Community Alerts

Community Alerts 1.8.25

Jan 5, 2025
Community Alerts 1.8.25

Mulchfest

NYC Parks’ Mulchfest is ongoing at various park locations this Saturday and Sunday (1/11-1/12)—which is “Chipping Weekend,” where you can watch trees get chipped and take home free mulch (noted by asterisks below). Listed below are sites nearest to Lincoln Square.

  • Central Park (Drop-off only): W 67th and Central Park West (north side of Tavern on the Green entrance)
  • Central Park* (Chipping site): W 81st and Central Park West (at the bridle path)
  • DeWitt Clinton Park (Drop-off only): W 53rd and 11th Avenue

 

Thanks to the expansion of mandatory curbside composting, you can also just leave a natural tree (and any garlands or wreathes) out with your regular composting, rather than scheduling pickups with the NYC Department of Sanitation. Please do NOT wrap the tree in a plastic bag. Learn more here.

 

Be Prepared for the Cold

Cold weather can sneak up on us! Make sure you’re prepared by reading these cold weather safety tips from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or download the Winter Weather Health & Safety Tips Guide from NYC Emergency Management. When the temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less between 4:00pm and 8:00am, the City will issue a Code Blue Weather Emergency. No one who is homeless and seeking shelter in New York City during a Code Blue will be denied. Should you see a homeless individual out in the cold, please call 311 and an outreach team will be dispatched to offer assistance. 

 

NYC Sanitation Now Hiring Emergency Snow Shovelers

The New York City Department of Sanitation is recruiting Emergency Snow Shovelers to work the 2024-2025 winter season. Emergency Snow Shovelers are per-diem workers who remove snow and ice from bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and step streets after heavy snowfalls. Snow Shovelers earn $18.54 per hour to start, and $27.81 per hour after 40 hours are worked in a week. Those interested in becoming an Emergency Snow Shoveler should register here for an application appointment. Registration appointments take place at the Department’s garages. Snow Shovelers must be at least 18 years of age, eligible to work in the United States, and capable of performing heavy physical labor. All applicants must bring the following items at the time of registration: two small photos (1 ½ square); original and copy of two forms of identification; and a Social Security card.

While Emergency Snow Shovelers remove snow and ice from public, pedestrian areas, the Department reminds all residents, businesses, and property owners that they are responsible for keeping their sidewalks clear and accessible. 

 

Amended Rules for Parking Lots and Garages

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is amending rules related to parking lots and garages. Parking lots and garages are permitted to charge customers different rates based on their method of payment (e.g., credit card, debit card, cash). They may also change rate schedules for monthly parking as long as they provide sufficient notice to customers, post an updated rate schedule, and submit a copy of such schedule to DCWP. These rules clarify the obligations of the owner of a parking lot or garage with respect to these policies. Learn more here

 

Fair Fares NYC

Fair Fares NYC is a City program created to help New Yorkers with low incomes manage their transportation costs. Using the Fair Fares NYC MetroCard, eligible New York City residents receive a 50% discount on subway and eligible bus fares. Check your eligibility and apply here.

 

CPR/Narcan Training for Bystanders

On Tuesday, January 14, Council Member Gale Brewer’s office is hosting a CPR/Narcan Training for Bystanders from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at Goddard Riverside (593 Columbus Avenue at W 88th St). Representatives from FDNY and the NYC Department of Health will teach the proper methods to use these lifesaving techniques. RSVP here

 

Design Competition for High School Students

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a new billboard design competition for NYC high school students to promote work zone safety. The We’re Working Here: Work Zone Safety Billboard Design Competition invites NYC high school students from grades nine to twelve to develop creative public service announcements to remind the public to slow down and take caution in work zones.Design submissions are due Friday, January 17, 2025.Find more information and the application here.

 

Free Children’s Book Fair

On Sunday, January 26, from 1:00pm-4:00pm, Gale Brewer’s office will host its annual Free Children’s Book Fair at the Marlene Meyerson JCC (334 Amsterdam at W 76th St). They will be accepting donations of clean, new, and lightly-read books for babies to teens (please, no adult books!) on weekdays between 10:00am and 6:00pm from January 6 through January 17 at Gale Brewer’s District Office (563 Columbus Avenue at W 87th St). From January 20-24, books will be accepted at Marlene Meyerson JCC (334 Amsterdam at W 76th St) from 8:00am until 8:00pm. For more information, call 212-873-0282 or email district6@council.nyc.gov.

 

Volunteer for the 2025 HOPE Survey

Register here to help with NYC’s annual homeless outreach population estimate on January 28 at 10:00pm. If there is inclement weather, HOPE will be rescheduled to the rain date (February 4). Learn more here about HOPE’s history, methodology, and previous results.

 

Attend Rat Academy

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal is hosting a free rat academy with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Project Find on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 2:00pm until 4:00pm at Hamilton House (141 W 73rd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues). While the City has made great strides in reducing its rat population, we can always do more. Join the Assemblymember’s Rat Academy to discuss an array of rat mitigation efforts that can be implemented by individuals and building staff to clean up our streets. To RSVP, please contact Assemblymember Rosenthal’s district office at 212-873-6368 or at rosenthall@nyassembly.gov

 

Volunteer to Help New Yorkers with Their Taxes

Council Member Gale Brewer’s office shared that the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is recruiting volunteer tax preparers to help fellow New Yorkers this coming tax season. Volunteers receive free, professional training and are certified by the IRS. They are looking for those who can commit to at least one 4–8 hour shift per week between January and April at one of the 150 NYC Free Tax Prep sites. Learn more here, by visiting the IRS Link & Learn site, or via New York Cares' online information sessions and training opportunities. To sign up, click here or contact 311.

 

MTA Construction Alerts

In addition to the elevator replacement at Richard Tucker Park for the 66th Street-Lincoln Center Subway Station, you may have noticed construction on the sidewalk near Calabrese Plaza (60th Street and Broadway) and Central Park West. The MTA is installing an elevator inside the 59th Street-Columbus Circle Station. As part of the project, they have two barricaded areas on the sidewalk. They expect the work to continue through the end of March 2025, unless delayed by conflicts on the street level.

 

Traffic Advisories

Need to know about upcoming bridge and street closures? Visit DOT’s webpage for the weekly traffic advisory and weekend traffic advisory.