Dear Neighbors,
Whether or not one views this pandemic as a "war," we have seen the tragic loss of over 20,000 New York City residents to COVID-19 in a matter of weeks. Our emergency responders and front-line workers-- nurses and doctors, EMS staff, MTA employees, police, food distribution staff, and so many others, have contributed much and paid a heavy price during this pandemic. Along with recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of our military, I call on all of us to honor our local "essential workers" this Monday.
CITY BUDGET
The City of New York's budget must be finalized by June 30th and City agencies have spent the last month testifying before the Council about cuts to their funding. Today was the final hearing and an opportunity for the public to comment. I thank the educators, students, social service providers, unions, etc. that stood up today and voiced their concerns around proposed budget cuts and the future of this city.
The Independent Budget Office now projects that New York City could see a revenue shortfall of $9.7 billion in the coming fiscal year. As we think about the impact of balancing the City's budget with a loss of over 10% of revenue, we must think "outside of the box" in lieu of leaning solely on cutting expenses. We can find productivity savings of $2-3 billion, but deeper cuts would result in layoffs (increasing unemployment) and meaningful programmatic cuts to vulnerable New Yorkers.
While some of Mayor de Blasio’s proposed cuts are common sense, it would be a mistake to follow through on some of the others, such as slashing the Summer Youth Employment Program and summer youth education programs, as well as cuts to job training programs. These are just the programs we will need for our recovery.
As a member of the City Council's Budget Negotiation Team, I believe the Council will find a way to balance the budget without imposing cuts that would prolong the current catastrophe and delay our recovery. There are more effective and creative ways forward.
Fundamentally, the nature of this budget crisis is revenue driven and it deserves a revenue solution. We can bring in revenue through mechanisms such as a stock transfer tax already on the books, and broadening the sales tax to include many white-collar professional services that are currently exempt. We should also establish a New Deal–style Works Progress Administration in NYC, which will help spur our recovery and prepare New Yorkers for the future.
Read my op-ed in the The Nation this week which outlines how we should approach the City budget.
NYCHA TOWN HALL
NYCHA residents, please join me for an online Town Hall with NYCHA Chair Greg Russ this Tuesday, May 26th at 3pm. We will discuss COVID-19 safety measures in Upper West Side NYCHA buildings, ongoing repair and maintenance problems, recent crime complaints and more.
We are very pleased that City Council Speaker Corey Johnson will make a guest appearance. You can watch or listen to the May 26th Town Hall by:
- Clicking here (webinar ID: 933 7723 6417); or
- Calling 1-646-558-8656 (Password: 933 7723 6417#)
COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC & ANTIBODY TESTING AVAILABLE
Testing for the coronavirus itself, and the subsequent anti-bodies, is being provided by the State of NY in our community through next Tuesday.
When: Thursday (5/21) - Tuesday (5/26)
Where: 145 West 96th Street.
What: Both COVID diagnostic and antibody (serology) tests available
How: By Appointment Only. Call 1-833-SOMOS-NY to sign up
Thank you to Assembly Member O'Donnell's office for sharing this information.
ORGANICS RECYCLING
Many constituents have contacted my office, expressing concern about the City's suspension of curbside organics pick-up, as well as organics drop-off at farmers markets. One-third of New York City's waste stream is organic material (food and yard waste). This waste is now being trucked daily to landfills in several states, exacerbating our contribution to climate change.
We can get back on track, even during this pandemic. I am proud to co-sponsor the Community Organics and Recycling Empowerment (CORE) Act, which was introduced in the Council last week and will require the City to identify three permanent drop-off sites in each community board district. Each site must have capacity for organic waste, electronics, textile, and other materials for recycling. Learn more here.
BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED
The cancellation of blood drives during the pandemic has significantly impacted supply levels. Please consider donating blood. New Yorkers can make an appointment by visiting nybc.org or calling 800-933-2566.
COOLING ASSISTANCE
New York City's Human Resources Administration is providing a “Cooling Assistance” benefit, which helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan up to a cost of $800. Learn more and apply here.
SUMMER SCHOOL: July & August
Summer school will be available (and mandatory in certain instances) for public school students in grades 3 through 12. This includes students with 12-month Individualized Education Program (IEP) services. Click here to learn more.
I encourage families to read School District 3's Remote Learning Newsletters. Read the latest one here. The closure of our schools has been incredibly difficult for students and their families, teachers, and school staff. Any way that our school communities can connect and stay intact during this period is critical.
OPEN STREETS
A reminder that the City has opened 12 miles of streets to pedestrians, including West End Avenue between 87th and 96th Streets. This stretch of WEA will be closed daily to traffic between 8am and 8pm, but please be careful, there is still some traffic. Cross streets remain open with traffic going east/west so watch the lights, businesses can make local deliveries, and residents can move cars in and out as needed.
Find all Open Street locations here. The City is also opening 9.2 miles of Protected Bike Lanes throughout May.
2020 CENSUS: NYC NEEDS YOU
Just under half of New York City residents have responded to the 2020 Census. It is absolutely essential --for fair representation in government, equitable public funding, and much more-- that all New Yorkers participate. Every household has the option of responding online, by phone, or by mail. Learn more here.
DAY OF MUSICAL ACTION
The Kaufman Music Center's June 1st Day of Musical Action will raise critical funds to support their efforts to level the playing field for more than 4,000 music students from diverse backgrounds each year. The day will feature performances by students, faculty and celebrity guests, including Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and will be livestreamed on Kaufman's Facebook page.
RESOURCES FOR UPPER WEST SIDERS
My office is working with seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, people with housing issues, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can.
There are 3 ways to reach my office for assistance: please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected]; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com.
We update the site on a daily basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders need to get through this crisis.
ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS
Are You Having Difficulty With Meal Delivery?
Seniors who signed up through a senior center, or with the City's Dept for the Aging (DFTA), should be receiving meal packages delivered directly to their homes. The meal plan has recently changed to a 9-meal package per person, which is delivered twice per week.
If you are not receiving your meal deliveries, please contact the senior center where you signed up. Click here for Upper West Side senior center phone numbers, under "Senior Centers". We would also appreciate you alerting our office by leaving a message at (212) 873-0282, x206.
Caring Calls
If you are an older adult and would like to speak regularly with a friendly Upper West Side volunteer, please call DOROT at (212) 769-2850 or email: [email protected].
AVAILABLE RESOURCES AT A GLANCE
For Everyone:
How to Help:
For Constituents in Need:
Businesses & Nonprofits:
Workers:
Buildings & Residents:
As always, please stay home to every extent possible for the safety of everyone. You can review NYC Dept of Health guidelines here.
Please stay well and share some kindness with yourself and the people around you.
Warmly,
P.S. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or have them subscribe to my e-blasts here. Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.
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