CB6 Opposes Proposed Change to New York State Assembly District Boundaries
As we reported in last month’s newsletter, the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (NYS IRC) released its proposed map for the New York State Assembly. In that map, most of our constituents north of East 42nd Street are proposed to be redistricted to a majority-Queens New York State Assembly District.
At its January 9th meeting, the Budget & Governmental Affairs Committee passed a resolution opposing the attempt to place parts of our East Side community within a Queens Assembly District. The resolution was ratified by our Full Board two days later, and we submitted the resolution as testimony to the NYS IRC. You can find the resolution here.
The redistricting proposal will face a series of public hearings before a final version is submitted in April — including a February 7th hearing at Hunter College’s Kaye Playhouse. CB6 encourages district residents to attend the February 7th hearing and to tell the NYS IRC that all of Manhattan Community District 6 should be in an all-Manhattan Assembly District.
2023 Community Board Applications are Live!
A complete application must be submitted online or postmarked by no later than 5:00 pm Friday, March 17th, 2023. Current members who are up for re-appointment must also apply if they wish to continue their service.
Click on the image above to learn more.
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 Carbon Neutrality 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 storm water.
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 The proposals would remove unnecessary and outdated limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occupied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces.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.
CB6 passed a resolution on the proposed text amendments at its January committee meeting. This resolution will be up for consideration at our Full Board meeting on Wednesday, February 8th. You can find the draft resolution here.
The CB6 office found an abandoned motorcycle on the sidewalk of the FDR Drive Service Road, just north of the 37th Street Underpass. This motorcycle was a hazard to pedestrians, as it blocked the sidewalk to such an extent that it forced pedestrians to venture into the actual street to get around it. As long as this abandoned motorcycle was left unaddressed, it was a danger that put pedestrians’ lives at risk.
CB6 asked the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to inspect the issue. Upon the DSNY inspection, they advised CB6 that NYPD is the agency responsible for removing the vehicle. CB6 then persistently followed up with the 17th Precinct until the motorcycle was removed. We’re now happy to report that the abandoned motorcycle has been removed and pedestrians no longer have to risk walking onto the service road of a major highway just to get to where they’re going!
CB6 is here to help. If you need help with an abandoned vehicle or other service request issue, please fill out our Get Help form, email help@cbsix.org, or call (212) 319-3750.
Get your COVID Booster and Mask Up
Try to keep healthy this winter! Get boosted–and get your flu shot while you’re at it! Click the image above to find a vaccine location near you. Pro tip: our very own Bellevue Hospital is a great place right here in Manhattan Community District 6 to get your booster shot!
Also, let’s not forget COVID testing. You can find a COVID testing site here. In fact, NYC Health + Hospitals offers free COVID testing at hospitals, health centers, and pop-up locations across the five boroughs, including at (yup, you guessed it) Bellevue Hospital. No appointment is necessary! Find all NYC Health + Hospitals testing sites here.
Speaking of testing, every American household is eligible to order up to four free at-home COVID tests. Visit https://www.covid.gov/tests to learn more.
Last, but not least, know that the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recommends that you wear a high-quality mask in all public indoor settings and around crowds outside.
By doing all these things, you are doing the best you can to make sure that neither you nor your loved ones land in the hospital with COVID, the flu, or RSV!
Upcoming Meetings
Our upcoming meetings in the next several days include a Transportation Committee meeting on Monday, an Environment & Parks Committee meeting on Tuesday, our monthly Full Board Meeting next Wednesday, and a Health & Human Services Committee meeting next Thursday. You can find information on these meetings and others by visiting the CB6 website, which you can do by clicking on the button below. Please make sure to check our website regularly, as meeting agendas are subject to change.
| Learn More About Upcoming Meetings |
CB6 Office Closure this Month
The CB6 office will be closed on Monday, February 20th for Presidents’ Day.
Even though the CB6 office is closed on that day, 311 will still be available. Additionally, if you have a service request issue, you can still reach out to help@cbsix.org and we will follow up with you after our office reopens.
Alternate Side Parking will also be suspended on February 20th (as well as on February 13th for Lincoln’s Birthday and February 22nd for Ash Wednesday). However, you still need to feed the meter.
Finally, there will be no collection of trash or recycling on February 20th. If your collection day falls on this day, please check DSNY’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram), their press release page, or 311 for more information.
On November 21, 2022, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) issued proposed regulations for many of our adult-use recreation licenses. We are now in the public comment period. OCM is hosting a Regulations Forum on the Lower East Side. This forum is an opportunity for the public to provide comments directly to OCM. No future forums are planned in New York City, so if you want to come in person, come to this forum. Click on the flyer above to register for the forum.
You can find the proposed regulations here.
If you are unable to come, you can also file comments by emailing regulations@ocm.ny.gov. Please view OCM’s guidance on how to submit written comments here.
New Set-Out Times for Trash, Recycling, and Compost Coming Up!
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is changing the usual time for placing trash, recycling and compost out at the curb for collection. The new set-out times (effective April 1, 2023) would help keep city streets clean and reduce food sources for rats.
Under the new rules, residential buildings would have up to three options. Each option would decrease the amount of time items are left on the curb:
- Place items out after 6 PM in a secure container (bundled cardboard can also be placed next to the container), or
- Place items out after 8 PM if putting bags directly on the curb, or
- If a building has nine or more residential units, the property owner may opt in to a 4 AM to 7 AM set-out window instead.
- The opt-in period would run for the month of January each year, allowing DSNY to design quick and efficient routes that take effect April 1.
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Community Updates
- Volunteers needed for new dog run in our district: The Alliance for Kips Bay (ALLKB) is asking for volunteers for the new dog run in our district–at New Wave Pier (on the East River shoreline north of the East 37th Street FDR Drive pedestrian underpass). Volunteers are needed to ensure that gates are closed and operating properly, that doggy dispensers have baggies, and that the space is relatively clean. If you are interested, email allkb.nyc@gmail.com with the subject line of “Dog Run Volunteer”.
- LIRR trains now at Grand Central: With the recent opening of Grand Central Madison, there are now LIRR trains coming to the East Side! LIRR will continue to operate limited shuttle service between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison for at least the next couple of weeks so customers can acquaint themselves with the new terminal as existing schedules continue. This will be followed by LIRR initiating full service from Long Island to Grand Central, per schedules that will be posted on new.mta.info/GrandCentralMadison and in the MTA TrainTime app.
- Water supply change: In preparation for a multi-month shutdown of New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct planned for later this year, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun slowly introducing water from the Croton system into the city’s supply of tap water. Water sourced from each system, and each reservoir within each system (our water in New York City comes from three supply systems), may taste slightly different to some people. However, DEP scientists test the City’s tap water approximately 2,000 times every single day of the year to ensure it remains safe and of the highest quality. Any New Yorkers with concerns about their tap water should report it to 311 so DEP water quality scientists can investigate. More information on the City’s water distribution system and source water can be found here. Additional information on the complex repair of the City’s Delaware Aqueduct, which conveys approximately half of the water consumed in the city each day, can be found here.
- 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. The deadline for submitting comments has been extended to March 7, 2023.
- Apply for affordable rental and homeownership opportunities through NYC Housing Connect
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Department of Environmental Protection Water Resources Art & Poetry Contest
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites students to share their water knowledge and express their creativity through a fun annual program. Their Water Resources Art & Poetry Contest complements STEM and the humanities, as it relates to various aspects of water and the environment. Each year, second through twelfth grade students attending public, independent, charter or parochial schools (or homeschooled) in New York City and East and West of Hudson Watersheds create original art and compose poetry that reflects an appreciation for our shared water resources.
To view student entries from our previous art and poetry contests, visit DEP’s Flickr Page.
Download and share the Water Resources Art & Poetry Contest Flyer with students and colleagues. If you would like more information, please contact artandpoetry@dep.nyc.gov.
NYC Department of Transportation Open Streets Application
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Open Streets application is live. Visit http://www.nyc.gov/openstreets#apply to access the application and learn more about the program.
If you look to apply for an Open Street, keep the following deadlines in mind:
- If your Open Street will launch on or before June 30th, 2023, the deadline was January 31st.
- If your Open Street will launch on or after July 1st, 2023, you must apply by April 14th. This deadline is also for any school applying for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Email openstreets@dot.nyc.gov with any questions or concerns, or if you need assistance completing an application.
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.
Check Out the CB6 Website!
Your one-stop-shop for all things CB6: including resolutions we recently passed, YouTube videos of past meetings, a database of meeting minutes, information on work notices in the district, and more! Visit our website by clicking on the button below.
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