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I know this newsletter can be unwieldy; click on these anchor links to go straight to a section you’re interested in: News & Information // Useful items // Events 
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In Case You Missed It: This newsletter was first sent Thursday, 12/8,
but I thought those of you who didn’t open it then might welcome a chance to catch up...

Friends,

It’s Thursday, December 8, 2022. (As always, if you’re receiving this via Gmail, click the header above to open the entire newsletter in a new tab and avoid their “snipped” version!)

COVID, FLU AND RSV

As predicted by, well, everyone, Covid hospitalizations rising post-Thanksgiving after an autumn lull (Washington Post). And The US has never recorded this many positive flu tests in one week (Vox). 

“Every Friday the CDC updates their “influenza-like illness (ILI)” data—where providers tally patients that presented with ILI—a fever and a cough and/or sore throat—at their office. So these numbers include everything (flu, RSV, COVID-19, etc.) and are a general indication of the climate of respiratory of health in the United States. Last Friday Twitter covered my reaction to the latest data pretty clearly: Holy crap…”

That’s from Katelyn Jetelina's “State of Play” edition this week of “Your Local Epidemiologist” (her go-to newsletter for clear, evidence-based analysis of COVID and public health). If you like video information, here’s a Jetelina video from last week—before the CDC data was released—hosted by the University of California San Francisco’s Dept. of Medicine on the “triple-demic.”

Rachelle Walensky, head of the CDC, in the Vox story (linked above) that flu hospitalizations are four times as high as usual, and flu hospitalizations skew toward those age 65+ just like COVID. And she says this year’s edition of the flu vaccine is “particularly effective” because it matches well to the documented strains of the flu that are circulating. 

But not enough people are getting either shot. According to Vox, only a quarter of adults and 40% of children have received a flu shot this season—and only 15% of adults nationwide who are eligible for an updated bivalent COVID booster have received one.

Dr. Walensky says there are some indicators that transmission of RSV cases in children has been slowing in parts of the country. But How to Spot Flu Symptoms in Children (NY Times) is probably still useful. (Also, I’m co-sponsoring with State Sen. Brad Hoylman “What to Know About RSV” in children and older adults on Thursday, 12/12 from 6 – 7:30 pm at Lenox Hill Greenwich Village; register here.)

For families with sick kids, here’s a little known fact: not every hospital emergency room in NYC has a fully pediatric-capable staff. That’s why as Borough President I co-sponsored Council legislation (with Councilmember Justin Brannan) that would require the City Dept. of Health to educate the public about which hospitals have pediatric ERs. The bill has been reintroduced this year, but while we wait for passage, my staff has compiled this spreadsheet of pediatric ERs in Manhattan and other boroughs.

The FDA today approved bivalent vaccine boosters for children down to six months old. 

For older New Yorkers, here’s useful analysis from David Wallace Wells, in his NYT newsletter, “Covid-19 Isn’t a Pandemic of the Unvaccinated Anymore” (published yesterday— today I’m supporting the NYTGuild in their 24-hour walkout and not crossing the digital picket line):

“But the skew [toward older adult deaths from COVID] is actually more dramatic now — even amid mass vaccinations and reinfections — than it was at any previous point over the last three years. Since the beginning of the pandemic, people 65 and older accounted for 75 percent of all American Covid deaths. That dropped below 60 percent as recently as September 2021. But today Americans 65 and over account for 90 percent of new Covid deaths, an especially large share given that 94 percent of American seniors are vaccinated.

… and here’s this chilling clause, based on CDC data: “a vaccinated person in their late 80s shares a similar risk of Covid death as a never-vaccinated 70-year-old.”

So make sure you get a fall COVID booster and a flu shot—especially if you can remember watching JFK’s inauguration! (And be careful out there!)

News & information.

As I mentioned parenthetically earlier, today marks a 24-hour walkout by NY Newspaper Guild members at the New York Times. I wholeheartedly support them— they’ve been working without a contract since March 2021.

A reminder to join Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal and me at our West Side Cannabis Town Hall with representatives from the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, the NYPD, the Manhattan DA, NYC’s Depts. of Consumer and Worker Protection and Small Business Services, and Community Boards 4 and 7. 

  • Cannabis Town Hall
    Tuesday, December 13, 2022 
    6 – 8 pm (doors at 5:30 pm)
    John Jay College of Criminal Justice
    524 W. 59th Street entrance (between 10th and 11th Ave.)
The event will be hybrid—so to speak—both in-person and Zoom. RSVP for either attendance method at the link, or tell your friends to use Bit.ly/WSCannabisTH

(For background see “How New York City Became a Free-for-All of Unlicensed Weed” and “What’s in New York’s Illicit Cannabis: Germs, Toxins and Metals” from the Times.)


My Fresh Food for Seniors program wrapped its 10th season last month. Participants purchased a total of 2,218 bags, containing $22,180 in locally grown produce. 

We surveyed participants and 56% attended 8-10 weeks, and more than 94% said they planned to join next season! We’ll announce those details in the Spring. 

Thanks to my staff along with staff and volunteers at Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center (which hosted the distribution hub), Project FIND Hamilton House, NCJW Council of Lifetime Learning, West Side NORC, Bloomingdale Aging in Place, Lincoln House Outreach—and to Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and his staff for transporting the bags. GrowNYC’s Greenmarket Co team was stellar in their support and dedication to connecting area farms to the city, and an energetic intergenerational team of volunteers (led by Connie Cosner) and “Brew Crew” interns packed each and every bag. This program takes a farm... and a village!

Here’s what’s happening in City Council business: 

The Council’s Finance Committee examined Mayor Adams’ mid-fiscal-year budget cuts due to the slowing economy today (12/8). See the Mayor's November fiscal plan here and the Finance Committee Report here.

Wednesday,12/14, 10 am, 250 Broadway, in person in the 14th floor conference room or virtual: the Council’s Public Housing Committee’s oversight hearing on NYCHA Winter Preparedness. If you would like to register to offer testimony via zoom, or provide written testimony, you may find out how here.

On 12/19–20, the Council’s Committee of the Whole will examine the City’s response and delivery of services to migrants. (I joined with four Council colleagues (CMs Ayala, Brannan, Won, and Hanif) in asking the Mayor for an accounting of the now-deactivated Randall’s Island HERRC—the “Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Recovery Center.”  The IBO issued this response to queries about costs of serving asylum seekers (PDF).

There's been quite a bit of interest, pro and con, in Council legislation that's been introduced, Intro 632, heard by the Council's Committee on Civil and Human Rights today (12/8), called the “Fair Chance Housing Act.” The bill would bar housing discrimination based on arrest record or criminal history (750,000 NYC residents have a criminal conviction). The NYC Commission on Human Rights testified, as well as advocates and representatives from the Council of NY Cooperatives and Condominiums, the NYS Association of Realtors, REBNY, and The Fortune Society. Based on today's testimony, the proposed bill will probably be amended. San Francisco, Oakland, Detroit, the District of Columbia, Seattle, Cook County (IL), and the states of Colorado and New Jersey all have laws of some kind relating to this issue that will be reviewed. I appreciate all the communication from constituents on this topic. (Here's a link to the to Committee Report.)

Comptroller Brad Lander issued a report on the vacancies permeating City government, which complements a hearing my Oversight & Investigations Committee conducted on the topic last month. Here’s the lead paragraph: “New York City government is in the midst of a vacancy crisis across many City agencies. As of October 2022, the citywide vacancy rate stood at just under 8 percent, far greater than the pre-Covid 19 pandemic rate of about 2 percent. In many critical City agencies, it is far higher: Department of Small Business Services (32.0 percent), Department of Buildings (22.7 percent), City Planning (22.3 percent), Housing Preservation and Development (18.2%), Finance (18.1 percent).”

The Manhattan delegation on the Council is still looking for the borough’s representative on the Taxi and Limousine Commission. It’s an unpaid post, but for those looking for a public service role, it’s an important one. Email my office (with a resume) at distrct6@council.nyc.gov

The Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District was awarded a $50k grant from the Dept. of Small Business Services, which they’ll use to help increase services for sanitation, horticulture, and small business support.  

If you’re enlisted in the war against tourist helicopter noise, there’s a new front: the New York Harbor. Proposed FAA and National Park Service rules governing tourist flights in the harbor will likely increase helicopter traffic and noise in the Battery Park, South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Heights, Red Hook, and Governors Island neighborhoods (and in the Liberty State Park and Jersey City areas). The public comment period is open until 12/30; please take the time to submit your comments at this National Park Service link. Visit Stop the Chop for guidance on the topic. Email them using this form for guidance on what to say.

Wednesday, 12/14, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, virtual: NYC Campaign Finance Board’s Voter Assistance Advisory Committee wants to hear from voters and election workers about their experiences in the 2022 elections. More information at NYC Votes Events Calendar; RSVP here.  


MEDIA ROUNDUP:

Wanted: N.Y.C. Rat Overlord With ‘Killer Instinct.’ Will Pay $170,000. (NY Times)

After Construction Worker Falls to His Death, Advocates Pressure Hochul (Documentedny.com)

Airbnb likely to lose more than 10,000 listings in NYC under tight new rules (Daily News)

The crisis of student mental health is much vaster than we realize (Washington Post)

A plan to phase out use of fossil fuels in NY homes is nearing approval. Here's what that means (Buffalo News)

Murders, shootings down in NYC since 2021, but other crimes rose sharply, per police data (Gothamist)

New York City shouldn't be covered in sidewalk sheds. (“Slow Boring” newsletter by Matthew Yglesias; the last half is paywalled, but there’s a free 7-day trial available.)

It’s not your imagination: Shopping on Amazon has gotten worse (Washington Post)
Everything on Amazon is becoming an ad

Useful items.

Kindergarten applications are open now. All NYC families with children born in 2018 are eligible. Even if your child is currently in a pre-K program, you still have to apply to kindergarten. Sign up for 3-K, pre-K, and/or kindergarten admissions mailing lists at  schools.nyc.gov/SignUp. Here’s the guidance from the DOE:

  • Find out what your child’s zoned kindergarten program is by entering your home address at schoolsearch.schools.nyc.  
  • Explore elementary schools in the searchable MySchools directory.  
  • Watch the kindergarten video playlist on their website, featuring several MySchools tutorials, including how to create an account.
  • Search program options near you by entering your address and filter based on your needs. For example, filter for programs that offer late pickup.
  • Each school’s website is listed on its MySchools page, or contact them directly to learn if they will be hosting any virtual or in-person events. You can also view and save events to your calendar using the new MySchools Events Calendar.

There are also virtual information sessions covering 3-K, pre-K, kindergarten, and Gifted & Talented admissions. (There’s no difference in content among events—only that each event has different interpretation languages provided):  

  • 12/8,  2 – 3 pm | Chinese (Mandarin), French, Urdu  
  • 12/13, 2 – 3 pm | Bangla, Korean, Spanish  
  • 1/12/23, 6 – 7 pm | Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian 
  • 1/26/23, 6 – 7 pm | Chinese (Mandarin), French, Urdu 
  • 2/1/23, 2 – 3 pm | Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian 
  • 2/15/23, 6 – 7 pm | Bangla, Korean, Spanish  

Each event will be hosted live online; check your email or visit schools.nyc.gov/ESEvents the day before the first event to find the password and any other information you’ll need to join the webcast, as well as how to receive interpretation. Log onto Zoom at the event’s start time here. They’ll post a recording of the presentation in January.  

(Last week we covered the news that the DOE is making the kindergarten application the same for both regular and Gifted and Talented programs. Any family that lists a G&T program anywhere on their application will be considered. Waitlisting will also become available at the same time for both Kindergarten and G&T. Families will only be able to accept one offer at a time—but the G&T offers will be provided sooner, which will ease some stress.)

The 2023 Open Streets application is now live; visit www.nyc.gov/openstreets#apply to access the application and to learn more about the program. Returning and prospective partners are invited to attend a webinar on Friday 12/9, 1 – 3 pm to learn more. Register in advance: bit.ly/OSwebinar23. If your Open Street plan is to launch on or before 6/30/23, apply by 1/31/23. If you plan to launch on or after 7/1/23, or for a school applying for the 2023-24 academic year, apply by 4/14/23. 

The City DOT has released the 2023 Alternate Side Parking calendar at this link (PDF). (I passed the law adding Diwali to the schedule.)

The deadline to apply for a $150 NYC property tax rebate has been extended to 3/15/23 for homeowners who couldn’t apply by the 11/15 deadline due to an extenuating circumstance. If your property is your primary residence and adjusted gross household income is $250,000 or less, you may be entitled to a property tax rebate. If you think you qualify, visit: www.nyc.gov/propertytaxrebate

The New York Public Library’s St. Agnes branch reopens this Monday, 12/12 after floor replacement and other repairs—including a new front door. All services and programming, including story times, book groups, and tech workshops will resume.

Virtual classes held by EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care in December include Chair Yoga (Mondays, 1 – 1:30 pm), Mindful Meditation (Tuesdays, 12:15 – 12:45 pm), Zumba with Cheryl Mitchell (Tuesdays, 1 – 1:30 pm), and Mental Health 101 (Thursday, 12/15, 1:15 – 2:30 pm). Free and open to all. For the upcoming schedule and to register for classes, visit www.emblemhealth.com/events.

Con Edison is still performing gas upgrade work on Amsterdam Ave. bet W. 82nd & W 83rd through the end of the month between 9 am – 3 pm six days a week. 

The NYPL has opened applications for a free Small Biz Growth Accelerator course; the deadline to apply is 1/17/23. The program starts Tuesday, 1/24/23, 5 – 8 pm, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (455 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor). It's led by instructor Jimmy Newson, and includes!

  • Two 3-hour in-person workshop-style classes
  • Two additional virtual sessions for Q&A, workshop accountability, and peer networking
  • Strategic Planning Template
  • 5 Action Plan Workbooks
  • Financial Literacy Program
  • Accessibility Training Program
  • In-Depth Software demos

DONATIONS ROUNDUP:

The JCC will be collecting new and very gently used children’s winter clothing for migrant students at PS 75 in their lobby through tomorrow, Friday, 12/9. Sweaters, pants, long-sleeved shirts, new socks and underwear, and snow boots are especially needed. (Sizes for clothing: girls 5–14 and boys 5–12; and children’s shoe sizes 8–12 and 1–5.) 

Want to do more? PS 75 has created this Amazon wish list of holiday gifts to be given to students in transitional housing, most of whom are recent migrants. The shipping address is "Mercedes Eustache Gift Registry Address." Please consider purchasing one before 12/16.

The Sled, a nonprofit that provides for the needs of housing-insecure public school children and their families, has launched the donation drive for their annual “Sugarplum Sled”. The holiday gift list wishes are specifically requested by hundreds of NYC public school children and gathered by school and human service professionals. Donors now have the chance to make holiday dreams come true by clicking that link and shopping for a specific gift that each child has picked. View the list at the link. 

The dedicated volunteers helping the new asylum seekers at The Ellington pass on this news (Much thanks to Lisa Greenwald for her energy!): 

  • The residence will hold a holiday celebration on Wednesday 12/21 and is seeking donations of store bought eggnog and holiday cookies (easy to preserve/serve). Please drop off your goodies by 4 pm. 
  • The rec specialist is hosting a toy drive--one toy for each child.  She will give it unwrapped to the parent so that s/he can personalize it especially if the parents can't afford to purchase their own gifts. Please purchase from this Amazon link. If you are dropping off items, wrapping paper for those who don't have would be great.
  • We’re searching for a bookcase for a nook in the recreation room to store all the books which are now in shelves and racks that are not very stable.  The size is: 43" width, 84" height. (IKEA Billy would be great.) If you have a little children's soft chair or bean bag, that would be great. If you can get it to the Ellington that would be even greater! Once we get a good bookshelf in then we can accept more books.
  • Is anyone upgrading their microwave and are willing to sanitize their old one and bring it over? One of the Ellington's two microwaves just went on the fritz and now there is just one for the entire building.  If you do, please put a sticker on it for Ms. Bryant and write "replacing old microwave."

Thursday, 12/15, 9–11 am: Volunteer with West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) to help assemble bags of fresh and/or shelf-stable food products to be distributed to food insecure New Yorkers. They’re one of the largest emergency food providers in New York. This project takes place at WSCAH, 263 W 86th St. Volunteers should feel comfortable lifting around 15 pounds and working on their feet for the entire shift. Call or email Steven Yee, Volunteer and Development Coordinator at syee@wscah.org or (646) 484-0371.

A reminder that Instacart has created “Community Carts,” a new in-app feature that makes it easy to donate to the Food Bank For New York City the exact food donations it needs most this holiday season, with no Instacart fees. Here is the link to Food Bank For New York City’s Community Cart

JOBS

Wednesday, 12/14, 9 am – 5 pm, the DEP Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility Visitor’s Center (329 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, 11222): ​​NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection Engineering Career Fair. The DEP is seeking engineers at various levels and disciplines to work on projects related to water quality, wastewater treatment process, construction, and green infrastructure. Opportunities are available in design, construction and project management with office and field work. Learn more and reserve a spot at the link. 

ALSO on 12/14, from 11 am – 2 pm: New York City Virtual Career Fair sponsored by the NYS Dept. of Labor. A wide range of employers are hiring, ranging from the New York Public Library and The Jewish Board to Acacia Network and The Chef’s Warehouse; positions include security officer, bookkeeper, traffic enforcement, driver, production worker and patient care. Pre-register (and upload your resume) at the link; send any questions to virtualjobfairs@labor.ny.gov

Events.

Sunday, 12/11, 10 am, various Union Square locations: ElfCon, a family friendly hot cocoa crawl that welcomes all children and families (and adults too!) with holiday joy to roam NYC while dressed as elves. Created in 2021 by a 15 year old high schooler who couldn’t participate in Santacon because she was (obviously) too young to drink. So she created ElfCon, which is open to all ages since you don’t need to be a kid to drink hot cocoa. 

People who donate on elfcon.org will be eligible for a special Elf Passport to be stamped at each special cocoa location, the completion of which will get them a special prize! Or go directly to the eventbrite or Facebook event page. All donations go to The Trevor Project (helping LGBTQIA+ kids) and The Making Headway Foundation (helping kids with brain tumors).

Follow ElfCon on Twitter or Instagram (@officialelfcon) for real-time updates or visit elfcon.org

The MTA's “Nostalgia Rides” continue for two more Sundays: 12/11 and 12/18, when its vintage Train of Many Colors will operate along the 1 line, making all local stops between the Chambers St and 137th St/ City College stations, from 10 am –5:30 pm. Fifth Avenue's Open Street will continue on those same two remaining Sundays (car-free between 48th and 57th Streets from noon to 6 pm 12/11 and 12/18). And Uptown Grand Central offers their annual “Hot Chocolate Rides” on those weekends, too. Go on a bike tour of Harlem and sip some of the best hot drinks across Harlem.

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Friday, 12/9, 11 am: New York Utility Consumers in Crisis will address utility affordability challenges in New York and explore the ways that the Governor, state legislators, and the Public Service Commission may be able to protect struggling utility consumers. Panelists include State Senator Kevin Parker, Assembly Member Nily Rozic, Public Utility Law Project’s Laurie Wheelock, and AARP NY Senior Legislative Representative Bill Ferris. Register at the link. Sponsored by AARP New York. 

Friday, 12/9, 7:30 pm, David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center: Cynthia Sayer and her Joyride Band. This American Banjo Hall of Famer and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival headliner is a pioneering artist who has accomplished numerous “firsts” for the 4-string banjo. Free.

Friday, 12/9, 7 pm, Sat–Sun, 12/10–12/11 at 11 am and 2 pm, Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theater (Rose Building on W. 65th St. betw. Broadway & Amsterdam): Electric Root presents An Afrofuturistic Winter Wonderland featuring Michael Mwenso and the Shakes, accompanied by a stellar lineup of New York's most accomplished jazz musicians and vocalists, who present a selection of multi-denominational holiday classics. Tickets are “choose what you pay” starting at $5. 

Saturday, 12/10, 10 am – 12 pm, Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (W. 86th St and West End Ave): UWS Open Hearts is back with a Holiday Event + Free Store. All items are free, and everyone is welcome. If you're interested in donating, you can do so through this wishlist.  Offering (one bag per shopper):

  • Winter clothing for adults and children
  • Toiletries
  • Two tickets per shopper good for 2 gifts from the holiday gift items tables (while supplies last)
  • Holiday gift station with wrapping paper and cards to prepare a gift for a loved one
  • Useful information & resources
  • Snacks

Volunteers needed and welcome, including Spanish-speakers. Shifts would be 9am-12:30pm (outside). Any amount of time within that window appreciated! Please share this info with those who may want to volunteer and have them email donations@openheartsinitiative.org to sign up. (There will be an Upper East Side free store the same day at the Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 E. 80th St (bet. Park & Madison) from 2 pm – 4 pm.)

Saturday, 12/10, 4PM, The Rink at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (Riverside Drive and 145th St.): Ice Theater of New York’s (ITNY) Winter Holiday Skating Celebration. Performances by the ITNY Ensemble with the participation of the Riverbank Figure Skating Club, Figure Skating in Harlem, the Sky Rink All Stars, junior apprentices and guest performers. At the end of the event Santa makes an appearance and there’s a tree-lighting (approx 4:45 pm). 

Monday, 12/12,  7:30 pm, Music Mondays at Advent Lutheran Church, 2504 Broadway at W. 94th St.: The Hands Free, a new acoustic quartet of cutting-edge, genre-hopping musicians are joined by mezzo-soprano Alicia Hall Moran, who starred on Broadway in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Most of their 300 seats are for those who just show up—but as a courtesy to friends who work late, there are advance reservations for general admission (good for entrance only, not for specific seats; reservations are void after 7:20pm). All other seats are first come, first served; doors open at 6:45 pm.

Tuesday, 12/13, 7 – 8.30 pm, Cooper Union Great Hall:  The West Wing and Beyond: What I saw Inside the Presidency. Obama White House Photographer Pete Souza gives the The John Jay Iselin Memorial Lecture, sharing rarely-seen photographs and telling stories from his new book, “The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency.”

Tuesday, 12/13, 7 pm, Christ & St. Stephens Church (120 W. 69 St): Mendelssohn Glee Club of NYC’s free Winter Concert.

Wednesday 12/14, 6:30 pm, virtual: Forum on Upper West Side Parks, sponsored by the UWS Coalition of Block Associations and Community Groups. Hear from the NYC Parks Dept, Central Park Conservancy and Riverside Park Conservancy and view the Coalition presentation at the link. 

Wednesday, 12/14, 2 pm: Get the latest COVID-19 booster in the Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center in partnership with New York Presbyterian.

Wednesday, 12/14, 1 – 2 pm, virtual: “The Power of Emotionally Responsive Relationships in Early Childhood Development,” part of Pediatrics for an Equitable Developmental Start Network’s Learning Collaborative webinar series.With Brittany Pope, M.S., AVP Applied Clinical Sciences and Research, OhioGuidestone and Kristin Bernard, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Stony Brook University. Click the link to RSVP.

Wednesday, 12/14, 6:30 – 8 pm, E. 65th St. & 5th Ave., Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center: “A Chanukah Classical Music Extravaganza” A musical evening celebrating Chanukah, conceived and sponsored by Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, featuring Grammy winners Anthony Roth Costanzo and Angel Blue; The Knights and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, cantorial soloist Steven Fox and commentary by Shalom Goldman of Middlebury College. Program includes Handel’s celebrated oratorio on Chanukah themes, some of his most exquisite arias, and an exploration of the work of contemporary composers Carlos Simon written especially for Costanzo and the BYC, and a 20th-century re-imagining of traditional folk music.

Wednesday, 12/14, 8 pm, Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio, David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center: Quintessentially Emeline, Haiti’s Queen of Creole Song—a captivating performer, vocalist, bandleader, producer and one of the premier Haitian songwriters of her generation. Tickets are “choose what you pay” starting at $5. 

Thursday, 12/15, 7:30 pm, Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theater (Rose Building on W. 65th St. betw. Broadway & Amsterdam): LayeRhythm (On The Move) with STASIS, led by Mai Lê Hô. Embodying the continuum of concert and social dance, weaves a mix of freestyle dance, live music, and audience interaction, celebrating the vibrancy of street and club dance cultures. In collaboration with 92NY and HI-ARTS. Tickets are “choose what you pay” starting at $5.  

Friday, 12/16, 7:30 pm, David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center: Lulada Club Salsa Christmas Party of vintage tropical salsa, boogaloo, bolero, and cha cha cha at this performance of danceable classics and deep cuts. Part of the ¡VAYA! Latin Dance and Music series. Free.

Saturday, 12/17, 11 am, David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center:  The String Queens: A Holiday Celebration! A trio of women whose skills as educators, orchestrators and performers of pop, jazz, and gospel have performed on the world's greatest stages, including the 2021 virtual inauguration concert for Vice President Kamala Harris. Free. 

12/16-12/17, 6:30 pm, ONX Studios (645 Fifth Ave, Lower Level): Ice Theatre of New York’s (ITNY) newest collaboration with Lajuné McMillian, The Unseen, a real-time motion capture performance on ice, honoring Black figure skaters of the past and present. Tickets are free, but seating is limited. Click on the title to reserve. 

The next board public meeting of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is Wednesday, 12/14, 4 pm, via Webex and in-person (100 Church St, 10th Fl., masks required). The CCRB welcomes all New Yorkers to participate in this discussion about police-community relations, and to learn more about civilian oversight of the NYPD.

Wednesday, 12/21, 6 pm, Richard Tucker Park (W 66th St. and Broadway): Chanukah Menorah Lighting and Celebration, with live music and free donuts, latkes, and dreidels, organized by Chabad of the West Sixties.

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Thursday, 1/5/23, 4 – 5:30 pm, virtual: educator training session for City Parks Foundation’s “Green Girls Empowered by ING” curriculum. Intended for educators and community programmers, this training will explain the lesson format and how the curriculum integrates STEM, experiential learning and youth development concepts into each lesson. 

Tuesday, 1/10/23, 12 noon – 1 pm, virtual: Storytelling Workshop: “Shark Tank” Style. In part two of this webinar series, three volunteers will pitch their stories in a “Shark Tank”-style session. Communications experts from the NonProfit Help Desk will provide real-time feedback, helping participants refine their key messages to tell stories that are differentiated, compelling and consistent. The experts will offer practical advice on how to apply storytelling strategies to each organization’s communications channels as well as possible media targets for their stories. Listen in to be inspired and see how the advice might apply to your organization.

Quirk of the week: The 100 greatest innovations of 2022 (Popular Science)

                                             Stay Safe, 
P.S. If you were forwarded this newsletter from a friend, sign up for your own subscription here!

P.P.S. If you have a problem or concern going forward, please contact me at gbrewer@council.nyc.gov, or call (917) 685-8657, or contact my Council district office at (212) 873-0282 and District6@council.nyc.gov.
Copyright © 2022, All rights reserved.

My mailing address is:
District Office: 563 Columbus Ave., NY, NY 10024 (212) 873-0282
Legislative Office: 250 Broadway, Suite 1875, NY, NY 10007 (212) 788-6975

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