Community Alerts 1.7.26

Alternate Side Parking

Alternate side parking regulations will be suspended on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The full NYC ASP calendar can be found here. 

Children’s Book Donations

Council Member Gale Brewer’s annual Free Children’s Book Fair will take place on Sunday, January 25, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (334 Amsterdam Avenue between West 75th and 76th Street). Prior to the book fair, you can donate children’s books at Council Member Brewer’s office (563 Columbus between West 87th and 88th Street) through Friday, January 16. Books can also be donated at the JCC from Monday, January 19, to Friday, January 23.

Two Important Items From Community Board 7

Discussion on Central Park Drives: On Monday, January 12, at 6:30pm, Community Board 7’s Parks & Environment Committee and Transportation Committee are hosting a public discussion on pedestrian safety while crossing the Central Park Drives. Click here to sign up to speak in person or online. Comments are limited to one to two minutes, subject to time availability and the number of speakers. The meeting will be held at 250 West 87th Street and via Zoom. 

Community Board Public Member Applications: People living and working in Lincoln Square and the Upper West Side can apply to serve as a public member on a committee in Community Board 7 (west of Central Park West from 59th Street to 110th Street). The committees cover various topics, including Transportation, Parks & Environment, Business & Consumer issues, and more. The application is linked here and must be completed by Thursday, January 15.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree at Mulchfest 

The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation’s Mulchfest provides a way to ensure your Christmas tree is turned into mulch and not sent to a landfill. You can bring your tree to any Mulchfest location (map linked here) until Sunday, January 11.

If you can’t bring your Christmas tree to a drop-off site, the NYC Department of Sanitation will collect Christmas trees on regularly scheduled recycling days. You can check your building’s recycling day by entering your home address here.

Resources and Reminders for Small Businesses

Restaurant Academy: The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is offering free, in-depth business management education covering what’s needed to plan, launch, and operate your own food service business. Click here to register for upcoming webinars. 

NYC Contracting Summit: SBS is hosting the NYC Contracting Summit on Wednesday, January 14, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The conference brings together representatives across government and the private sector to network and discuss upcoming contracting opportunities with small business owners. To learn more and sign up for this free event, click here. 

Enclosed Sidewalk Cafés: SBS reminds businesses that existing NYC Department of Consumer & Worker Protection-licensed enclosed sidewalk cafés that were in operation on March 16, 2020, or the four years prior, may continue to operate, but must apply for a sidewalk café license and revocable consent from the NYC Department of Transportation by Saturday, January 31. To learn more and apply, click here.

Guide for the FIFA World Cup 2026™: SBS has published a guide with tools and resources to help businesses attract and engage with fans and visitors to NYC throughout the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday, June 11. To check out the guide, click here.

NYC Trash Academy

Registration is now open for the Sanitation Foundation’s free, eight-week educational series—beginning on Tuesday, January 27—about making New York City cleaner and more sustainable. The series includes both online and in-person events. Click here to learn more and register by Monday, January 12.

M11 Bus Stop Relocation

Due to upcoming construction at Damrosch Park, the northbound M11 bus stop currently at Amsterdam Avenue and West 62nd Street is being relocated to the south side of West 62nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue until 2028. The bus stop relocation is expected to take place on or around Friday, January 16. 

DOROT's Winter Package Delivery

DOROT, a nonprofit supporting healthy aging for older adults, is hosting its annual Winter Package Delivery on Sunday, January 25, at 10:00am. As a volunteer, you can deliver a package of seasonal treats and enjoy a friendly in-person visit or phone visit. DOROT's West Side location is 171 West 85th Street (off Amsterdam Avenue). To learn more and sign up, click here.

Professional Development for NYC Teachers 

On Monday, January 26, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Film at Lincoln Center (144 West 65th Street) is hosting a professional development day for NYC teachers, educators, teaching artists, and administrators who would like to use film as a teaching tool. The agenda includes instruction on how to use film in the classroom, advanced workshops, and a roundtable discussion. To RSVP, click here and email education@filmlinc.org with questions.

2026 HOPE Night 

The annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) Survey, a citywide survey that estimates the number of New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness, will take place on Tuesday, January 27. The HOPE survey provides data that shapes how NYC directs resources to address homelessness. You can sign up here to help canvass streets, subways, and other public spaces from 10:00pm to 4:00am on the night of January 27. 

Upper West Side Recycling

The January/February edition of Upper West Side Recycling’s Eco Letter, available to read here, has information and resources about how to dispose of waste properly and environmental events coming up. To join the email list, click here. 

Keep Clear of Fire Hydrants

FDNY is reminding New Yorkers to keep fire hydrants clear at all times. It is unlawful to park within 15 feet of a hydrant and parking too close to a hydrant can result in a summons with fines of up to $5,000. You can call 311 to report a blocked or improperly opened fire hydrant. For more information, visit FDNYSmart.org.