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Friends,

I sent this on Thursday, June 23, 2022; I thought those of you who didn’t get a chance to read it on Thursday might welcome the chance to see it.

Summer started this past Tuesday at 5:14 am, the longest day of the year.

The long tortuous path to approval of vaccines for children under 5 years has, finally, yielded a result: a two-shot vaccine regimen from Moderna (for ages 6 mo –  5 yrs) and a three-shot course from Pfizer/BioNtech (for ages 6 mo – 4 yrs) were authorized by the FDA and the CDC last weekend. The Moderna vaccine approval was also extended to children 6 – 17 years (Pfizer/BioNtech vaccines are already approved for that age group.)

NYC health officials are distributing Moderna vaccines at ten hubs across the city, starting yesterday (6/22) and vaccines have been shipped to pediatricians. Click the link, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ or vax4nyc.nyc.gov or call 877-VAX-4NYC to find a convenient location. (Be aware that NY State law only allows pharmacies to vaccinate ages 3 and older.)

A surprisingly small percentage of parents nationwide say they’ll vaccinate their children right away—at least according to polls from months ago—with the majority saying there isn’t enough information available about the shots. 

An expert I’ve cited in this newsletter before, Dr. Katelyn Jetelina—an epidemiologist at the University of Texas and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist—explains better than I can the risks (small) and the benefits (large) of vaccines for children this age. She compiled these resources:

• A bilingual, Spanish-English one-pager she wrote (PDF)

• Brown University’s School of Public Health published this super-clear tip sheet. (PDF) 

• The American Academy of Pediatrics published this FAQ for MDs. 

• Jetelina herself has children, and wrote “My toddlers already had COVID19. I’m still getting them vaccinated” for Time magazine this week.

Jetelina also addressed the big question in her newsletter last week, after the FDA acted but before final CDC approval: which vaccine brand should parents choose? She said:

“You cannot make a wrong decision. Either vaccine is better than nothing, and both help with severe disease and death. To me, though, the choice is clear. My girls will get Moderna for four reasons:

“The confidence in Pfizer’s efficacy is not strong… at all. Efficacy was only based on 3 cases in the vaccine group and 7 cases in the control group. Pfizer didn’t meet the standard protocol of 21 cases. This means the “true” effectiveness is unstable—it could be anywhere between 14% and 81%. We don’t know exactly where. Take 81% with a grain of salt.

“Antibodies with Moderna reach the same levels in half the time compared to Pfizer (6 vs. 13 weeks). Kids are not protected until Dose 3 of Pfizer, which is a while.

“Moderna confirmed they already started testing Dose 3 (booster) and will have data by this summer. We know that this vaccine is at least a 3-dose series. So, once we get Moderna and Pfizer on the same playing field, efficacy will be comparable. Importantly, Moderna is testing an Omicron-specific booster, not the original vaccine. This is different from the Pfizer trial, in which Dose 3 is the original formula. This is huge. By the end of summer, Moderna kids will likely be on the same playing field as adults, who will likely get a bivalent vaccine this fall…”

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The World Health Organization is calling for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and recommending a deeper probe into whether a lab accident may be to blame. The Washington Post editorial board agrees: How did the pandemic begin? China must help find the answer.

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Monkeypox cases in New York City are rising, though the absolute numbers are small—10 cases reported as of Monday (6/13). While many of the earliest reported cases involved people traveling internationally, “Most of the recent cases, they reported no prior travel or exposure to somebody who’s traveled. So this means people have to be quite vigilant,” said Columbia University epidemiologist Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr at an online panel hosted by BP Mark Levine Monday 6/13. 

“Monkeypox is characterized by lesions throughout the body, but El-Sadr said its important for people to pay attention to be attuned to other symptoms that can predate the onset of a rash. Those symptoms include swollen lymph glands, chills, fever, and fatigue,” reported Gothamist. 

Health officials in NYC are disseminating information about Monkeypox ahead of Pride celebrations this weekend. “Be aware, but don’t panic,” said Jason Cianciotto, the vice president of communications and policy at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, summing up the message the group is trying to convey.

On Thursday 6/23, the NYC Department of Health announced the opening of a temporary vaccine clinic offering vaccine for monkeypox to eligible people who may have been recently exposed. As of now, the eligible population is all gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (cisgender or transgender) ages 18 and older who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days.

The vaccine clinic is located at the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic (303 Ninth Avenue in Manhattan). It's open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for both appointments and walk-ins (appointments are preferred). Click here to book an appointment.

News & information. 

The Supreme Court is wrapping up its 2021-22 session, and today they released their decision invalidating New York State’s gun law which placed strict limits on carrying guns outside the home, saying it was at odds with the Second Amendment. It’s alarming—states should have the right to do things like this—and without this law, we can expect to see even more guns in public.

Of course we’re all holding our breaths over the imminent Dobbs decision on choice—the draft opinion which leaked earlier this year—which could be released as soon as Friday (6/24) or Monday (6/27)

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Since it's Pride Month, let's take notice of the major corporations flying the rainbow Pride flag all over their websites and social media, in their offices and stores and restaurants. In public, at least.

Judd Legum and his journalists at the great newsletter “Popular Information” have dug deep into campaign finance reports and discovered that many of these seemingly queer-friendly corporations—often rated highly by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Equality Index—turn around and write big checks to anti-LGBTQ politicians. 

I just want to highlight Legum’s calculations for three New York-based companies who seem to have this affliction:  

• Accounting and consulting giant Deloitte is touting its Twitter hashtag #QueerAllYear this month, Pride Month, yet they have contributed at least $514,000 to the campaigns and leadership PACs of 40 members of Congress that have received a zero rating from HRC, and hundreds of thousands more to anti-LGBTQ Governors and state legislators. 

• Charter Communications-- known to most New Yorkers as Spectrum cable-- has, according to Legum, “donated at least $584,775 [since 2021] to the campaigns and leadership PACs of 52 members of Congress that have received a zero rating from HRC. The company has also donated $148,250 to state legislators in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas supporting anti-LGBTQ legislation. This includes a $10,000 donation to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) who ‘signed two bills [in April 2022] that target transgender young people and classroom discussion of LGBTQ identities.’”

• And while Verizon tweets “The only way forward is love, because #LoveConnectsUsAll” and claims it is “committed to LGBTQ+ equality across the board,” Legum reports that since 2021, they have “donated at least $504,812 to the campaigns and leadership PACs of members of Congress that have received a zero rating from HRC,” and many thousands more to governors and state legislators who sponsor and support anti-LGBTQ legislation. 

I guess it's the old saying, “Watch what they do, not what they say.”

Incidentally, I’m glad the management of Chelsea Piers decided to donate its rental income from a conference that hosted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to “groups that protect LGBTQ+ communities, and foster and amplify productive debates about LGBTQ+ issues.” It would have been better if they hadn't booked the conference at all. 

Happy Pride Month. 

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Tomorrow, Friday 6/24 at 12 noon, the Committee on Oversight and Investigations, which I chair, and the Committee on Education, chaired by Council Member Rita Joseph, will hold an oversight hearing on FY2023 Department of Education school budget. All City Council Committee hearings are now hybrid. You may testify virtually or in person at City Hall. The hearing will be held in the City Hall Committee Room. To sign-up to testify, or submit written testimony, please visit council.nyc.gov/testify. The hearing can be streamed at council.nyc.gov/live. More information can be found here. 

On Monday, 6/27, my committee will meet again, this time jointly with the Committees on Contracts & Economic Development chaired by Council Members Won and Farías respectively, to examine local purchasing of food by city agencies.

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Another hearing, also tomorrow Friday 6/24 at 10 am, will be at 250 Broadway downtown: The State Senate’s Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee and the Finance and Cities Committee will hold a joint oversight hearing on the Penn Station Revitalization Plan—which creates ten skyscrapers with 18+ million square feet of office space. The hearing marks the first time senators will formally consider how the estimated $7 billion project will be financed. Learn more at Gothamist’s “State Senate oversight hearing aims to shed light on missing details in Penn Station redevelopment plan.”

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My “Fresh Food for Seniors” program is returning for its 10th season, in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. 

The program offers a bag of locally-grown fresh produce for $10 (a $15+ value) throughout the growing season. It’s pay-as-you go, not a subscription, so it’s a great value with no need for commitment—just a little advance planning. Produce is ordered through GrowNYC at wholesale prices from farmers in New York and New Jersey.

Our prime location is Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center, 593 Columbus Ave. at 88th St. Other Upper West Side pickup locations, each with their own process (call them to inquire):

• Project FIND Hamilton House (141 W. 73rd St., 212-787-7710)

• NCJW Council Lifetime Learning (241 W. 72nd St., 212-687-5030)

• Bloomingdale Aging in Place (212-842-8831, ext. 20)

• Lincoln House Outreach (303 W. 66th St., 212-875-8958)

Signing up for Goddard pickups is simple: bring $10 cash to Goddard between 1 – 3 pm on the “Pickup Thursday” the week or so before you want a bag of goodies. 

Goddard 2022 Pickup Thursdays:

• July 7 Sign up for this delivery only at my District Office, 563 Columbus Ave. (at 87 St), Monday and Tuesday, 6/27 – 28, between 11 am – 1 pm. 

• July 21 (Sign up July 7)

• August 4 (Sign up July 21)

• August 18 (Sign up Aug. 4)

• September 1 (Sign up Aug. 18)

• September 15 (Sign up Sept. 1)

• September 29 (Sign up Sept. 15)

• October 13 (Sign up Sept. 29)

• October 27 (Sign up Oct. 13)

• November 10 (Sign up Oct. 27)

Call my district office at 212-873-0282 or email district6@council.nyc.gov with any questions.

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With Roe on the brink of invalidation, there has never been a more important moment for New York City to be a leader in preserving access to abortion. That’s one reason why the City Council included in its FY23 budget a $250,000 allocation for the New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF), which provides financial assistance to anyone who is unable to pay fully for an abortion and is living in or traveling to New York State. 

Just since the Texas abortion ban went into effect, NYAAF has experienced an unprecedented demand for its services; Texans calling NYAAF for support has increased by 400%. 

If you, or someone you know, needs help paying for an abortion in New York, call 212-252-4757. Visit www.nyaaf.org for more information. 

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I’m grateful the DOE’s Summer Meals program (which serves children free breakfast and lunch during the summer from sites around the city) has now added two more sites—including one at PS 75—for a total of four in Community School District 3, which extends from W. 61st St. to W. 123rd St.

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The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a hearing on the hardship application of West Park Presbyterian Church on Tuesday (6/14); here’s a link to video of the hearing. My testimony can be found here. The LPC took no action after the hearing and will meet again next month, at a date to be announced, to consider the application further.

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The NYC Districting Commission, responsible for drawing new City Council district boundaries, released its schedule of public hearing dates (although there are still no draft maps released, and their website does not show these dates yet):

• Monday, 6/27, 4 – 7 pm, at York College, 94-22 Guy Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, Queens. A Zoom link will be posted on their website before the meeting. Public testimony can be submitted by email to publictestimony@redistricting.nyc.gov. 

• 6/29 Brooklyn – NYC College of Technology

• 7/6 Bronx – Hostos Community College

• 7/7 Staten Island – Staten Island Borough Hall

According to their announcement, the commission will vote on Council maps 7/18, then conduct another round of hearings in August: on the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th & 22nd, then take a final vote 9/15 and submit their plan to the City Council. (A hearing was held on May 26 for Manhattan but you can still submit testimony on their website.)

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On Tuesday, 6/21, a water main break created this sinkhole on W. 89th St. between CPW and Columbus—which THEN led to a gas line break, which meant evacuating residents for a short while. It was a triple whammy for residents, and for this car, which was almost lost to the sinkhole. My staffer Jack Wild spent hours there, helping where he could with NYC Office of Emergency Management, ConEd, NYPD, FDNY, and the DEP personnel on (and in) the ground, and he reports:

“We were able to track down the owner of the car BEHIND the one in the photo—which was blocking the tow truck’s ability to pull the car out—and she retrieved her vehicle, allowing access to the car in the sinkhole.

“The owner of the car IN the sinkhole saw our tweet and he came and unlocked the sinking car and NYPD towing was able to remove his car with little-to-no damage.”

Things are almost back to normal now—the water main is fixed, the sinkhole has been filled and paved, and ConEd is working on the gas line and less than ten households on W 89th are still without gas.

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News that might be useful.

Early voting has begun! Use findmypollsite.vote.nyc to find your early voting site. Here are the remaining early voting hours (they vary, because they’re designed to encompass a variety of working situations):

• Friday 6/24: 7 am –  3 pm

• Saturday 6/25: 9 am –  5 pm

• Sunday 6/26: 9 am –  5 pm

Primary Day is this coming Tuesday 6/28, and polls will be open from 6 am – 9 pm. Poll sites for Primary Day will differ from early voting locations. Again, use findmypollsite.vote.nyc to be sure your polling location hasn’t changed.

This 6/28 primary is the first of two, and will nominate candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Assembly, Judges, and District Leader to run in the November General election. The second primary will be held 8/23 for Congress and State Senate. Note: if you requested an absentee ballot and choose instead to vote in person, a new rule requires you to complete an “Affidavit Ballot” at the polling place.

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The St. Agnes branch of the NYPL (444 Amsterdam) WAS temporarily closing for renovations next week, but that was before the Bloomingdale branch closed for emergency repairs—we wrote the NYPL asking that they delay the St. Agnes closure until Bloomingdale is restored to service, and library officials came to that same common-sense conclusion right after we sent our letter. 

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The Morgan Library & Museum at 225 Madison Ave (bet. 36th and 37th Sts.) has opened its new Morgan Garden—developed by landscape designer Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and lighting designer Linnaea Tillett—to the public for the first time ever. 

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The Citizens Housing Planning Council has released Onward and Upward: A technical guide to zoning and regulatory reform in the crisis era, a detailed guide to the zoning and regulatory changes necessary to create new housing supply with a focus on affordability, equity, sustainability, and economic recovery.

Mayor Eric Adams announced his housing plan last week. It’s a blueprint to increase homeownership, reduce street homelessness and improve public housing. 

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The Rent Guidelines Board on Tuesday 7/21 approved rent hikes on the city’s one million regulated apartments of 3.25% for one-year leases and 5% for two-year leases—the largest hikes in nearly a decade—for leases signed after 10/1. Here is my testimony opposing rent hikes. 

Sorry for the late notice, but the Municipal Arts Society’s “Livable Neighborhoods Program” is accepting applications until tomorrow, Friday 6/24 (at this link). They seek applications from community-based advocates interested in developing new skills, exploring the application of web-based planning tools, and interacting with a cohort of leaders from across the city’s five boroughs. The 2022 LNP Cycle will meet every Wednesday evening in July at 6:00 PM via Zoom. LNP helps participants educate and engage neighbors in the basics of land use, build capacity for community-based planning, and enhance familiarity with the technical tools and the review processes that shape the built environment in New York City. For questions, contact Spencer Williams, Director of Advocacy at swilliams@mas.org.

JOBS

We’re hiring! My office is interviewing for a Director of Scheduling. Email your cover letter and resume (as a PDF, please) to district6@council.nyc.gov with “scheduler” in the subject line.

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Registration is ending 6/28 for the Sanitation Worker Civil Service Exam. DSNY offers pay of $83,000 after 5.5 years of service, plus overtime, a pension, and healthcare. Visit this link to sign up for reminders and test preparation opportunities. 

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NYPD is recruiting, too. Registration for the NYPD Police Officer exam is now open until 7/12. Visit the link for more details and to register.

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GrowNYC has several openings to fill ASAP:

• Compost Coordinator $19/hour (part-time)

• Compost Coordinator - Bronx & Bilingual Spanish $19/hour (part-time)

• Compost Driver $26/hour (part-time)

• Seasonal Market Manager $19/hour (part-time and full-time) 

• Seasonal Farmstand Site Staff $19 or $20/hour (part-time)

See all GrowNYC job openings here. 

Events.

I’m co-hosting a free virtual panel event titled: “Queering the Fandom, Xena and Beyond” this Tuesday, 6/28, in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum. 

The panelists will discuss the importance and meaning of representation, building community, and accessing queer material—in the context of the impact “Xena: Warrior Princess” in the 1990s had on the development of Queer Fandomn and… “Xenites.” Sign-up at the link. 

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The Classical Theatre of Harlem, in association with Yale Rep, will present an “Afrofuturistic” production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” starring Kara Young (a 2022 Tony nominee for her performance in “Clyde's”) who will play Viola. Free performances July 5 – 29, at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. Reserve free tickets here.

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Lincoln Square BID's free lunchtime summer concert series will return on Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 pm starting next Wednesday 7/6 and will run all summer until 8/31. Performances will be held at Dante Park, on Broadway between W. 63rd & 64th Streets. Click here for more information and the full line-up. 

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Not only is Shakespeare in the Park back, but all ticketing options are as well:

• In-person distribution in Central Park

• In-person lottery at The Public Theater

• In-person distribution in the boroughs

• Digital lottery with TodayTix

• In-person standby line in Central Park

This year’s first production is Richard III, which opened Tuesday 6/21 (until 7/17), followed by As You Like It, from 8/10 - 9/11.

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Still ongoing, but closing this Sunday 6/26, 7:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, W. 103rd St. and Central Park West: Join New York Classical Theater for a free performance of the 1611 romantic adventure “Cymbeline” by William Shakespeare. The play will be held at 7:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, beginning June 14. Register in advance online to receive program information and notice of any rain cancellations.

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Saturday, 6/25, 11 am – 6 pm, Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport: the Hester Street Fair, featuring all queer-owned or operated businesses showcasing unique, locally-made jewelry, art, food, vintage items, and home goods. 

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Saturday, 6/25, 2 – 3 pm: Right To Be offers a free virtual Bystander Intervention Training addressing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment, and trainings to address Trans equality. Participants are presented with the histories and spectrum of disrespect against LGBTQ+ community members, and discuss the impacts of inaction when we face or witness harassment. From there, participants learn Right To Be’s 5Ds of bystander intervention, roleplaying each one to gain familiarity and knowledge so that they’re prepared to act. 

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Sunday, 6/26, 12 – 4 pm, 12 Eldridge Street: Join the Museum at Eldridge Street for the 21st Annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Street Festival, celebrating the diverse culture that make up the Lower East Side and Chinatown communities.

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This Sunday 6/26, is the last West Side Community Garden Sunday Concert, at 123 W. 89th St., 6 – 7 pm. (This podcast from Bar Crawl Radio from one of the WSCG concerts is fun.)

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Tuesday, 6/28: 11 am – noon: A virtual workshop for anyone working with older adults as part of Search and Care’s “Sentinel Meetings.” Advocacy Coordinator Joseph Dibenedetto, LMSW, will present on the Fair Pay for Home Care bill. Click here to register for the event. 

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Wednesday, 6/29, 11 am, 120th St in Riverside Park: the Third “Running of the Goats” to welcome the return of mother nature’s weed whackers. There will be 20 goats running, four of whom will remain for the entire summer. Two-time Riverside veteran Skittles will be making his third appearance, while 2019 star Cheech will be making his comeback. Newcomers Big "G" and Elenor will also join the goat squad and look forward to making their debut.

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The July edition of my monthly housing clinic (in partnership with the Goddard Riverside Law Project and TakeRoot Justice) is Wednesday, 7/6, at 6 pm (click the link to register). This month’s presentation is on “How to form a tenant association.” After the presentation, you may meet briefly with an attorney who can answer specific questions. (Don’t get evicted in August, we’re taking the month off!) 

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Save the Date! Saturday, 7/30/2022 will be the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Amsterdam Houses, the NYCHA development, on 64th St. between Amsterdam and West End. Residents and the community will be hosting a once-in-75-years celebration from Noon to 6 pm, featuring music with DJ Ritchie, a Latin band, children’s activities (balloon art, clowns, jugglers, magicians, and rock climbing), a free fun photo booth (2 – 5 pm), basketball games with the Positive Influence Old Timers, souvenir T-shirts, food court (and a special luncheon for Amsterdam resident seniors 62+).
 

Stay Safe,