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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Gmail will “clip” the bottom of the following text; to avoid that, just click the “View this email in your browser” link above—or scroll down and click Gmail's “message clipped” link at the bottom—and either way a new tab will open with the complete newsletter. That way you can scroll all the way down through the events section—and catch our “Quirk of the Week” at the bottom!

(This edition was originally sent on Thursday, 1/26 and the email software says you didn't open it then; I thought you might welcome the chance to read it on a slower day.)

Friends,

It’s Thursday, January 26, 2023.  

The spikes in flu and RSV hospitalizations appear to have peaked (Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as ‘tripledemic’ threat fades, Washington Post). And CityMD promises to refund NYC patients for surprise COVID-19 testing bills (Gothamist).

Katelyn Jetelina isn’t exactly writing about COVID this week in her “Your Local Epidemiologist” newsletter; instead, she explains the avian flu which is driving egg prices way up—but there’s one chilling sentence: “Many epidemiologists continue to put money on the [avian] flu causing the next pandemic.” Only about 800 humans have ever caught avian flu, but it had a 53% mortality rate. 

From Long Covid Is Keeping Significant Numbers of People Out of Work, Study Finds (NY Times):

“The study, published Tuesday by New York’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, found that during the first two years of the pandemic, about 71 percent of people the fund classified as experiencing long Covid either required continuing medical treatment or were unable to work for six months or more. More than a year after contracting the coronavirus, 18 percent of long Covid patients had still not returned to work, more than three-fourths of them younger than 60, the analysis found.”

Those who had a COVID infection during pregnancy had a greater risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit, needing a ventilator, and developing pneumonia—and a seven times higher risk of dying compared with pregnant people who were not infected. 

Vaccines, tests, and masks: Use this pre-built search (at vaccines.gov) for bivalent booster availability here in the 6th Council District. We still have plenty of free test kits and masks available for pickup during business hours at my district office: 563 Columbus Ave. at 87th St., from 10 am – 5:30 pm. To order a free set of four test kits mailed to you, visit COVIDTests.gov.

CHOICE

This week is the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. Veteran NPR Supreme Court reporter Linda Greenhouse published a guest essay in the Times, “Does the War Over Abortion Have a Future?”

The State Assembly and State Senate on Tuesday (1/24) voted to place on the Nov. 2024 general election ballot a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to abortion in New York State’s constitution. 

But that's just New York. The great “Abortion, Every Day” newsletter run by Jessica Valenti reports that a Congressman running for U.S. Senate in Indiana wants to institute a travel ban on women traveling out of state for an abortion.

News & information.

We’ve received cost estimates and feedback from city agencies on dozens of citizen suggestions, and we now need your help to finalize the Participatory Budgeting ballot with ten or so choices in February, and then to manage the balloting in March. If you’d like to contribute a few hours a week over the next two months, please email district6@council.nyc.gov with “I’m a PB volunteer” in the subject line.

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Tomorrow, Friday (1/27) I’ll be hosting DSNY staff for a walk-through along Broadway between 96th and 106th streets to examine that stretch’s trash hotspots (see The Dirty, Rotten Truth About Upper Broadway in the West Side Rag from earlier this month). DSNY has improved its trash can pickups since the pandemic-era cutbacks.

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Welcome to the newsletter game, Mr. Mayor! “Mayor Adams to launch email newsletter campaigns aimed at directly communicating with New Yorkers” (AM NewYork) Here’s the signup link. The Mayor gave his annual State of the City address in Queens today (I was there!); here's a link to the video that opened the event.

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Six new members have been appointed to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) by Mayor Adams, completing his 13 mayoral appointments: Phoebe-Sade Arnold, Lilly Chan, Khari Edwards, Anita Garcia, Anthony Giordano, and Michelle Joseph. 

Four members were elected by local CEC presidents to serve: The Upper West Side’s own Naveed Hasan, and also Jessamyn Lee, Thomas Sheppard, and Ephraim Zakry. 

These members join sitting PEP members Tazin Azad, Aaron Bogad, Geneal Chacon, Marjorie Dienstag, Gregory Faulkner, Sheree Gibson, Angela Green, Maria Kenley, Alan Ong, Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, Maisha Sapp, Gladys Ward, and Lara Lai. 

The PEP approves standards, policies, and objectives directly related to educational achievement and instruction, as well as the chancellor’s regulations, significant changes in school utilization, budgetary items, and department contracts. 

(Also, applications are open to run for a community or citywide education council; applications are due by 2/13. Learn more at the links.)

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Smacked, the state’s second legal weed dispensary opened this week in Greenwich Village, at 144 Bleecker St., owned by a person with multiple pot convictions. (“Newest Legal Cannabis Shop Pops Up in Greenwich Village But Will Close for Construction” from The City)  

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Mulchfest is over for the season, but there are troubling numbers. At four of the five UWS locations, tree collection was down from last year—at some by over 50%: 

• West 123rd Street and Morningside: 505 trees in 2022 --> 980 trees in 2023
• 106th Street and Central Park West: 248 trees --> 132 trees
• West 83rd Street and Riverside: 2,835 trees --> 1,383 trees
• 81st Street and Central Park West: 401 trees --> 350 trees
• 65th Street and Central Park West: 272 trees --> 122 trees

Mayor Adams announced a commitment to expanding composting citywide in the next 20 months in his State of The City address today. But the Upper West Side is one of seven Community Districts whose residents can already opt in to curbside organics pickups! Yet CB 7’s composting rate lags behind some other districts where pickups are available—and all that food in trash bags only helps feed the rat population, and eventually decomposes into dangerous-to-the-planet methane gas. Composting is something we can do right now to improve the neighborhood and help stem the climate crisis. So, please, sign up here to get a free brown bin and get added to a current route. 

Also on the composting front, the Sanitation Department Adds 200 ‘Smart Bins’ in NYC’s Latest Composting Expansion (CityLimits.org). Using the “NYC Compost” app for Android or iOS and your phone’s location, you can find and unlock a drop-off composting bin in many parts of the city. 

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Those of you who’ve received my print newsletter might want a clickable PDF for all the website urls mentioned. Download one at bit.ly/BrewerNewsWinter23, then double-click the document (it will probably open automatically on your computer). If you’re hand-typing those urls in your web browser, remember that they are case-sensitive—it matters whether you use upper-case or lower-case letters.  

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On 2/14, the Community Board 7 Transportation and Parks committees will hold a hearing on the proposed e-bike charging station at the newsstand on the south side of Verdi Square. They will take testimony and discuss the impact of this needed infrastructure. 

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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 11/15/22 deadline due to an extenuating circumstance. If your property is your primary residence and your adjusted gross household income is $250,000 or less, you may be entitled to a property tax rebate. Visit this link if you think you qualify.

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The 2023 application cycle for Manhattan Community Boards, is open through 3/17/23. Current members who wish to serve another term must reapply. Community Boards provide New Yorkers with an opportunity to participate in local democracy and decision making, helping to shape the future of Manhattan. Community Boards touch every aspect of life: parks, sanitation, education, land use, and public health. (I recommend it! I served on Community Board 7 myself back in the 1990s.)

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The City's Dept. of Transportation is proposing an amendment to Section 4-08 of the Traffic Rules to establish loading zone regulations. They’ll be holding a hearing at 10 am Tuesday, 2/7. Here is the link to the Zoom; use meeting ID: 957 2139 4822 and password: 649782.

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My staff and I *love* taking care of problems when we can. Our latest success? We helped a co-op get its refund from the DEP. From a co-op member: “I'm sure we'd still be waiting if it weren't for your intervention. We now have the money to start on some much-needed repairs to our building.”

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Saturday, 1/28, 11 am – 3 pm, 545 W 30th St: A Day of Gratitude—a day of art activities, food, clothing, toiletries, and a health & education resource fair, for families in temporary housing, including the newest New Yorkers. Co-sponsored by The Shed, NYC Dept. of Education, and Project Rousseau. 
 

MEDIA ROUNDUP:

If New York Is So Great, Why Isn’t There Anywhere to Pee? (NY Times)
Related: a crowdsourced NYC Bathroom Map. 
Fort Walgreens The recent spike in shoplifting is both overblown and real. (Curbed)

988 Lifeline sees boost in use and funding in first months (NPR)

The High Cost of Cheap E-Bikes (The New Republic podcast+transcript)

Lithium-ion battery sparked deadly house fire in Elmhurst: FDNY (ABC7)

A lot more than gas stoves: A deep dive into what NY must do to meet its climate law (Gothamist)

Useful items.

The Council’s FY 24 Non Profit Budget Training for Manhattan nonprofits held Tuesday (1/24) was recorded for those who missed it. These documents were explained:

• FY24 Expense Discretionary Application – Blank PDF of the application.
• FY24 Discretionary Policies and Procedures – General Counsel’s formal list of rules and guidelines associated with expense discretionary funding (PDF).
•  FY24 Discretionary Expense and Capital - (CBO Budget Workshop) – PDF of the PowerPoint used during the training.

A Budget Workshop for members of the faith-based community (RSVP link) will be held Tuesday 1/31, 1 – 3 pm.

Not-for-profit community-based organizations that wish to apply for expense discretionary funding (https://council.nyc.gov/budget/) for FY 2024 must submit a Council Application by Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

Apply for FY2024 Discretionary Funding
Access Submitted and In-Progress Applications

Please note that if an application is not submitted within the filing period, the community-based organization will not be eligible for funding. For any issues or questions regarding the FY 2024 application, please contact discretionary@council.nyc.gov.

Non-City organizations applying for FY 2024 capital funding may now download and submit applications at the CapGrants portal. Application deadlines vary depending on the source of the funding your group has requested. See additional information on the process and deadline here.

Lastly, the Manhattan Borough President’s Capital funding application is open; the submission deadline is February 23, 2023.
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The NYC Secure app helps protect your phone and your privacy by alerting you to unsecure Wi-Fi networks, unsafe apps in Android, and system tampering. It’s free, and it seems to have been vetted by the City’s tech people. 

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There’s going to be ConEd work along W. 77th St. between Amsterdam & Columbus this weekend. 

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Sign up TODAY for tomorrow’s (Friday, 1/27) food distribution between  10:45 am –1 pm, on 86th St.: Volunteer with the JCC at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger. Help distribute bags of healthy food and fresh produce to WSCAH’s customers on the sidewalk of 86th Street. Volunteers will be standing outside on concrete under tents in the same general spot for the entire shift, should feel comfortable interacting with the public, and lifting roughly 15 pounds. Spanish proficiency is helpful, but not necessary. There are other dates available for volunteers to help repair the world: 

• Wed, 2/ 15 from 9 – 11am
• Wed, 3/15 from 9 – 11am
• Wed, 4/19 from 9 – 11am
• Fri, 5/12 from 9 – 11am

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PS/IS 191 The Riverside School for Makers and Artists (300 W. 61 St by West End Ave) recently received an influx of refugee families from nearby shelters. The school is collecting coats—new or unused—for the students and families in women’s and men’s sizes small and medium; girl’s and boy’s sizes 14-16, 12-14, 10-12, 9-10, 7-8 and 5-6. Donations of backpacks for elementary-aged girls and boys are also needed. Items can be mailed (300 W 61st St, New York, NY 10023) or dropped off at the school, open each weekday until 6 pm (c/o Damaris Carrion, Parent Coordinator, DCarrion@schools.nyc.gov).
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My office’s February (2/1) virtual Housing Clinic topic is “Getting Repairs.” Register for the Zoom by clicking the title link. 

Also, my district office has a trained volunteer to assist with Senior Citizen and Disabled Rent Increase Exemption applications and renewals for those in rent-regulated units every Monday from 2–6 pm, and we also have a representative from the City Dept. of Finance in the District Office on the second Tuesday of each month who is also able to assist. We take appointments at (212) 873-0282. 

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The Dept. of Small Business Services (SBS) this week announced the creation of a $75 million NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund, which will serve approximately 1,500 local businesses with loans up to $250,000 with a low 4% interest rate and flexible terms to ensure broad access. Businesses may use the loan to refinance existing higher-interest debt, expand customer base, or hire new employees; startups will pay only interest for the first six months, regardless of loan size. To be eligible, businesses must have less than $5 million in annual revenue and be located within New York City. Applications to the Opportunity Fund open today at the link above, and those interested can learn more about the Fund by calling SBS’s Hotline at (888) SBS-4NYC. How-to-apply webinars will be offered every Tuesday with alternating start times of 10 am or 2 pm.

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New York City residents get free admission to the Museum of Modern Art on the first Friday of every month, on UNIQLO NYC Nights—which includes next Friday evening, 2/3, with timed admissions from 4 – 7 pm (the museum closes at 8 pm). Tickets must be reserved online starting a week in advance (that’s tomorrow 1/27) at this page; scroll down to the “Reserve UNIQLO NYC Nights” option). 

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These are the remaining DOE virtual information sessions covering 3-K, pre-K, kindergarten, and gifted and talented programs at NYC public schools: 

• 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  

The only difference in content among events is the interpretation languages provided. Each event will be hosted live online; check your email or visit schools.nyc.gov/ESEvents the day before the event to find the password and any other information you’ll need to join, 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.  

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Applications are now open for Rise!—a global initiative that finds brilliant people who need opportunity and supports them for life as they work to serve others and build a better world. An initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, Rise is the anchor program of a $1 billion commitment from Eric and Wendy Schmidt to find and support global talent. The program starts at ages 15–17 and offers those chosen access to need-based scholarships, a fully-funded residential summit, mentorship, career development, and potential funding. Applications are open until 1/25; learn more at risefortheworld.org/.

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Applications are open for the New York State Small Business SEED Funding program which provides grants to early stage small- and micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations impacted by the pandemic. Call the Harlem Business Alliance for application assistance at (212) 665-7010. 

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The applications are open for NYCHA's Resident Training Academy (NRTA), which provides employment-linked training opportunities to NYCHA residents, on two tracks: Construction and Janitorial. A collaboration between NYCHA, the Robin Hood Foundation, and employment training providers across the city, the NRTA provides residents with technical training. Click the title link to learn more and click here to learn more about the entrance exam, prescreening appointment, and interview process. Applicants must have valid working documentation, be able to lift 50 lbs or more, and 100% available during the work week to participate. 

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The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is available to New Yorkers facing high home utility bills. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source and the age and ability of household members. Click the title link to learn more or click here for application details—apply online, in person or in writing.

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The deadline to file co-op or condo property tax abatement renewals is 2/15. Most properties must also submit a prevailing wage affidavit to qualify for the abatement. 

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St. Paul & St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church at 263 W 86th has been accepting donations for asylum seekers and they have been overwhelmed. To be clear, they only accept donations on Sundays from 12 – 2 pm of clean seasonal/winter clothes sorted by size and gender, toiletries, towels, and diapers. They also stress that they are not accepting any oversize items – especially not things like furniture. 

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Preserve New York (PNY) grants provide funding to eligible nonprofits and municipalities in New York State for projects that identify, document, and preserve New York’s cultural and historic buildings, structures, and landscapes. Pre-applications for the 2023 PNY grant cycle are due Friday, 3/31. Learn more about eligibility requirements, types of projects funded, and how to apply at a drop-in help session for personalized assistance:

• Wednesday, 2/8, 12–1 pm, Click here to register
• Thursday, 2/23, 10–11 am, Click here to register
• Wednesday, 3/15, 12–1 pm, Click here to register
• Monday, 3/27, 9:30–10:30 am, Click here to register

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Wednesdays are the free admission day at the Bronx Zoo (and at the NYC Aquarium from 3–7 pm). Timed tickets are available at this link starting Monday mornings at 9 am on a first-come, first-serve basis using the promo code WCSFREE. Maximum of four tickets per order; premium features—including the Children’s Zoo, Monorail, and Zoo Shuttle—require additional fees. For complete visit information, BronxZoo.com/planahead.

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The City Dept. of Transportation has issued an Open Call (PDF) for applicants to paint public artwork on DOT property throughout New York City under their Asphalt Art Activations program; selected artists may receive up to $20,000. Apply at the link by 2/1. 

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Bike New York’s Bike Donation Program has officially kicked off (See “Bike New York Offers Used Bicycles to Asylum Seekers”). If you or anyone you know would like to donate a bike to be refurbished and given to an asylum seeker, Unlimited Biking stores is accepting bikes seven days a week, from 9 am to 5 pm, at their Manhattan locations: 

• 56 W 56th St 
• 346 W 57th St 
• 79 Chambers St 

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The Simon Wiesenthal Center announces the eighth year of its Government Advocacy Internship Program, educating the next generation of Jewish youth about the mechanisms of advocacy. Twenty-five to 50 college and graduate school students from the tri-state area will be selected, receiving hands-on experience in offices of local legislators, governmental agencies  and  issue-based  advocates, learning  about  the mechanisms  of  political  movement. Learn more at the link; application deadline 3/1/23. 

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Apply by Monday 3/13 for NYFA’s Incubator for executive leaders of color. This free program serves as an incubator for almost 20 arts administrators’ leadership development, providing space to discuss issues specific to BIPOC leaders and exploring new models and trends in arts administration. This free program provides leadership training and community support from April to September 2023. The program is designed to be hybrid:

• Intro Meeting (in-person): Thursday, April 27, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm 
• One-Day Intensives (in person): Thursday, May 11, and Thursday, September 28, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm 
• Check-In Meetings and Technical Assistance Workshops (online): Thursdays from 10 am – 11:30 am 5/25, 6/8, 6/22, 7/20, 8/24, 9/14

Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, so please check your calendar before applying. Executive leaders of color from arts and cultural organizations based in the five boroughs of New York City are encouraged to apply at the link.

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The New York Foundation for the Arts, a fantastic resource for creative people, administers the Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants (funded by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation) a national program which provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to U.S. artists in financial need who are practicing in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography. Grants may be requested for expenses already paid, pending, or for treatment the artist is putting off due to lack of funds for emergencies occurring July 1, 2022 and later. This period’s grants, Cycle 17, will open at 10 am on 2/14, and close at 5 pm on 3/17.

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This sounds amazing, but definitely not free: the 10th annual Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference,  (Friday, 6/2–Thursday, 6/8 at Middlebury College in Ripton, Vermont), based on the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference model, incorporates small, focused workshops coupled with specialized classes centered on the craft of writing. Established editors, literary agents, and publishers give presentations and meet with participants individually and in small groups. Participants include writers of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction as well as environmental professionals, journalists, and teachers who want to explore and strengthen their writing in a literary context. For those who would like to learn more about the field and do not want feedback on their work, an auditor option is available. Applications open until 2/15; financial aid is available. 

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The price of postage has gone up again. A first-class Forever stamp is now 63 cents, instead of 60.

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From Where to Get Your Taxes Done for Free (Wall St Journal free link):

“If you are a middle-income earner, even if you have relatively complicated taxes, you should qualify to file your taxes for free through the IRS’s Free File program… available to filers with an adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less. (To put that in context, the median U.S. household income was just under $71,000 for 2021, according to the Census Bureau.) And the good news about the IRS program is that you will qualify even if your taxes are more complicated and you need to access other forms or schedules. (...)

“One important thing to note: The private-sector partners in the IRS free tax filing program are many of the same big tax software companies that offer free versions of their services. However, [IRS] Free File is a separate program and distinct from these company’s free online offerings, such as the ones detailed above. You have to access Free File through the IRS.gov Free File portal and create an account through the program. Even if you’ve used the same company’s commercial offerings in the past, you won’t be able to use your same login credentials.

“Taxpayers of all income levels can access [ordinary] free fillable tax forms online, although they will not enjoy the same benefits as those that qualify for Free File, such as assistance with your calculations, extensive error-checking and the ability to file a free state return. If your income is higher than the threshold for Free File and you want free tax help, check out our roundup of the best tax software programs, which includes details about each company’s qualifications for free filing, many of which include one state return along when you file your federal return. ”

JOBS

Tomorrow, Friday, 1/27, 10 am – 2 pm: New York City Council’s Tech Job Fair. If you are interested in attending, email your resume to counciljobs@council.nyc.gov with “NYCC Tech Job Fair” ASAP in the subject line to obtain location info. The Council is hiring for these positions: 

• Data Scientist: Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a quantitative discipline or 2+ years of quantitative experience with Python or R, and experience with interactive visualizations (Dash, RShiny, etc.). Experience building/deploying data products with open source tools (SQL, Unix, etc. Experience with web scraping.
• Information Technology Specialist: Applicants must have a minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in a Help Desk, technical support role, knowledge of Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Office 365, Windows Active Directory, TCP/ IP, LAN troubleshooting, DNS, DHCP, VOIP support, Citrix support, WIFI support, printer support and mobile device troubleshooting. 
• Web Developer: Applicants must have a B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, IT, or related fields. The ideal candidate will have 2+ years of experience in web application development. Experience with using and deploying to AWS (EC2, S3 and RDS), proficient with object-oriented programming in Python, and experience in database management and experience with SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL or MS SQL). In addition, experience in HTML5, CSS3, JS, experience using React and Redux with solid understanding of ES6/7, experience using versioning control tools (Git), and experience with use of Django, and Django Rest Framework. Extensive testing and debugging experience. UX/UI design experience.

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Saturday, 1/28, 9 am – 4 pm: Housing Preservation and Development Hiring Fair. Learn more about becoming a Housing Inspector.

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Friday, 2/3, 10 am – 2 pm, 55 Water St., Concourse Level/BID Room: the City Dept. of Transportation (DOT) is hosting a Job Fair to fill full-time entry-level engineering positions. Please RSVP at: http://on.nyc.gov/dotjf. Those unable to attend can complete the online form and attach their resume for consideration for future job openings and agency events. Candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree in civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering by June 2023, and be authorized to work in the U.S. The salary is $59,125 for a 35-hour week with robust benefits. 

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Saturday, 2/4, 10 am – 3 pm, online: “Youth Jive” job, internship and volunteering expo sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the nonprofit behind the city’s zoos (Bronx, Central Park, Prospect Park, Queens) as well as the NYC Aquarium. It’s an opportunity for New Yorkers ages 14–26 to learn about paid and unpaid positions at their facilities. Participants can attend employment workshops to gain important skills; attend career panels with a variety of WCS staff; and connect directly to hiring managers from a variety of departments. Fourteen and 15-year-olds can learn more about WCS's volunteer opportunities and how to use volunteer positions as a springboard into paid positions down the line. 16-26 year olds can meet hiring managers and learn about the many jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities available at the WCS Zoos and Aquarium. Register at the link above; also check out WCS's job, volunteer, and internship opportunities anytime. Email youth@wcs.org with any additional questions.

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The Lincoln Square Business Improvement District is searching for a Senior Program Manager (PDF) to work on some issues including public realm, planning, and transportation. Click the job title for the desription and how to apply. 

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The Senior Community Service Employment Program’s (SCSEP) MaturityWorks program offers unemployed individuals (with household income below 125% of the federal poverty level), age 55+ “on-the-job” training at community-based organizations while receiving a stipend. Funded by the NYS Dept. of Labor, MaturityWorks helps mature job seekers update their skills and get back into the workforce. For more information contact: Sheila Steffen, Career Counselor, The WorkPlace (646)653-2526 or MaturityWorksNY11@workplace.org

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The path to becoming a licensed exterminator has three parts: two online courses—a 30-hour eligibility course and a shorter “structural” course—and then a test administered by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. (There are fees for all of these, and you have to bring your own pencils to the test!)

To find an online eligibility course, visit the NYS DEC information portal and search under the “Courses” tab with two selections: In the first column under the “Course Type” category, choose “Eligibility” in the drop-down; in the second column, labeled “Location” under “Region” choose “2” in the drop down (for NYC). Look for the core 30-hour course and the structural course. 

Then, to plan for the test date, visit the information portal’s “Exam” tab and again search Region 2. (The next available test date at press time is in March, which means taking the eligibility courses in February.) Good luck! 

Events.

Friday, 1/27 from 11 am – 5 pm, The American Folk Art Museum (2 Lincoln Square): “Unexpected Partners: Self-Taught Art and Modernism in Interwar America” a full-day virtual symposium where panelists will revisit a vital moment of American cultural history and highlight the important contributions that unconventional artists such as Morris Hirshfield made to the development of modern art. Click the link for a full list of speakers and schedule.

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Saturday, 1/28, 11 am – 3 pm, 545 W 30th St: A Day of Gratitude—a day of art activities, food, clothing, toiletries, and a health & education resource fair, for families in temporary housing, including the newest New Yorkers. Co-sponsored by The Shed, NYC Dept. of Education, and Project Rousseau. 

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Saturday, 1/28, 2 pm, Zoom: A conversation with Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the “Little Rock Nine” who braved bigotry and violence attempting to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This historic event marked the beginning of this country’s steps towards racially integrating public schools, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954. Click the link to register.

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Saturday, 1/28, 9 am – 4 pm: NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development Hiring Fair.  Learn more about becoming a Housing Inspector.

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Monday, 1/30, 4– 5:15 pm, virtual: “Eating, Emotions, and Health” panel with experts from The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders will discuss the basics of disordered eating, diet culture, the “Health at Every Size” approach, and advocating for better care from both mental health and medical professionals. Sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness-NYC; ASL and Spanish interpretation will be provided. RSVP at the link.

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Monday, 1/30, 7:30 pm, The United Palace (4140 Broadway at 176th St.): Word Up Bookstore is hosting best-selling authors Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone to discuss their latest young adult book How to Be a (Young) Antiracist, a guide for teens seeking a way forward in acknowledging, identifying, and dismantling racism and injustice. Not free, but discounts are available for student/youth groups of 15+ tickets. Email uptownreads@wordupbooks.com to inquire about group tickets.

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Borough President Mark Levine’s State of The Borough will be held Tuesday, 1/31 at 6 pm at The City College of New York (160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031, for those using an app). Click the link to RSVP.

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Tuesday, 1/31, 6:30 pm, Rutgers Presbyterian Church Sanctuary (236 W 73rd St.): “Me to Play,” Jim Bernfield's documentary about two actors with Parkinson's disease who put up an Off-Broadway production of Beckett’s “Endgame,” the play that makes the case that “there’s nothing funnier than unhappiness.” The doc stars Dan Moran, John Christopher Jones, Byron Jennings and Carolyn McCormick. Q&A following with the director and actors. Free tickets at the link, or contact Community Events Coordinator Lesley Countryman lcountryman@rutgerschurch.org or 212-877-8227 ext.213. 

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Monday, 1/30, 7:30 pm Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp theater (155 W. 65th St.), in-person and streaming: AXIOM, an evening of contemporary music performed by Juilliard Music students, conducted by Jeffrey Milarsky. Click the link to watch online or to get tickets.

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Tuesday, 1/31, 8 pm, Juilliard's Paul Hall, 155 W. 65th St., in person or livestream: Ziggy and Miles Johnston, Guitar Duo (supported with funding from my City Council office).

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My office’s February (2/1) virtual Housing Clinic topic is “Getting Repairs.” Register for the Zoom by clicking the title link. 

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Wednesday, 2/1, 6:30 pm, NYC Fire Museum, 278 Spring St: Person Place Thing podcast taping with guest Gary Urbanowicz, the FDNY historian, in discussion with Randy Cohen, the Person Place Thing creator (and former Ethicist columnist at the NY Times Magazine). Click the link to RSVP. (Coming 2/22: NYC Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh at the Municipal Archive.)

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Sunday, 2/5, 12 – 3 pm, Congregation Rodeph Sholom (7 W. 83rd St): At Family Fun Day & Camp Fair, kids can play and participate in fun activities—games, raffles, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon animals, and music—and parents can meet day, sleepaway and specialty camp exhibitors all in one place, in one afternoon.

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Monday, 2/6, 8 pm, Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp theater (155 W. 65th St.), in-person and streaming: Terry Riley’s “In C” A live collaboration between the Juilliard New York and Tianjin campuses with musicians simultaneously performing Terry Riley’s minimalist masterpiece. Pre-concert talk at 7 pm; click the link to watch talk or performance online or to get free tickets. 

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Wednesday, 2/8, 7 – 8:30 pm, Chapel at the Interchurch Center (enter at 61 Claremont Ave bet 119th & 120th St.): Jazzmobile’s winter concerts continue with Winard Harper. Free tickets at the link. 

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Wednesday, 2/8, 12 noon, online via Zoom and YouTube: Mpox Research Roundtable will discuss the current data and research on Mpox in NYC. Free registration at the link. 

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Thursday, 2/9, 7–8:30 pm, in person, Marlene Meyerson JCC (334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th St): Banned Books Panel with PEN America (part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival). PEN America champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Join Jonathan Friedman for a timely panel discussion with banned authors and topic experts, including YA author David Levithan (Boy Meets Boy, Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, Dash & Lily) and additional guests TBA.

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Free Music Fridays concert  2/10, 6 pm, Facebook Live. Enjoy new performances by Belle-Skinner, Gramercy Arms, and Belu-Olisa at The American Folk Art Museum (2 Lincoln Square). Register at this link. 

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Tuesday, 2/14 at 6:30 pm, Community Board 7’s Transportation and Parks committees will hold a hearing on the proposed e-bike charging station in the newsstand on the south side of Verdi Square. They will take testimony and discuss the impact of this needed infrastructure. Call (212) 362-4008 for information.

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Wednesday, 2/15, 5 – 8 pm, in person at the David Dinkins Municipal Building Mezzanine (1 Centre St. North Entrance): The annual Notice of Property Value (NOPV) has been mailed, which allows property owners to review the Department of Finance’s assessment of their properties, challenge the market or assessed value, update their property information, and apply for a property tax exemption if eligible. This in-person NOPV outreach event includes a presentation followed by breakout sessions for constituents to meet one-on-one with staff from the Department of Finance, including assessors, exemptions and property staff, and the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, as well as the New York City Tax Commission, a separate City agency. If you have any questions contact Kieran Mahoney, at outreach@finance.nyc.gov. 

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Thursday, 2/16, 4 – 5 pm, online: Weill Cornell Medicine Wellness Series: Heart Health Practical, effective tools to avoid, reduce and manage heart health will be discussed by Tracy K. Paul, MD, an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Click the link to register. 

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Wednesday, 2/22, 1 pm, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center: Juilliard’s Lab Orchestra, conducted by Anna Handler, Tengku Irfan, Euan Shields, and Alan Truong, with Erin O'Rourke, Soprano, performing 

• Weber: Overture to Oberon
• Copeland: Our Town
• Berg: Sieben frühe Lieder (Seven Early Songs)
• Kodaly: Dances of Galánta

Wednesday, 2/22, 6 pm, Juilliard’s Paul Hall (155 W. 65th St.): Liederabend. Free tickets at the links. 

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Wednesday, 3/15, 6 – 9 pm, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (334 Amsterdam Ave.): State to State: From Startup Nation to Impact Nation, will explore Israel and New York’s mutual commitment to safeguarding the planet for future generations. This panel discussion will feature Ambassador Yehuda Yaakov, Senior Director, Social Impact Policy, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and AJC New York Board Member Michael Lustig, impact investor and author, Greenbook: A Guide to Jewish Impact Investing. Tickets at the link; use the promotional code "SDG23" to register. Not free. Contact Emily Sorkin, Coordinator, AJC New York, at sorkine@ajc.org with any questions.

Quirk of the week: 30 Minutes of Relaxing Visuals from Studio Ghibli (YouTube)