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Friends,

It’s Thursday, May 11, 2023. 

Today, the federal public health emergency will expire.

But, as we quoted Katelyn Jetelina in an earlier edition: the emergency is over, but COVID is not. That’s why we’ll continue to ask visitors to our office to wear a mask inside (We can also meet you outside on the bench). My staff tests and wears masks to ensure we don’t infect visitors, and it should work the other way around, too! We still have plenty of free test kits and masks available for pickup at the D.O.: 563 Columbus Ave. at 87th St., from 10 am – 6 pm. (Here’s an example of why we’re careful: “My Covid Brain” by Deborah Fallows, a useful recounting of “Long COVID” symptoms and timelines.)

The CDC will cease tracking community levels of COVID and the percentage of tests that come back positive. And last week, the World Health Organization ended the global health emergency. Here’s a retrospective “Three years later, COVID ‘Patient Zero’ returns to LA hospital that saved his life” (LA Daily News).

900,000 New Yorkers Lost at Least 3 Loved Ones to Covid (NY Times). An estimated two million New Yorkers lost at least one person close to them within the first 16 months of COVID, and nearly 900,000 New Yorkers lost at least three people they were close to, an open-ended category that included relatives and friends, the Census Bureau’s New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey found. Related: 

Two other health stories:

CHOICE

As part of the recently passed New York State budget, $100.7 million has been allocated to fund abortion providers—to establish NYS as a “destination state” for reproductive care—and expands access to abortion care for SUNY and CUNY students and makes non-hormonal contraceptives available over-the-counter.

The FDA’s scientific advisory committee yesterday (5/10) voted to approve the hormonal contraceptive Opill for over-the-counter sales. The medication has been available by prescription since 1973. Birth control pills are available now without a prescription in more than 100 countries

A few weeks ago, I asked for anyone with an LA Times subscription to pass on a copy of the shattering “Horrifying stories of women chased down by the LAPD abortion squad before Roe vs. Wade”—and our readers came through! Clink the link to download a PDF clipping; it’s worth the depressing ten-minute read. 

Google promised to delete sensitive data. It logged my abortion clinic visit. (Washington Post free link)  

Nine Months Later (This American Life Podcast, Episode 795) After nine months since Roe v. Wade was overturned, TAL talks to those who wanted abortions right when the laws were changing in their states. 

CLIMATE

Methane emissions jumped by record amount in 2021, NOAA says (Washington Post) Please don’t forget that over 30% of New Yorkers’ household waste, on average, is organic material that creates methane when decomposing. Household composting pickups on the Upper West Side are coming from the DSNY next year; get in the habit now by bringing your compost to a GrowNYC Greenmarket (or at the Urban Assembly School for Green Careers’ Youth Market next Thursday 5/18 from 3:30–5:30 at W. 84th and Amsterdam). 

News & information.

Is there anything left to say about the latest wave of mass shootings? About a law enforcement infrastructure unable to handle many active shooter situations (Uvalde, TX) and does so little to enforce *existing* red flag laws? About a Texas governor who calls the latest Texas school shooting a mental health issue—but cut Texas mental health spending by $211 million last year? There were seven shootings over last weekend, including at a Dallas-area outlet mall, which brought the total number of mass shootings in the U.S. this year over 200

Maybe a tiny bit of good news here in NY, from the Albany Times-Union: “Gun seizures in New York are soaring a year after 'extreme risk' law broadened.” (PDF) And from Attorney General Tish James’ statewide gun buyback program two weeks ago (4/29) which recovered 3,076 weapons

The Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing issued a call to action to support the waves of asylum seekers now arriving in NYC, spurred by a simple fact: This past Thursday, the City ran out of accommodations for the asylum seekers. And with Title 42 set to expire this week, the numbers arriving are expected to increase dramatically. (“Racetracks, Parks, Offices: A Frantic Search for Migrant Housing”–NY Times) Space is needed now to temporarily house them—even for just a few weeks—that meets these criteria:

  • 10,000 square feet minimum within a building
  • Large available open layout spaces—i.e., gyms, recreational centers—or subdivided residential centers like dorms.  
  • No known health hazards  
  • Secure space with 24/7 access  
  • Running water and bathrooms

The City might even conduct minor repairs to make the space functional. Please email your information to Asylumseekersupport@cityhall.nyc.gov or any questions to Marc Greenberg, Executive Director of the Interfaith Assembly, at marc@iahh.org.

Additionally, if your congregation would be interested in serving as a Faith Stabilization Bed Site and serve between 15 and 19 people every night for six months or longer—for a remuneration of nearly $30,000 per month, please complete this contact form to indicate interest and see if the space can qualify.

Related: “Wanted: NYC workers who speak Spanish to volunteer on migrant crisis” (Gothamist) City Hall is looking for volunteers who can commit to working twice a month between either the hours of 8 am–8 pm or 8 pm–8 am.

I wrote to Police Commissioner Sewell and Dept of Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez on behalf of a constituent who tracked e-bike delivery workers out of GoPuff’s Broadway/102nd Street location speeding, biking on sidewalks and against traffic (the wrong way), and at night in dark clothing without lights. You can see Commissioner Rodriguez’s response letter here. (PDF) Short version: DOT is working on it, doing delivery worker outreach, bike retailer outreach, and pop-up educational events.  

Related, on Wednesday, 5/17, 12 – 2 pm, Foley Square: Electric Micromobility: The Future of Battery-Operated, Environmentally Friendly Mobility Devices Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sponsors this educational advocacy session on lithium-ion e-bike battery safety and storage, proper bike usage, new generation bike lanes, protected charging and storage stations, battery trade-in/buy-back programs, accessibility concerns. There will be networking sessions, tabling by organizations and NYC agencies, and the opportunity to test-ride mobility devices by Veo and Lime. Livestreamed on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube from approximately 12:30–1:30 pm. 

Through the generosity of Upper West Side neighbors and businesses, we’re excited to assemble and donate 200 Mother’s Day gift bags for moms (and moms-to-be) residing at the Belnord Hotel and Riverside Terrace shelters. Each bag contains beauty & personal care items, sweet treats, gift cards, jewelry, and handmade cards (donated by Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, CRC Group, Columbus Avenue BID with Kee’s Chocolates and Venchi, Kiehl’s, CeraVe, Naturally Susan’s, and Mom’s Christmas Stocking, among others). A big thanks to Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Open Hearts, St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Buy Nothing Project, Coyne PR and The Wall Group for their partnership and support. (Thanks also to Cynthia Hornig on my staff who pulled it all together!)

Monday 5/1, 6:30 pm, Community Board 7’s Parks & Environment Committee meets, with a presentation from Caroline Bragdon, Director of Neighborhood Interventions and Pest Control, DoHMH. Register at the link. 

Our readers helped make the JCC’s clothing drive a success. They collected, sorted and sized over 10,000 items of clothing worth about $75.000, providing 250+ refugee children with free clothing for the spring and summer season—and sent 50 bags of ripped, stained or out of season items to Wearable Collections for repurposing/recycling! Thanks to all. 

I very much recommend reading “How Are the New Migrant Shelters Doing? Residents and Neighbors Speak” in the West Side Rag, which demystifies the newly-arrived immigrants who are being housed at the Belnord Hotel and Riverside Terrace. 

WildflowerNYC is a campaign to restore the connection between New Yorkers and our wild flora—a ballot to vote for an official NYC wildflower. Vote at the link. 

MEDIA ROUNDUP
Inside City Hall on NY1 had a segment this week with Jake Pearson from ProPublica who discussed his story about police misconduct cases, which are compounded by the City Law Department intransigence. (“This Man’s Conviction Was Overturned After Two Years in Prison. But the City Said He Didn’t Deserve a Dime.”)

‘A Quiet Problem’: Many NYC Schools Have No Librarian on Campus (TheCity.nyc)

How Finland managed to virtually end homelessness (Toronto Star)

Biden administration green lights nation’s first congestion pricing plan for New York (Politico)

New York Is Forcing Schools to Change How They Teach Children to Read (NY Times)

NYC forces elementary schools to use one of three reading programs in massive literacy push (Chalkbeat)

9 questions about the debt ceiling, answered (Vox)

At least $391 per child in pandemic food benefits is coming to each NYC public school family (Chalkbeat)

Useful items.

Events sponsored or cosponsored by my office:

  • Saturday 5/13, at dusk (approximately 7:30 pm), Gertrude Ederle Playground (232 W. 60 St.): free film screening of “Lightyear.” 
  • Saturdays, 5/13, 5/20 & 5/27, 6/3, 6/10, 11 am – 1 pm, Gertrude Ederle Playground (232 W. 60 St.): Free tango lessons with instructors from Strictly Tango NYC Dance School. Come with your partner, your friends or by yourself and find a new dance partner. RSVP at the link. 
  • The Urban Assembly School for Green Careers Youth Market will be selling area farm-fresh produce (and also accepting composting!) on Thursdays, 5/18, 6/1 & 6/15, at W. 84th St. @ Amsterdam, from 3:30–5:30 pm. Proceeds benefit the school. I’m cosponsoring along with Green City Force, Jacob’s Pickles, and The Hort. (I went last week, and it was fantastic!)
  • Tuesday, 6/6, 10 am – 4 pm, outside my District Office (563 Columbus Ave): We’re having another “Pop Up” with the NYC Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Meet with OATH staff and get answers and more info about summonses and the City’s administrative hearing process. 
  • Our monthly virtual Housing Clinic in June, Wednesday 6/7, covers “Harassment, construction-as-harassment, and buyouts” with our partners at the Goddard Riverside Law Project and Takeroot Justice. Sign up at the link. 

For students and their families considering options for high school, useful events to know about:

  • Thursday, 5/11, 5:30–7 pm, West Prep Academy (150 W. 105th St.): West Prep Garden Party. Fifth grade families in the district who are interested in attending in the fall can meet and learn more from the West Prep teachers, principal, assistant principal, current students, and parents. There will also be refreshments and West Prep swag!
  • The Spring Transfer High School Fair will be held on Friday, 5/19 from 10 am–3:30 pm at Murray Hill Academy (111 E. 33rd St).  Reps from over 40 high schools citywide with a wide range of specialties will be available to answer questions and help with enrollment. 
  • Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School, NYC's largest public transfer school, will be holding open houses at the school (240 2nd Ave) for students new to the country or looking for a new school for the summer semester. The school offers extensive programs for English language learners, ICT classes for students with IEPs, and night classes. Open houses for the summer session: May 23, 25, or 30 at 5:30 pm; June 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, or 22 at 5:30 pm

Two more school-related notes: 

  • The next CEC3 Calendar Meeting is Wednesday, 5/17, 6:30 pm. Register here.
  • Saturday, 5/13, 10 am – 12 noon, PS 145 (150 W. 105th St.): The District 3 Community is invited to their Pancake Breakfast. Meet other parents and parent leaders, eat and socialize. Register at the link. Free.

Don’t forget next Saturday 5/20 is the W. 72nd Street Block Association’s first-ever Spring Community Volunteer Day. They’re looking for neighbors to share an hour (or more, whatever you can spare) to help tidy up the tree beds and the entire street. Please sign up here if you can help. Meet at 9:30 am at the Welcome Table at Verdi Square (the triangle on the south side of West 72 Street between Amsterdam/Broadway).

NYC Open Data and BetaNYC have posted the video recordings from Open Data Week and School of Data.  

The nonprofit Health Advocates for Older People has published the ninth edition of its Guide to Senior Housing. We’ve linked to the clickable, 126-page PDF here. (Be patient, the PDF file is huge and may take a few minutes to download depending upon your internet connection.)

The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board’s Clean Buildings Training program is a free 2-day online course (7 hours total), designed to help building maintenance staff run an outstanding apartment building recycling program. Participants will learn how to: improve recycling set-ups, educate residents, and avoid fines. Upon completion, program graduates receive a Clean Buildings Training Certificate, direct communication with DSNY staff, and fast-track enrollment for DSNY apartment programs (refashionNYC e-cycleNYC). Register at the links: 5/15: 9 am–12:30 pm and 5/17: 9 am–12:30 pm

Urban Cycling Solutions, a consulting firm, conducted an Urban Bike Census and published its results here. Cyclists are opinionated! ; )

Overnight 5/25–5/26, 10 pm – 5 am: the Paul Feig z”l Tikkun Leil Shavuot is back at Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan—a free night of study, movement, music, learning, conversation, and deep thought. Over 70 sessions including conversations with Tovah Feldshuh (in Broadway’s Funny Girl), Taffy Brodesser-Akner (author of “Fleishman Is in Trouble”), and Joshua Malina + Aaron Neil (in Broadway’s “Leopoldstadt”); culinary experiences with Jewish Food Society; a sneak peek screening of the Israeli TV show “Chanshi”; movement classes including Israeli dance and silent disco; music and comedy events with MusicTalks and The Bible Players; a whiskey tasting with Jews and Booze; and much more. Schedule is still in progress; check the link above for updates. Free and no registration required. 

New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the Catskill Watershed Corporation invite educators to a free professional learning opportunity on the Schooner Pioneer on Wednesday 5/17, Friday 5/19, and Wednesday 6/14 from 4:30–6 pm at the South Street Seaport. Educators will learn about the history of New York Harbor, local ecology, watershed protection, water quality, and connections to the NYC water supply system during this hands-on, 90-minute sail. NYS teachers are eligible to earn CTLE hours for participating. Register here: Harbor Water Sail.

D.A. Bragg’s office is accepting applications for its Gun Violence Prevention Initiative this summer, including possible programs in the Upper West Side’s 24th Precinct. The office will award $20,000 microgrants to up to 10 local organizations who specifically focus on gun violence prevention and who operate in and/or can demonstrate the ability to identify and successfully engage young people at risk of gun violence in these focus areas: the 23rd, 25th, 28th and the 32nd precincts in Harlem; the 34th precinct in Washington Heights/ Inwood; PSA 6 in the 24th (Upper West Side) and 26th (West Harlem) precincts; and PSA 4 which includes the 5th, 7th and 9th precincts on the Lower East Side. Proposals are due by 3 pm Tuesday, 5/16. More at the link. 

NYFA also 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 since 9/1/22. Applications for grants in the current cycle close at 5 pm on 5/19.

Sunday, 6/11, 10 am–4 pm Columbia University/Teachers College W. 120th St (between Broadway & Amsterdam): DSNY brings its Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics (SAFE) Disposal event to the West Side, where NYC residents—not commercial vehicles—can drop off chemical products, medical waste, and batteries & electronics. Vehicle entrance accessible from Seminary Row to Amsterdam. Pedestrian walk-in area available. 


Lincoln Center’s Young Artist Pipeline is a new, free arts training program starting this fall for middle school students interested in developing their craft in dance, instrumental, vocal, theatre and visual arts and learning more about the academic and professional arts worlds. Prior experience in the arts is not necessary.  Learn more and register at the link for these open houses in person and virtually:
  • Tuesday, May 23, 6:00–7:30 pm (Rose Building, 165 W 65th St, 7th floor)
  • Thursday, May 25, 6:30–8:00 pm (Virtual)
  • Thursday, June 8, 6:00–7:30 pm (Rose Building, 165 W 65th St, 7th floor) 

The Amateur Astronomers Association offers chances to view the night skies through their telescopes at locations throughout the city, including Lincoln Center and the High Line. 

Tuesday, 5/16, 1–2 pm, virtual: “Learn from Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Winners” Get an inside look at how National League of Cities’ members applied for and won Safe Streets for All grant funding in 2022, supporting local governments’ efforts to improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—with a focus on equity. Register for the webinar at the link (recording will be sent afterwards). 

Applications are open now, until 6/2, for the 2023 NewYork-Presbyterian Community Fund. Designed to provide funding to community-based organizations in New York City and Westchester County addressing social determinants of health. Funding will be awarded based on a competitive application process, and grants will range from $80,000 - $150,000 a year for up to two years, with a maximum award of $300,000. Sign up here for an online info-session with open Q&A on Monday, 5/22, 11 am

Con Edison is performing gas upgrade work from 5/13 to 7/9 on W. 74th St between Columbus Ave and Central Park West including Saturdays from 8 am–6 pm and Sundays 9 am–6 pm. 

As the summer travel season approaches, the U.S. Dept of Transportation has expanded its customer service dashboard tracking what airlines offer for significant delays and cancellations. They’ve also issued proposed regulations on airlines’ compensation to passengers stranded through no fault of their own—refunds, rebooking, and meals and lodging. More at: “Cash for Delayed or Canceled Flights? What to Know About Biden’s Plan” (NY Times).

Online registration is open through 6/16 for free City Parks Foundation summer sports programs including CityParks Senior Fitness: Tennis–Central Park daily from 1 – 3 pm.

Sundays through 8/20, 8 am, Riverside Park’s 89th St. Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument: Join Silvana Pizzuti to learn and practice Tai Chi, a slow moving martial art with health benefits for all fitness levels. 

Applications are open until 5/21 for the Krauthammer Fellowship—created by Tikvah in partnership with the Paul E. Singer Foundation—for exceptional young writers, a part-time program designed for working professionals and graduate students. They will receive editorial guidance and mentorship to produce and publish long-form essays and articles and will participate in working groups and a colloquium on key themes in Jewish and American thought. The fellowship cycle will run from Sept. 2023–June 2024. More at the link.

It’s going to be hot this weekend. It’s time to start thinking about air conditioning! The City’s cooling assistance benefit helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan. The benefit is worth up to $800 for a portable window air conditioner or fan, and up to $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit, covering the cost of the air conditioner or fan, administrative, materials, and labor costs, and removal of the old unit. Applications are open now until 8/31—but benefits are provided on a first come, first served basis. Click the link for more.

—The City is conducting a study, required by law, to determine if the existing 23% fee cap on commissions that companies like Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber can charge restaurants should remain in effect, be modified, or eliminated. Restaurant owners should take the four-minute survey here to help inform this process and make sure their restaurant's voice is heard. (Thanks to the NYC Hospitality Alliance.)

Thursday, 5/25, 5 - 6:30 pm, St. Agnes Library (444 Amsterdam between W 81st and 82nd Sts): Housing Resources Workshop with JustFix. JustFix builds free tools for tenants to exercise their rights to a livable home. They will share resources to assist with a variety of issues relating to housing, including if you are paying too much rent, how to request much needed repairs, and researching your landlord and building.

New York Cares harnesses the passion of caring New Yorkers to create a more equitable NYC. Last year, nearly 20,000 New Yorkers made the city a better place by volunteering in programs at more than 400 nonprofits and schools—whether preparing meals at a local pantry, tutoring children at a neighborhood school, visiting seniors, or playing recreational games at a community center. Become a New York Cares volunteer at this link

Applications are open until 5/26 for NYC-based creators of original works of theater, dance, music, and interdisciplinary performance to present at the Evolution Festival 9/4–10/1 at the Center at West Park. The Center is seeking existing works in progress that are ready to share with audiences but have not yet had a world premiere. Works should be evening-length: at least 45 minutes and not more than two hours. Artists from historically underrepresented communities are enthusiastically invited to apply. Each artist will receive a full range of support:

  • Three performances in The Center at West Park’s Sanctuary Space
  • Free and subsidized rehearsal space in Summer and Fall 2023
  • A performance fee of $1,200
  • A split of the box office after fee recoupment
  • Technical support, including a stage manager/board operator and technical director during the residency week
  • Ticketing management by CWP staff
  • Front of house staffing, including box office management and ushers
  • Promotional support, including website listing, press release feature, dedicated e-blasts and social media posts, and consultation on other marketing strategy
  • Photography and videography for performances 

Learn more and apply at the link. 

The DOC NYC Spring Showcase series returns 5/18–6/16, giving documentary lovers free access to online screenings of the year’s most talked-about nonfiction films and series, plus two free in-person documentary screenings plus exclusive conversations featuring the creative teams behind them. More at the link. 

Tuesday, 5/23, 5:30–7:30 pm, The Clemente Center (107 Suffolk St): Here to Stay: POC-led Cultural Groups in NYC’s Creative Economy. Leaders from across NYC discuss the need for increased support and visibility for arts and cultural organizations that are led by and serve communities of color, moderated by Robert Smith III, Senior Program Officer, Thriving Cultures, Surdna Foundation. Panelists include:

  • Marco Carrión, Executive Director, El Puente
  • Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham, Executive Director, Museum Hue
  • Ceyenne Doroshow, Executive Director, GLITS, Inc.
  • Yin Kong, Executive Director, Think!Chinatown

Register at the link. 

JOBS & INTERNSHIPS 

Earth Matter NY is now accepting applications for their Zero Waste Internship (ages 16–18 or 18+ years) on Governors Island. Get hands-on, practical skills related to composting, processing organics, waste audits, vendor relations, outreach, and education. Deadline to apply is 5/15 for their Spring cohort. Learn more and apply at the links. 

The Partnership for Public Service sponsors the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program which helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. The program is actively recruiting its fall 2023 cohort to join the National Science Foundation and the Small Business Administration as paid interns—which this year includes a public interest technology track. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across all academic disciplines are welcome to apply. Fully remote and in-person opportunities are available. Applications are due by 6/2.


The Apollo’s Technical Stage Production Internship is a paid opportunity for rising high school seniors to gain hands-on experience in lighting design, videography, audio engineering, carpentry, and production design behind-the-scenes at the iconic theater. Applications are one now through 5/29 at the link. 

Events. (New since Monday!)

Thursday, 5/11, 8 pm, virtual: Transitioning out of childcare? An open conversation between nannies and employers, sharing best practices for ending work with a nanny. How to plan, provide severance, etc. Sponsored by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Hand in Hand, NYC Coalition for Domestic Work among others. RSVP at this link

Come to Times Square for a series of free outdoor dance classes on summer Fridays, led by Ailey Extension instructors and NYC dance artists. Classes are open to people of all ages and all levels of dance experience! Pre-register today or sign-up on site for any of the classes: 

  • Friday, 5/12 at 5pm: NY Style Mambo with Katherine Jimenez 
  • Friday, 5/26 at 5pm: Zumba® with Jose Ozuna 
  • Friday, 6/2 at 5pm: Broadway Jazz with Judine Somerville 
  • Friday, 6/30 at 5pm: Hip-Hop with TweetBoogie 
  • Thursday, 8/10 at 5pm: Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, 5/13, 3 pm, Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza: Search for Spring. English composer Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton collaborated on this  commission by Lincoln Center, a choral work exploring the toll of climate change and our hope for a better future ahead. Search for Spring is sung by hundreds of community voices, coming together to create a unique, spectacular performance. Simon Halsey conducts and leads a team of six New York City conductors. 

Animal Care Centers’ upcoming mobile adoption events:

  • Saturday, 5/13, 12 – 4 pm, W 54th St. (between 9th & 10th Ave): Muddy Paws Block Party
  • Saturday, 5/20 | 12–4 pm, Birch Coffee, 134 ½ E 62nd St

The ACC is also running a May Adoption Promotion. Every Wednesday in May, adoption of a large 40 lbs+ dog costs just $5 (excluding NYC dog license fee and spay/neuter deposit). View all available large dogs at the nycacc.app, and don’t forget to filter by weight!


Saturday, 5/13 from 10 am–1 pm, Riverside Park playgrounds: SandSational begins with a family bucket brigade, followed by parents and adults completing the job of refreshing sandboxes for the season. They provide sand pails for our youngest participants. Join them at your favorite playground:

  • Discovery Playground (Riverside Park and 163rd St)
  • Riverbank Playground (142nd St)
  • Tot Lot 105 (105th St)
  • River Run Playground (83rd St)


Tuesday, 5/16, 8:30–10 am, AIA Center for Architecture (536 Laguardia Place): Panel hosted by the New York League of Conservation Voters on New York City's City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality proposal to update the NYC Zoning Resolution to meet carbon emissions goals.

Friday, 5/19, 4 – 8 pm, on the High Line (between 15th and 16th St): New York Nostalgia High Line Teen Night. Teens 14 – 21 yrs can come to the High Line for music, art, food, and community-building for teen night on a New York nostalgia theme. Think puffer jackets and Timberlands, with vendors serving cultural food and a DJ bringing the music; it’s High Line Teens’ biggest event of the year. More at the link. 

Wednesday–Sunday, 5/17–5/21, Pier 17, North Side: The South Street Seaport Museum co-hosts the 1930 tall ship, Capitán Miranda, a sail training tall ship of the Uruguayan Navy, when she arrives in New York. This is the ship’s first visit to NYC since America’s Millennium Celebrations on July 4, 2000. Tour the historic three-masted full-rigged vessel and learn more about the relationship between the US and Uruguay. No registration needed, just stop by during the open hours:

  • Thursday, 5/18: 10am–12:30pm and 2:30pm–5:30pm
  • Friday, 5/19: 10am–6pm
  • Saturday, 5/20: 12pm–4:30pm
  • Sunday, 5/21: 10am–12:30pm


12 Free tickets available Saturday, 5/20, 7pm, Goddard’s Bernie Wohl Center (647 Columbus Ave): “Zoe Comes Home” by the 29th St. Playwrights Collective, A dark comedy about depression, backyard "art" and one errant pooch. Sign up for free tickets at the link. (ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: Please note that the 8 steps to enter the auditorium are steep, but the stairwell has a railing. The auditorium is not fully wheelchair accessible, as entry requires the use of an automatic chairlift which a person must be able to transfer themselves into or come with a trusted friend/carer who is capable of physically lifting in/out of the chair. Please notify us in advance if you are aware of attendees who may require special accommodations at communityarts@goddard.org)

Saturday, 5/20, 1–4 pm, Rockaway Beach Amphitheater: Free concert from Midori & Friends, Celebrate! Music ensembles Yasser Tejeda (Dominican Jazz & Rock) and La Manga (Caribbean Diaspora), NEXTGen Teen Musicians, and Play to Learn Chorus Students from PS 236K. 

Saturday–Sunday, 5/20-5/21, citywide: Sacred Sites Open House from the NY Landmarks Conservancy. This year’s theme, “Congregations and Communities: 50 Years of Sacred Sites” highlights how congregations create community connections through the services they offer, the social ties they create, and the spaces they provide for people from all walks of life. Participating congregations will showcase their buildings and histories via lectures, musical performances, and special guided tours as well as other cultural and social service programs offered throughout the year. Space is limited on nine pre-booked tours; register at the link above to secure your spot—or join them at one of over 80 other sites that are open for self-guided tours.

Sunday, 5/21, 2–4 pm, Wave Hill’s Glyndor Gallery: Meet the Artists Dana Levy and Yelaine Rodriguez. Exhibiting artists Dana Levy and Yelaine Rodriguez will speak about “This Place We Once Remembered” followed by a screening of related video and film projects: Dana Levy’s This Was Home (2016) and Yelaine Rodriguez’s EBBÓ (Sacrifice) (2021). After the screening, there will be a conversation between the artists and Visual Arts Curator Rachel Raphaela Gugelberger.


(Quirk of the Week will return this summer!)

                                             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, 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 © 2023. 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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