Dear Friend,
I hope you are staying safe and well and enjoying the fall weather. Election Day is today and I wanted to remind you to vote, but I also have some major updates to share from my office:
1. Election Day
2. Additional 19th Precinct Foot Patrols
3. New Litter Baskets for Community Board 6
4. Antisemitism Lawsuit Victory
5. 5G Antenna on East 90th St
6. Visit to Museum of Jewish Heritage
7. Small Business Digitalization
8. Thanksgiving Turkey Distribution
9. Small Business Legal Clinic
10. Constituent Services Corner
11. Community Events
|
|
1. Election Day
Today is Election Day here in New York as you have the chance to go to the polls to vote for a variety of positions and vote on four ballot questions. Elections will be occurring for Senate, Congress, Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Senate, State Assembly, and local judgeships. In addition, there are four ballot questions that cover a variety of topics from an environmental bond to address climate change, to initiatives that would promote diversity and racial equity in the city. You can learn more about what's on your ballot with the official voter guide here and you can search up your poll site here. Polls are open from 6am-9pm.
|
|
2. Additional 19th Precinct Foot Patrols
In recent months, I have heard from many constituents and small business owners requesting additional foot patrols in our neighborhood. These foot patrols are a critical tool in addressing public safety concerns. I have been advocating to the 19th Precinct's Commanding Officer and to Administration officials to bring a greater patrol presence to our community. As Patch reported, last week I attended the Precinct's monthly Community Council Meeting where I joined Precinct leadership to announce a new group of officers designated from Manhattan North to increase the foot patrol coverage. This comes in the wake of our announcement last month of the installation of 31 new security cameras across the Precinct. I enjoyed attending the meeting and speaking to constituents about public safety and I am excited about this important development for our Precinct.
|
|
3. New Litter baskets for CB6
Over the past few months, I have been proud to deliver a number of sanitation victories including increased pickups and supplemental services. This past week, as Patch reported, we announced another big win as my office secured 44 new litter baskets for the area we cover in Community District 6. These corners range from 54-59th Street on 2nd Ave, 1st Ave, and Sutton Place. They have all received new top-of-the-line gray DSNY baskets. These are a significant upgrade from the old and open black wired baskets and are rodent-resistant. As always, if you have any sanitation issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.
|
|
4. Antisemitism Defamation Lawsuit
Antisemitic hate crimes have seen a sharp and frightening increase in 2022. Back when I took office in January, there was a flurry of antisemitic incidents in our District including an antisemitic posting and sign by the Comic Strip on Second Avenue. The Comic Strip drew equivalencies between the Holocaust and the COVID-19 mandates. In response to this, I called out the Comic Strip for their antisemitism and requested they take the posting down. The Comic Strip sued me for defamation over this and I am thrilled to announce that last week a Judge dismissed the suit. It was affirmed that it is protected speech to call out something as anti-semitic. We must continue working together to call out and root out antisemitism in our city.
|
|
5. 5G Antenna on East 90th Street
A couple of weeks ago, constituents reached out to my office expressing concerns about the installation of a 5G Antenna right next to their building at 520 East 90th Street. In response, we engaged the Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) to advocate for mitigation. As the New York Times reported, to address these concerns OTI has mandated that the installer of the antenna hire a third party firm to conduct extensive radio-frequency testing when the antenna is turned on. If the antenna fails to meet federal guidelines in its tests, OTI then has the authority to remove it. We will continue working with constituents to address concerns regarding this location and other antennas popping up across our streetscape.
|
|
6. Visit to Museum of Jewish Heritage
As I mentioned earlier, antisemitic incidents are proliferating across our city and our state. One of the critical ways to address this is by investing in significant Holocaust education efforts. I was proud to join my Council colleagues last week including Jewish Caucus Chair Eric Dinowitz at the Museum of Jewish Heritage to take a tour of their new exhibit "The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do." The exhibit was gut wrenching as it tracked the stories of many individuals murdered in the Holocaust and their lives in their communities before the Holocaust began. This was especially poignant for me as my mother and grandmother were Holocaust survivors in Hungary and so many other members of my family were murdered in it. I am glad that this educational resource now exists right in Lower Manhattan.
|
|
7. Small Business Digitalization
As Small Business Chair, I have worked to tackle many pressing issues small businesses across our city face. Last week, I co-chaired a hearing with my colleagues Council Members Sandra Ung and Shahana Hanif to discuss how to improve language and offer support to immigrant-owned small businesses in the city. During that, we heard the bill I introduced to focus on small business digitalization. Recent data supports that 28% of small businesses do not even have a website and this is especially a problem for immigrant owned businesses. In the age of e-commerce, it is critical we bridge that divide to empower businesses. I look forward to updating you as this legislation moves forward.
|
|
8. Thanksgiving Turkey Distribution
Thanksgiving is less than a month from now which means our annual Turkey Giveaway in partnership with Stanley Isaacs Center and New York Common Pantry is right around the corner. The giveaway is for our NYCHA residents in Holmes/Isaacs as well as Lexington Houses and Robbins Plaza. If you'd like to sign up for a turkey, please visit this link. If you have already called or emailed our office asking to be added to the list or you have contacted Stanley Isaacs Center directly, that is sufficient. Please note that we cannot guarantee turkeys to everyone who has signed up. I look forward to continuing this important community tradition.
|
|
9. Small Business Legal Clinic
Since taking office, I've been proud to offer a free legal clinic to constituents facing a slough of issues from housing cases to domestic violence law. However, I am excited to announce that my office is hosting a legal clinic for small businesses. We're partnering with Brooklyn Legal Services on November 21st to host this hybrid clinic. If you are interested in signing up, please do so here or email Harry Gale from my office (hgale@council.nyc.gov). Brooklyn Legal's Attorneys can assist with many issues ranging from commercial rent disputes to employment questions and as the Council's Small Business Chair I think it's an important and useful resource for my office to be offering.
|
|
10. Constituent Service Corner
Last week, a constituent reached out to my office to flag an issue with a car sitting on East 90th Street booted for over 10 days that needed to be towed as it was blocking the Second Avenue Bus Lane. After hearing from the constituent, we immediately reached out to the NYPD's 19th Precinct and they were able to work with the Marshall to expedite the removal. The car was towed away by that afternoon. As always, please feel free to reach out to our office by phone, email, social media, or a visit in-person to address constituent issues.
|
|
11. Community Events/Announcements
As we move deeper into fall, there are many fun community events coming up that I wanted to highlight. If you'd like us to add an event to our newsletter please email ckoffman@council.nyc.gov
Saturday November 12th, 12-3pm, Grow NYC Stop n Swap at the Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center.
Medicare Rights Town hall, Monday November 7th, 3-4pm
Medicare Fall Open Enrollment is happening now until December 7, and it is the time of year when you can change your Medicare coverage. Knowing where to start can be tough, but our office is working with Medicare Rights Center to host an informational webinar.
Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89120445071
Or dial: 646 931 3860
Webinar ID: 891 2044 5071
NYPD Crossing Guards
The NYPD has requested that we reach out to constituents as they're looking for more school crossing guards to cover areas in our District. You can learn more and chat with a recruiter here.
|
|
Follow us on Social Media
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
|
|
Contact Us
Email us at district5@council.nyc.gov, call our office at 212-860-1950, or visit us at 444 East 75th Street #1B (75th and York Avenue)
Best,
Julie
|
|
|
|
