is part of a city council response to real concerns for the aggressive stop-and-frisk tactics that often lead to misuses of power. It is a law that I have always thought is necessary and will improve relations between communities and the NYPD.
 
For more information about the Right to Know Act, visit https://www.changethenypd.org/RightToKnowAct/news

 
Neighborhood Policing Comes to the 19th Precinct
 
Neighborhood Policing is now key to the 19th Precinct’s policing philosophy. I was able to attend the NYPD rollout event in October; their officers explained that the program is an effort to create a working relationship between the community and the police department.  Going forward, two neighborhood coordination officers, or NCOs, will be assigned to each of the 19th Precinct 4 sectors and will be serving as community liaisons.  For the sectors that cover our neighborhoods. Our NCOs are Sargeant Sandy Rodriguez, Officer Michael Haigh, Officer Bryan White, Officer  James Cebulski, Officer Tarik Hunter, Officer  Stephan Koustoubardis, Officer  Lorraine Wade, Officer  Lori Murray, Officer  Daniel Pardo, Officer Donald Aridas, and Officer Thomas Seickendick.

 
Cutting the Ribbon for Queens’ Newest Compost Site Serving Roosevelt Island

Just across the East River, I celebrated the opening of a new composting site in western Queens with Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. This composting site, which sits directly under the Queensboro Bridge, is the City’s latest to collect compost so that we can achieve zero waste sooner. Thank you to Big Reuse Executive Director Justin Green for inviting me and for all the good work his organization is doing to reuse and cut back on waste. Watch the press conference and ribbon cutting at BenKallos.com/videos

 
Bike Safety: Folding Helmets

 Since I am always on the go, I have grown to rely on using Citibike to get from places to place in a hurry. I also believe safety is always first and do my best to carry helmet a helmet around just in case. After lugging around a giant helmet, I invested in a crowd-sourced campaign to create of a  folding helmet. I had the pleasure of meeting the founder, Jeff Woolf this month. Jeff and I discussed how we can get more riders to wear helmets. If you want a free (non-folding) helmet from my office in April of 2019 stay tuned to our newsletter and visit BenKallos.com/events


Freakonomics of Government  

Award-winning author, journalist and radio personality Stephen Dubner of the famed books and podcast Freakonomics joined me to discuss how we could collaborate with many of the experts from his coverage to make New York City even better. We also discussed how he uses story telling to make topics like "economics" interesting and how we can do the same for some of the topics we address like campaign finance and ethics reform. We concluded by discussing how to say "I am sorry," why politicians are so bad at it, and whether it is a choke. As a fan, listener, and elected official I look forward to the next inspiration for great public policy.

Harlem Educational Activities Fund Government  Cyber Security Panel 

Last month I had a chance to sit down and discuss career paths in government with a group of 10th-grade students at the Harlem Education Activities Fund, or HEAF. For over 29 years, HEAF has provided opportunities to underserved students throughout the City; as a result of the Fund’s work, 100 percent of their student's complete high school and 83 percent earn bachelor degrees. My fellow panelists were AIG’s Global Head of Cybersecurity Tracie Grella, Former Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing, Deputy Borough President Matthew Washington, and Bloomberg Security Architect Jason Rouse. Together, we shared our stories and what led us to choose our careers. I was especially impressed by the caliber of questions that the students asked and I could tell that the class of 2020 will have a bright future. If you want to check out the event Benkallos.com/videos


Muslim Volunteers for New York Annual Food Drive

Muslim Volunteers for New York will be collecting donations as part of its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive from November 1st through the 10th. This year’s drive for the very first time will benefit the West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) in addition to the New York Common Pantry and City Meals on Wheels. Each of the beneficiaries serves a unique need for our food insecure communities and Muslim Volunteers for New York is doing a wonderful job to partnering with each of these amazing organizations!


New Affordable Housing Opportunity on West 30th Street

107 units of affordable housing have been set aside for very low-income and low-income wage earners at 553 West 30th Street in Chelsea. The units are available for household sizes of 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the applications must be completed and submitted December 13, 2018. For more information, visit: a806-housingconnect.nyc.gov/nyclottery/lottery.html#current-projects

 
Veterans Benefit Fair



As we get ready to observe Veterans Day this November, the New York City Department of Finance and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office will be hosting Veterans Benefits Fair on November 14 from 4pm–7pm.  The fair will teach veterans about all the benefits the City and the Federal Government offer to them.
 
Veterans Benefit Fair
Wednesday, November 14, 4pm–7pm
Municipal Building
1 Centre Street, North Mezzanine

 
OFFICE UPDATES
 
Legislative Corner
 
This month I cosponsored two bills that became law, both about improving how and where the City creates new schools Int 0757-2018, sponsored by Council Member Gibson, creates an interagency task force on school siting that will identify potential city-owned properties for school siting and identify vacant lots that may be good candidates for school siting.
 
Int 0461-2018, sponsored by Council Member Dromm, continues this greater cooperation among city agencies by requiring the Department of Education and the School Construction Authority to be notified by other city agencies when city-owned or leased property of an adequate size is determined to have no current use. This way, DOE and SCA can evaluate whether these properties are suitable for a new school.

 
Fresh Food Box Season Ends Before Thanksgiving
 
The Fresh Food Box at my district office continues in November. This resident favorite which began as a pilot program between my office and GrowNYC two years ago has served hundreds of Upper East Siders looking to get locally grown farm fresh vegetables at an affordable price.
Fresh Food Box takes place at my district office on Thursdays 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, between 3:30pm and 6:30pm. The program allows you to place your order and pay just $14 (cash, credit/debit, SNAP/food stamps, greenmarket bucks) and pick up a bag of farm fresh produce the following week.
GrowNYC's Fresh Food Box Program lets customers benefit from fresh farm to table produce from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, with the flexibility of week-to-week purchasing.
Sign-ups begin every year in June and the season runs through November. Learn more visit grownyc.org/greenmarketco/foodbox

 
Free Legal Clinics
 
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.

           
Here to Help
 
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 bkallos@benkallos.com with any unresolved 311 complaints.

 
Mobile District Hours
 
Get assistance wherever in the district you are when we bring our office to you. Please join us at monthly mobile district hours from 11am–2pm:  
Ben in Your Building
 
The "Ben in Your Building Program" is a chance to discuss issues of importance to you and your neighbors in person, in your home. 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, sanitation issues and you name it. Please schedule a "Ben in Your Building" today by calling 212-860-1950 or email Scheduler@BenKallos.com

 
Community Boards
 
11/1: Community Board 11 Environment, Open Space & Parks Committee
6:30pm, CB11 Board Office 1664 Park Avenue
 
11/5: Community Board 6 Transportation Committee Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU College of Dentistry), Room 210
 
11/5 Community Board 11 Public Safety & Transportation Committee
6:30pm, Bonifacio Senior Center  7 East 116th Street
 
11/5: Community Board 8 Landmark’s Committee
6:30pm, New York Blood Center Conference Rm 1&2 310 East 67th
 
11/5: Community Board 8 Youth, Education, and Libraries Committee
6:30pm, Community Board 8 Office 505 Park Avenue Suite 620
 
11/5: Community Board 8 Street Life Committee
6:30pm, CUNY Hunter College – Glass Cafe 695 Park Ave, 3rd Floor
 
11/5 Community Board 11 Housing Committee
6:30pm, CB11 Board Office 1664 Park Avenue
 
11/7: Community Board 8 Transportation Committee
6:30pm, New York Blood Center Auditorium 310 E 67th
Update by the Department of Transportation regarding the M79 Select Bus Service and addition crosstown bike lanes and discussion regarding congestion pricing.
 
11/7: Community Board 6 Parks, Landmarks, and Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU College of Dentistry), Room 210
 
11/7: Community Board 11 Land Use, Landmarks & Planning Committee
6:30pm, Bonifacio Senior Center  7 East 116th Street
 
11/8: Community Board 8 Parks and Recreation Committee
6:30pm, New York Blood Center Auditorium 310 E 67th
Ferry Presentation by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Hornblower New York.
 
11/8: Community Board 11 Human Services Committee
6:30pm, CB11 Board Office 1664 Park Avenue
 
11/13: Community Board 11 Youth & Education Committee
6:30pm, CB11 Board Office 1664 Park Avenue
 
11/13: Community Board 11 Economic Development & Culture
6:30pm, Bonifacio Senior Center  7 East 116th Street
 
11/13: Community Board 6 Business Affairs and Street Activities Committee Meeting
7:00pm, CB6 Board Office - 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite 1404
 
11/14: Community Board 6 Full Board Meeting
7:00pm, 433 1st Avenue (NYU College of Dentistry), Room 210
 
11/14: Community Board 8 Land Use and Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, New York Blood Center Auditorium 310 E 67th
Public Session – Those who wish to speak during the Public Session must register to do so by 6:45 pm
 
11/19: Community Board 6 Housing, Homeless, & Human Rights Committee Meeting
6:30pm, CB6 Board Office - 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite 1404
 
11/20: Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting
6:30pm, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 1468 Madison Avenue
 
11/28: Community Board 8 Housing Committee, Joint with the Committees on Zoning and Development and Health, Seniors, and Social Services
6:30pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center 415 East 93rd Street, Dining Room A & B
NYCHA Infill efforts at Holmes Towers will be discussed

 
NYPD Events

11/27: 17th Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, Sutton Place Synagogue, 224 E 51st Street
11/5: 19th Precinct Community Council
7:00pm-8:00pm, 19th Precinct Station House, 153 E 67th Street
11/28: 23rd Precinct Community Council
6:00pm-7:00pm, 23rd Precinct Station House, 164 E 102nd Street
 

Neighborhood and Tenant Association Meetings  
 
Second Wednesday, 11/14: Lexington Houses Tenant Association
6:00pm, 1539 Lexington Avenue
 
First Wednesday, 11/7: Roosevelt Island Residents Association Common Council Meeting
8:00 pm-10:00 pm, Good Shepherd (Downstairs), 543 Main Street
 
Second Tuesday, 11/13: Stanley Isaacs Tenant Associations
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street
 
Third Tuesday, 11/20: Holmes Towers Tenant Association
7:00 pm, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, 415 East 93rd Street
 
Thursday 11/15: East 79th Street Neighborhood Association
6:00pm-8:00pm, Temple Shaaray Tefila, 250 East 79th Street
 

Events for Kids

11/1: Early Literacy- Family Storytime
11:00 am-12:00 pm, Webster Library
Toddlers from birth to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, 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.
 
11/2 Free Book Friday: Children & Teens
3:30 pm, 96th Street Library
Children and teens will have a chance to browse a selection of books and take some home to keep. Picture books, middle grade fiction (for ages 8 to 12), and YA fiction are all available. Refreshments will be served. While supplies last!
 
11/3: Wreck It Ralph
2:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Wreck It Ralph Saturday November 3rd, 2018 2 Hours Arcade-game character Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) is tired of always being the "bad guy" and losing to his "good guy" opponent, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer).
 
11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24: Read to Our New York Therapy Dog!
10:30 am, 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. For ages 5 and up. Available every Saturday!
 
11/5: Preschool Storytime- Petite Picasso
4:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Read aloud and messy art projects for young children. Wear your art clothes. Smocks will be provided. Limited to 24 participants.
 
11/5: The Rock Show
4:00 pm, Yorkville Library
Join Preschool of Rock for The Rock Show! Filled with non-stop action and hip-shaking music, the children and families will be thrilled! Best for ages 0-8 years old with parent/caregiver.
11/7, 11/14: Preschool Storytime- Petite Picasso
10:30 am, 11:15 am, 96th Street Library
Read aloud and messy art projects for young children. Wear your art clothes. Smocks will be provided. Limited to 24 participants.
 
11/8, 11/15, 11/29: Early Literacy- Family Storytime
11:30 am-12:00 pm, Webster Library
Toddlers from birth to 3 years and their parents/caregivers can enjoy interactive stories, action songs, fingerplays, 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.
 
11/13: Bilingual Birdies- Mandarin
11:00 am, 67th St. Library
Bilingual Birdies will take families on a magical journey to learn words in Mandarin and explore fun new themes like eating healthy food, the changing colors of the leaves, and how to identify different shapes! This program is for children birth to age six and the class is rooted in live music, movement, dance, and puppetry. Bilingual Birdies celebrates different cultures in a time that is very important to embrace diversity.
 
11/14: Big Talks: Bullying
4:00 pm, Webster Library
Most teens have experience with bullying, whether you're a victim, a bystander, or a bully. Come engage in conversations about how we treat each other. What does bullying look like? Why does it happen? What can YOU do? For ages 13-18 years old. Presented by Tara Abrol
 
11/13, 11/20, 11/27: Adult Coloring
11:00 am, 96th St. Library
Looking for a new way to relax? Enjoy the sublime pleasure of coloring. Coloring sheets, crayons, coloring pencils, and reading materials will be provided to participants by the library.
 
11/15: Early Literacy- Songs of Autumn
11:00 am, Roosevelt Island Library
Join children's musician Ian Hayes for an autumn-themed sing-a-long! Bring your toddlers and little ones for an interactive music show to welcome the heat with song and dance. Fun for the whole family! Best for children ages 2 to 4 with parent/caregiver. Presented by Urban Stages
 
11/15: Film- Portrait of Jennie (1948)
2:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Portrait of Jennie (1948) 86 min., b&w, William Dieterle, Dir. Starring Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten. A painter meets a girl in the park one day who may or may not be real but who does inspire him to continue painting, though he may be destroyed by falling in love in the process. ADMISSION FREE
 
11/16: Storytime for Kids 2-6
10:30 am, 421 East 61st Street
This month’s Storytime will explore different types of hats through history. Listen to hat themed stories and look for hats in the museum. Afterward make a pilgrim hat or bonnet to wear home. Free for caregivers and children.
11/20, 11/27: Free Play
4:00 pm, 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


Events for Adults

11/1, 11/3, 11/8, 11/10, 11/15, 11/17, 11/24, 11/29: Computer Tutoring
Saturdays: Noon, 2:00pm; Thursdays: 5:30pm, 67th St. Library
Join us for an one-on-one tutoring sessions! Stop by the branch to sign up for one of our help sessions and get a personal tutor at your service! This program will run every Thursday and Saturday. Space is limited.
10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26: Quiet Study Rooms ()
10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26: Quiet Study Rooms (Fridays)
10:00am-3:00pm, 67th St Library
10:00am-3:00pm, 67th St Library
No talking, no cell phone, and no noise are required in our quiet study room. This room is open thanks to our volunteers, and is subject to their availability.
 
11/1: Prostate Cancer Support Group
12:00 pm, 430 East 67th Street
This program is for people who have been treated for cancer. No observers, please, without prior approval.
11/1, 11/8: Financial Empowerment Workshop
6:00 pm-8:00 pm, 331 East 70th Street
Learn how to take control of your finances at our free Financial Empowerment Workshop! You will be able to see and learn how to read your Credit Report, meet one-on-one with a financial adviser for individualized advice, open a free savings account and more.
 
11/1: Politics of Food Summit
Baruch College, 55 Lexington Ave
City & State and partners will convene leaders in government, public policy, and industry, to discuss all forms of food programs, sustainability and policy issues in New York. The 2018 Politics of Food conference will bring together over 250 policy makers, innovators and leaders from diverse fields to tackle the most important policy, management and leadership issues affecting New York's food policy efforts and program.
 
11/1: Film The man Who Would Be King (1975)
2:00 pm, 96th Street Library
The Man Who Would be King (1975) 129 min., color, John Houston, Dir. Starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer. Based on the story by Rudyard Kipling.
 
11/1: Jazz @ NYPL
4:30 pm, 96th Street Library
Presented by the Jazz Foundation of America, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

11/1: East Side Candidates Forum
5:30 pm-7:30 pm, 331 East 70th Street
Get to know your candidates before Election Day at our nonpartisan forum featuring candidates running for office: New York State Senate District 28: State Senator Liz Krueger & Peter Holmberg, New York State Assembly District 76: State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (invited) & Lou Puliafito.

11/1: Urban Beekeeping
6:30 pm, House of the Redeemer
Guillermo Fernandez, Director of The Honeybee Conservancy and an urban beekeeper, will talk about how urban beekeeping has the potential to not only support healthy bee populations, but also support healthy urban communities.

11/3: ACT Practice Exam
10:00 am, Yorkville Library
Take a full-length practice test under timed conditions. A proctored practice exam will help your child build testing endurance and give you a real-time snapshot of their testing performance. To register: https://www.revolutionprep.com/partners/137966/ or contact Elizabeth Willard at 917-983-9069 and elizabeth.willard@revolutionprep.com.

11/4: 5th Annual GreenPark Gardener NYC Pumpkin Smash
1:00 pm-4:00 pm, East River Esplanade- 63rd & York Avenue
Only heroic Marathon stragglers left on First… So grab that soon-to-be-moldy Halloween jack-o-lantern and head down to the Esplanade for the Great Smashing of Pumpkins. That’ll thereafter become compost gold! After-Smash treats for one and all! Doesn’t get more fun or green!

11/5, 11/19: Tour of Gracie Mansion
10:00 am-11:50 am, 5:00 pm-5:50 pm, Carl Schurz Park
Gracie Mansion Conservancy presents New York 1942. Our newest installation marking the 75th Anniversary of Gracie Mansion as the official mayoral residence.

11/5, 11/19: Yorkville Writing Circle
5:15 pm, Yorkville Library
Writers of all genres and styles, at all levels, are welcome to participate. No sign-ups required. For adults (ages 18 and up) For more information, please email: YorkvilleWritingCircle@gmail.com

11/5: Transforming Central Park
5:30 pm, 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.

Every Tuesday: Community Supported Agriculture Boxes from GROWNYC
3:30 pm-6:30 pm, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
Year-round at the Center @ Lenox Hill Neighborhood House you can pick up your own Community Supported Agriculture box of high quality, farm fresh produce at below retail prices! For only $15, receive $20-$30 worth of fresh greens & fruit every week. CSA shares must be purchased a week in advance. For more information, please email Site Coordinator Abby Lee at alee@grownyc.org.
 
11/6: Join DOROT & St. Agnes Library for 1960’s NYC 16mm Film Screening
5pm, DOROT 171 West 85th Street
Two short films which examine the phenomenon of protests. The first explores anti-war protests in the period before America's entry into World War II to the Vietnamese conflict. The second explores the student protest and strike at Columbia University. A discussion facilitated by staff from the New York Public Library to follow.To register, contact Shannon O’Connor at (917) 441-3745 or sundaysandevenings@dorotusa.org
 
11/6: Science Fiction Book Discussion
6:30 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Book discussion on Chocky by John Wyndham

Every Wednesday: Lenox Hill Snap Assistance Clinics
10:00 am-1:00 pm, 331 east 70th Street
Recent changes have expanded SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) eligibility in New York City, so more individuals and families are eligible for SNAP benefits than ever before. If you are interested in determining whether you are eligible for SNAP benefits, come to our Snap Assistance Clinics.

11/7: Shakespeare From Page to Stage
11:30 am, Webster Library
Shakespeare: From Page to Stage explores the Bard's work, not purely as literature, but as plays created to be performed. The workshop will look at Shakespeare's work as a process that moves from page to performance, exploring the methods directors and actors use to analyze, interpret, penetrate, and activate the world of the play.

11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28: Learn to Play Chess For Adults
2:00 pm, Webster Library
Learn to play the most popular game ever: A game of strategy and problem solving. Whether you are beginner or a more advanced player you can learn the strategies that will make you a better chess player.

11/7: Author Talk
5:30 pm, Yorkville Library
Join the Yorkville Library in welcoming Helen Trepelkov and her book Postgraduate Studies in Motherhood.
 
11/7: Friends of the Upper East Side Book Launch
6:30 pm, 215 East 71st Street
We are thrilled to finally share Shaped by Immigrants: A History of Yorkville with you! Prepare for a night of celebration, discussion, and the screening of an original documentary mini-series produced by FRIENDS of the Upper East Side. Be one of the first to enjoy the finished product for yourself, or as a gift for one of the Yorkville fans in your life. Books will be for sale for the very first time at the event, and online to follow. Active FRIENDS members will receive a special discount on all book purchases.
 
11/8: Fim- The Narrow Margin
2:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Double Feature, 1st film at 2 PM, 2nd film at 3:10 PM. The Narrow Margin (1952) 71 min., b&w, Richard Fleischer, Dir. Starring Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, Jacqueline White.

11/8: Bladder Cancer Support Group
12:00 pm, 430 East 67th Street
This program is for people who have been treated for cancer. No observers, please, without prior approval.

11/8: Book Discussion Group
6:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Join us to discuss Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi About the book: First novel by the author of Americanah.

Wednesdays and Fridays: Learn to Play Chess For Adults
Wednesdays 2:00 pm, Fridays 3:00 pm, Webster Library
Learn to play the most popular game ever: A game of strategy and problem solving. Whether you are beginner or a more advanced player you can learn the strategies that will make you a better chess player.
 
11/8: Historical Lecture- Richard Panchyk
6:30 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society presents a lecture by Richard Panchyk, author of Hidden History of Queens.
 
11/9: Film- Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
2:00 pm, 96th Street Library
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 2 hours 35 minutes, PG-13 Friday, November 9, 2018 96th Street Branch Library Basement Nobleman crusader Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) breaks out of a Jerusalem prison with the help of Moorish fellow prisoner Azeem (Morgan Freeman) and travels back home to England.
 
11/9: Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden, Greek Myths and Today’s Culture
12:30pm, 421 East 61st Street
In conjunction with our current exhibit, "Style, Myth and Modernity in Greek Revival New York," we will debate the idea that the Greek tragedies can offer relevant insights for us today, an idea also proposed by 19th-century New Yorkers.
Refreshments included. Free with admission.
 
11/9: Lunchtime Lecture
12:30 pm, 421 East 61st Street
In conjunction with the current exhibit, “Style, Myth and Modernity in Greek Revival New York” we will debate the idea that the Greek tragedies can offer relevant insights for us today, an idea also proposed by 19th-century New Yorkers.Refreshments included. Free with admission.
11/10: Cello Alone
3:00 pm, Webster Library
Be soothed by the sounds of music! Join cellist Tomas Ulrich as he plays selections from works by JS Bach, Jeremy Beck, Gaspar Cassado, Paul Hindemith and Tomas Ulrich.
 
11/11: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
2:00 pm, 331 East 70th Street
Flamenco Vivo’s performances use the rich and powerful art form of Spanish dance and music to build understanding and communication between people of different cultures.

11/13, 11/20, 11/27: Word for Beginners
3:00 pm, 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.

11/13: Bring Your Own Poem
4:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Bring a poem you love and one you've written to the library for a workshop in which we'll discuss each other's poems and suggest ways to make them more awesome than they are already.

11/13: Lenox Hill Neighborhood House DRIE Clinic / Disability Rent Increase Exemption 
1:30pm-4pm by appointment only
Do you have a disability and need help with Rent?
Do you pay more than 1/3 og your income towards rent?
IS YOUR ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $50,000 OR LESS?
For an appointment or information, contact us at
DRIE@lenoxhill.org or 212-218-0503, option 0
Find out if you are eligible for DRIE, get assiatance applying or recertifying

11/13: Historic Cooking Workshop- 19th Century Jumbles
6:30 pm, 421 East 61st Street
Cook and eat your way through history! When Andrew Jackson defeated Henry Clay in the 1832 Presidential election, it was more than his populist message which helped him at the ballot box. American women had been baking cookies, affectionately dubbing them Jackson Jumbles to hand out to citizens and influence the vote. The other side was busy baking too–and Clay Jumbles had a fair run, but didn’t emerge the winner. See which you like better, and get some ideas on how to swing the next election. $20 Adults, $15 Members and Students with ID.

11/13: Gynecologic Cancer Support Group
3:30 pm, 430 East 67th Street
This is a support and discussion group for women who have completed treatment for gynecological cancer. Discussion topics include diet and nutrition, adjusting to physical changes, and managing anxiety.

11/14: Transitioning to Research Independence-Mentoring
4:00 pm-5:00 pm, 1300 York Avenue
The seminar series presented by Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, will include 8 sessions and will cover topics such as the nuts and bolts of seeking a faculty position, considerations for establishing a lab, strategies for leading and managing a research group, securing funding, and mentoring trainees. This course is open to all postdocs and students at Rockefeller University, Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

11/14: Yorkville Writing Circle
4:30 pm, Yorkville Library
Writers of all genres and styles, at all levels, are welcome to participate. No sign-ups required. For adults (ages 18 and up) For more information, please email: YorkvilleWritingCircle@gmail.com

11/14: Author Talk- Barren Island by Carol Zoref
5:30 pm, Webster Library
Join author and professor Carol Zoref for a discussion of and reading from her novel, Barren Island.

11/15: Reel Classics- Funny Girl
4:00 pm, Webster Library
Webster Library Presents: Funny Girl A life of Fanny Brice, famed comedian and entertainer of the early 1900s. We see her rise to fame as a Ziegfield girl, subsequent career, and her personal life, particularly her relationship with Nick Arnstein.
 
11/15: Book Discussion; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
6:30 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
 
11/17: Year-Round Volunteer Gardening
9:30 am - 12:30 pm, 86th Street at East End
Join neighbors and friends and pitch in at this fun, local event!
 
11/17: WWI Film Series- Hearts of the World
2:00 pm, Webster Library
Commemorate the centennial of the end of World War I with Webster Library! Join us for Hearts of the World.
 
11/17: Time Management Strategies
2:00 pm, Yorkville Library
Want to reduce stress, accomplish more in less time and enjoy greater freedom to do the things you love? Do you want a greater feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment in your daily life? You are not alone! Speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, Barbara Phillips, will share practical strategies that have the power to change your life!

11/17: Clone of Popular Films: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Creed 2 hours 13 minutes, PG-13 Saturday, November 17, 2018 96th Street Branch Library Basement Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born. However, boxing is in his blood, so he seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and asks the retired champ to be his trainer.
 
11/18: Adoption Event
Noon-4:00 pm, Petco 1155 Third Ave
Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian.

11/19: Coffee & Connections
11:30 am, Webster Library Auditorium
Coffee & Connections Support for those who are experiencing homelessness or who know someone who is homeless. New York has many great resources and services for people experiencing homelessness but it can be challenging to gain access to them.

11/19: Breast Cancer Support Group
2:30 pm, 430 East 67th Street
This program is for people who have been treated for cancer. No observers, please, without prior approval.

11/19: Time Management Strategies
5:00 pm, Webster Library
Want to reduce stress, accomplish more in less time and enjoy greater freedom to do the things you love? Do you want a greater feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment in your daily life? You are not alone! Speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, Barbara Phillips, will share practical strategies that have the power to change your life!

11/20: Lung Cancer Support Group
11:30 am, 430 East 67th Street
This program is for people who have been treated for cancer. No observers, please, without prior approval.

11/20: Musical Manga
4:00 pm, 97th St. Library
Emo, Goth, Rocker and Hip-Hop music flavor so many of your favorite animated shows. Learn how popular music and soundtracks fit content, style and themes of your favorite anime. Listen and learn the stylistic differences between classic Shonen, Shoujo and Chibi (kid’s comics). Be inspired to create your own manga characters according to your favorite music. All drawing supplies are provided free of charge, as well as a music player and direct tracks from Japan. For ages 13-18 years old.

11/20: Poem Revision
4:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
It's a blast from the past! Share your revised poems and we'll discuss them, and trace their journey from start to revision to finish.

11/24: Webster @ the Movies- Ocean’s 8
2:00 pm, Webster Library
Webster’s @ The Movies Presents: Ocean's 8 Saturday, November 24th at 2p.m. Five years, eight months, 12 days and counting -- that's how long Debbie Ocean has been devising the biggest heist of her life.
 
11/26: Author Talk
5:30 pm, Yorkville Library
Please join the Yorkville Library in welcoming Anthony DeCurtis and his book Lou Reed: A Life.

11/27: Lenox Hill Neighborhood 2018 Fall Associates Benefit
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
The glamorous evening will feature cocktails at Fendi, followed by dinner and dancing at The Metropolitan Club. Please reserve tickets at your earliest convenience. Your name will be at the door. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

11/27: Adult Coloring
11:00 am, 97th St. Library
Looking for a new way to relax? Enjoy the sublime pleasure of coloring. Coloring sheets, Crayons, coloring pencils, and reading materials will be provided to participants by the library.
 
11/27: Word for Beginners
3:00 pm, 97th St. 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. Tuesdays, 3-5

11/27: Found Object Poetry
4:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
Come to the library to experience writing poems in a new and exciting way. You'll find various objects set up in the library that will serve as the subjects of your amazing poetry that you'll write on the spot.
 
11/27: Author Talk: The Ha-Ha by Dave King
5:30 pm, Webster Library
Author Dave King will discuss his novel, rendered unable to speak, read, or write after a Vietnam War injury thirty years earlier; it is a story about the cost of war and the infinite worth of human connection.
 
11/28: Bereavement Support Group
5:30 pm, 430 East 67th Street
This group is for those who have lost a family member or friend to cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering. No observers, please, without prior approval.
 
11/28: Author Talk: The Global Pigeon by Colin Jerolmack
5:30 pm, Webster Library
The pigeon is the quintessential city bird. Come hear how they are kept for pleasure, sport, and profit by people all over the world, from the "pigeon wars" to the Million Dollar Pigeon Race.
 
11/28: Heart Health: A Weill Cornell Medicine Wellness Seminar
5:30 pm, Yorkville Library
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States annually – 1 in every 4 deaths. Join Weill Cornell Medicine for a Wellness Seminar on heart health at the Yorkville Library.

11/29: Movie Night for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
6:00 pm, Roosevelt Island Library
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, (R) (1975). Directed by Milos Forman, Starring Jack Nicholson, based on the novel by Ken Kesey.

11/29: Film- Ruggles of Red Gap
2:00 pm, 97th St. Library
Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) 90 min., b&w, Leo McCarey, Dir. Starring Charles Laughton, Mary Boland, Charles Ruggles. A rancher out West hires a British butler, and the two very different men have a great effect on each other and the members of the rancher’s family. ADMISSION FREE

11/29: After Postmodernism- From Laughed-at to Landmarked
6:00 pm, 170 East 70th Street
 Join Judith Gura, author of Postmodern Design Complete and Interior Landmarks: Treasures of New York for a discussion about the origins of this sometimes-controversial style, its influence on architecture, objects, interiors, and graphics, and the indelible marks it has left on the Upper East Side in particular, both inside and out. $15 for FRIENDS members and $25 for non-members.
Copyright © 2018 City Council Member Ben Kallos, All rights reserved.


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