New Life Sciences Campus Coming to Manhattan Community District 6
Left image: CB6 Chair Kyle Athayde (left) and Council Member Keith Powers (right) celebrate the announcement of SPARC; Right image: Athayde (left), CB6 Member and Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association (ST-PCV TA) President Susan Steinberg (center), and ST-PCV TA Vice President for External Affairs Anne Greenberg (right)
On October 13, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced plans for the new Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay, a 1.5 million sq. ft. job and education hub for life science and public health careers. The plan is expected to generate 10,000 jobs (including 2,000 permanent jobs). SPARC Kips Bay will be located at the site of the Hunter College Brookdale Campus on East 25th Street, which is located in Manhattan Community District 6. Aside from completely transforming the site, the plan also includes rebuilding an accessible pedestrian bridge on East 25th Street, which will connect to the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.
CB6 is excited that this plan includes community improvements we have advocated for throughout the years, such as having an ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge that connects Waterside Plaza to the rest of our district. Additionally, the project will not include a sanitation garage, which for many years was the original plan for the site and which CB6 opposed. Referencing this history during his remarks, Mayor Adams characterized the new plans as “turning trash into treasure.” CB6 will continue our advocacy to make sure that this new project has the maximum benefit for the residents of our district.
Mayor Seeks to Modernize NYC’s Zoning Rules
The Mayor’s City of Yes initiative seeks to modernize and rationalize zoning rules to help the City recover more quickly from the pandemic, to create a greener city, to support small business growth, and to incentivize the creation of housing, at all levels, in all New York City neighborhoods. There are three proposed zoning text amendments that would be part of this initiative:
Zoning for Zero Carbon aims to modernize the zoning regulations in support of the City’s climate goals. The changes would focus on supporting a renewable energy grid, making our buildings clean and efficient, support for electric vehicle charging and micro-mobility options, and reducing waste and stormwater.
Zoning for Economic Opportunity is focused on providing small businesses with the flexibility needed to for them to change and grow, especially as the city recovers from COVID-19. The proposals would remove unnecessary and outdated limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occupied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces.
Zoning for Housing Opportunity is a direct response to our City’s housing crisis. This seeks to ensure that every neighborhood does its part to help meet housing needs and provide equitable access to housing for all New Yorkers.
To learn more about City of Yes, visit DCP’s website here. Flyers describing the proposals are directly available here. You can watch footage from the first City of Yes Public Information Session here and from the second session here.
No highway lasts forever without needing to be repaired, replaced, or torn down, and the FDR Drive is no different. Join CB6 for a forum on Tuesday, November 15th that examines the FDR Drive as it currently is and envisions what the area could look like in the future. Click on the flyer above in order to register for the forum.
CB6 Hosts Bystander Intervention Training with the City Commission on Human Rights
During our most recent Public Safety Committee meeting, CB6 held a Bystander Intervention Training with the City Commission on Human Rights. At the training, attendees learned about the City’s Human Rights Law, types of oppression, how to intervene in situations when you see someone else in trouble, de-escalation strategies in situations when someone was in trouble, and more. People came out of the training with a better idea of how to help when those around us may be in danger.
You can view a video of the training here.
City Council Passes Public Restrooms Bill Supported by CB6
This past June, CB6 passed a resolution supporting New York City Council Int. 258, which would require New York City to publish a report on feasible locations to install a public bathroom in every ZIP code across the five boroughs. This bill is important because every day, many New Yorkers need access to public restrooms for the sake of their comfort and dignity yet struggle to find one because we have some of the worst access to public restrooms of all major American cities.
Thankfully, the New York City Council last week passed this bill, and we hope that Mayor Adams will sign it into law. We also hope that the City Council will further address this need by making available both capital and operating funds for the Parks Department sufficient to enable it to renovate, maintain, and operate significantly more comfort stations than it currently does.
Upcoming Meetings
Monday, November 7th at 7 PM, the Transportation Committee will hear a bus stop application for the west side of 3rd Avenue, between East 24th and East 23rd Streets, discuss the NYC Department of Transportation’s 3rd Avenue upgrades and revisit the CB6-comissioned study by Sam Schwartz Consulting on 3rd Avenue, discuss e-mobility & bicycle/moped separation on surface streets and East River crossings, and discuss safety issues at East 57th Street and 1st Avenue.
You can join the meeting by registering via the link below.
| Register for the Meeting |
Wednesday, November 9th at 7 PM is our monthly Full Board meeting where we are joined by our local elected officials (or their representatives) who provide reports on what they’ve been working on.
You can join the meeting by registering via the link below.
Thursday, November 10th at 6:30 PM, our Health & Human Services Committee will meet to hear an update from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monkeypox and hear a presentation on the Health Equity and Access to Care (HEAC) Study at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health.
You can join the meeting by registering via the link below.
You can view information on these and other upcoming meetings on our website’s meetings calendar page.
Changes to City Services on Election Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving
- Tuesday, November 8th for Election Day.
- Friday, November 11th for Veterans Day.
- Wednesday, November 23rd; Thursday, November 24th; and Friday, November 25th for Thanksgiving.
Alternate Side Parking will be suspended on November 8th for Election Day, November 11th for Veterans Day, and November 24th for Thanksgiving Day. Additionally, since Thanksgiving is a major legal holiday, you don’t need to feed the meter on Thanksgiving Day. For a complete list of days when Alternate Side Parking will not be in effect in 2022, please view the suspension calendar here.Finally, please note that there will be no garbage or recycling collection on Election Day, Veterans Day, or Thanksgiving Day. If your collection day is scheduled to occur on the day of the week that any of these holidays fall on, please check the Department of Sanitation’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram), their press release page, or 311 for updated direction.
Community Updates
- Update on City Council Redistricting: When new City Council district maps were released several months ago, Sutton Place was proposed to be redistricted to a Queens district. Due to much community advocacy and resolutions by CB6 and CB8, the maps were subsequently revised to put Sutton Place back in an all-Manhattan Council District, and the most recent set of redistricting maps were approved by the Districting Commission on October 6th. The maps were sent to the City Council, and on Thursday, October 27th, the Council accepted the maps without objection. Now, the Districting Commission will need to submit the maps to the City Clerk.
- The New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries (NYNJHAT) Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District is announcing a series of virtual and in-person public meetings for the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries (NYNJHAT) Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study. The purpose of the meetings is to inform the public of the NYNJHAT Study Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (FR) and Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP), and to solicit public feedback on this tentative plan selection to manage coastal storm risk in the Study Area, which includes Manhattan Community District 6. For information on upcoming virtual meetings and about the study, please click here. You can submit comments until January 6, 2023.
- Additional Holidays Recognized by CB6: At October’s Full Board meeting, CB6 passed a resolution offering additional guidance on the scheduling of our meetings. In passing that resolution, CB6 ensured that our meetings are not held on major cultural holidays such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Yom Kippur, to name a few. You can find that resolution here.
- Lithium Ion Battery Safety Tips: Due to recent increases in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries and unfortunate loss of lives, FDNY is encouraging New Yorkers to be #FDNYSmart and implement lithium-ion battery safety tips. You can learn more here.
- Assistance for Floods in Pakistan: Flooding in Pakistan has caused immense losses of life, property, and livelihoods. Learn here how to donate to the efforts for flood assistance in Pakistan.
- Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery: The FDNY wants to remind you that, with the end of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, November 6th, you should change your battery for your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as you change your clock.
- Department of Sanitation Hiring Snow Laborers: The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is now hiring snow laborers for the 2022-23 winter season. Emergency Snow Laborers are per-diem workers who remove snow and ice from bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants and step streets after heavy snowfalls. Snow Laborers earn $17 per hour to start, and $25.50 per hour after 40 hours are worked in a week. For more details on how to become a snow laborer, visit the DSNY website.
Visit our community events page regularly!
Upcoming Gridlock Alert Days
Gridlock Alert Days are days that the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) designates as the busiest traffic days of the year. DOT advises that you take public transportation, walk, or bike to get around on these days.
These are the Gridlock Alert Days coming up in November, as well as the beginning of December:
- Wednesday, November 16
- Thursday, November 17
- Tuesday, November 22
- Wednesday, November 23
- Wednesday, November 30
- Thursday, December 1
- Friday, December 2
Click on the image above to view a full list of Gridlock Alert Days this fall.
Information on Racial Justice Ballot Proposals
This Election Day, when New Yorkers vote they will be asked to turn over the ballot and vote on three ballot measures that would make important changes to New York City’s Charter and the way that government works, with the purpose of laying a foundation for achieving racial equity.
Formed in 2021, the New York City Racial Justice Commission (RJC) was tasked with examining structural racism within NYC. The RJC examined the City’s Charter to identify structural barriers facing Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and all People of Color in NYC. Based on community input, the Commission produced an extensive report and put forward 3 ballot measures, all geared towards rooting out systemic racism. New Yorkers will vote on these proposed changes to the City’s Charter in the November 2022 election. You can learn more here.
Starting May 3, 2023, only the Enhanced or REAL ID will be accepted to get on a domestic flight (within the U.S.), or to enter certain federal buildings or military bases (unless you have a passport or another federally-accepted form of ID). Learn how you can upgrade your ID by the deadline here.
Ten years ago, our district was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. If you don’t know your evacuation zone already, use the ten-year anniversary of Sandy as a reminder to make sure you know your zone.
It’s Heat Season. Here are Some Helpful Reminders from the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Heat season is underway. What this means is that your landlord has requirements on how warm to keep your building.
Day
During the day, if the temperature is below 55 degrees, then your building is required to have indoor temperatures minimally at 68 degrees.
Night
At night, your building is required to have a minimum indoor temperature of 62 degrees. Note that unlike during the day, there is no outside temperature requirement for maintaining this temperature at night.
What to do if your building does not meet temperature requirements
If you have issues with heat in your building, you should first be in contact with your building’s property management (the building owner, managing agent, or superintendent). If service is not restored after contact with your building’s management, call 311, visit 311 online, or use the 311Mobile app (on Android or iOS devices). Hearing-impaired tenants can file complaints through Touchtone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (212) 504-4115.
If you see no improvements after contacting your building’s management and 311, please reach out to CB6 by calling (212) 319-3750, emailing help@cbsix.org, or filling out our get help form. Make sure to have your 311 number on you when contacting CB6.
Hot Water Requirements for Buildings
Note that, unlike with heat (addressed in the newsletter item above), hot water must be provided to you all year long at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
If there is no hot water in your building, you should first be in contact with your building’s property management (the building owner, managing agent, or superintendent). If service is not restored after contact with your building’s management, call 311, visit 311 online, or use the 311Mobile app (on Android or iOS devices). Hearing-impaired tenants can file complaints through Touchtone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (212) 504-4115.
Furthermore, if you see no improvements after contacting your building’s management and 311, please reach out to CB6 by calling (212) 319-3750, emailing help@cbsix.org, or filling out our get help form. Make sure to have your 311 number on you when contacting CB6.
Celebrate the Holidays in Manhattan Community District 6
- Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association Tree Lighting Event: Sunday, December 11 at 6pm at Stuyvesant Square Park
- Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association Menorah Lighting Event: Sunday, December 18 at Stuyvesant Square Park
- Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association Christmas Caroling Event: Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 at 5pm at Stuyvesant Square Park
Information on E-Cigarettes and Your Respiratory Health, Part II
In our October newsletter, NYC Smoke-Free, a program of Public Health Solutions that presented to our Health & Human Services Committee in September (listen to their presentation to CB6 here), provided some need-to-know facts on e-cigarettes and your respiratory health. Here are some additional facts on e-cigarettes, courtesy of NYC Smoke-Free:
As the winter months approach, people will be planning to spend more time indoors and at home, which means an increase in working from home and hybrid work models that combine both. The last few years of being embroiled in the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of boosting our immunity and lung health.
Smoking in places of work and residence puts this in direct jeopardy and with that in mind, here are some facts you need to know from NYC Smoke-Free that will help protect your health as well as that of your family:
- There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified the ingredients within tobacco products to be class A carcinogens, which is the highest classification level of toxins. Smoking and secondhand smoke causes chronic health conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes. It also exacerbates pre-existing conditions like asthma, COPD, and emphysema. Older people, children, and pregnant people are especially at risk if exposed. Consider talking with your landlord, property management and/or board about smoking mitigation strategies and passing a possible smoke-free housing policy. NYC Smoke-Free can help in this regard.
- 65% of air is shared in residential multi-unit buildings. Air travels under doors, through windows, electrical circuits, and gaps in the floor and wall. If you can smell what your neighbor is cooking down the hall for dinner you can smell and are breathing in secondhand smoke. For safeguarding your home and lessening your exposure to secondhand smoke, consider purchasing a filter and/or under-the door draft mat.
- A smoke-free building yields higher property value, lower insurance costs, unlocks incentives for further savings, and lowers maintenance costs. A recent study found that costs in properties that allow smoking everywhere were nearly double that of smoking-related costs incurred at smokefree properties (Ong, MK et. al) . In addition, compared to smoke-free units, cleaning and refurbishing costs can be up to $3,000 more in units with heavy smoking (National Center for Healthy Housing). Thirdly, a 2020 NYC Smoke-Free survey showed people would prefer to live in a smoke-free building. Consider sharing data like this with other residents and property managers to promote a smoke-free environment for your building.
There are personal and environmental upsides to going smoke-free in your building—namely the assurance and protection of the health of all residents as well as the decreased risk of accidental smoking fires, which are the second leading cause of apartment fires in NYC. If you and your building and/or business would like to go smoke-free, please reach out to Stefanie Mercado Altman, Community Engagement Manager at saltman@healthsolutions.org. They provide free technical assistance, guidance, resources and materials to help you adopt and implement a smoke-free policy.
Information on the Spotted Lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly was first spotted in New York City in 2020. Since then, they have been spotted by people in and around our district. Spotted lanternflies are a significant threat to a wide range of agricultural crops including walnut, grapes, hops, apples, blueberries, and stone fruits. Most alarmingly for us, given the number of trees in our district, these little critters can infest trees!
While harming our city’s wildlife is generally prohibited, the City’s Parks Department is putting out a one-time call: if you see a spotted lanternfly, please squash it and dispose of this invasive pest. Furthermore, you can help prevent the spread of spotted lanternflies by refraining from moving firewood, outdoor furniture, and other outdoor items that may contain spotted lanternfly egg masses.
You can be a tree hugger by killing a spotted lanternfly! Read more about the spotted lanternfly on the Parks Department website.
Additionally, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages you to visit their page on Monkeypox regularly for updates on it, so that you can protect yourself and those around you.
Latest Vaccine Information:
You may have heard about updated COVID-19 booster shots tailored to combat the two most prevalent Omicron subvariants: BA.4 and BA.5. These updated booster shots have been backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. These updated COVID-19 booster shots have been rolled out, and are recommended for everyone ages 12 and older at least 2 months after their last vaccine shot. Vaccines can protect you and your community from severe cases of COVID-19, hospitalization, and death.
Visit the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene’s website on vaccinations to get more information on the vaccines.
Click on the image below to find out where you can get a vaccine appointment.
Getting a COVID Test in Community District 6
New York City has a test finder where you can see where you can get a COVID-19 test. You can even see the types of testing available at each site. You can visit the test finder here.
If you want a free COVID test, NYC Health + Hospitals offers free testing at hospitals, health centers, and pop-up locations across the five boroughs, including at Bellevue Hospital, which is in Community District 6. No appointment is necessary! Find all NYC Health + Hospitals testing sites here.
