Community Alerts 3.14.23

A conversation with NYC Transit President Richard Davey

Despite its challenges, New York City has the best public transportation system in America. Our subway and bus networks are the arteries of the City, transporting millions of people every day. Running a system as large and complex as this is an immense challenge, and since last May, the person with this job is Richard Davey, President of New York City Transit. Please join the office of City Council Member Erik Bottcher for an online conversation and Q&A about public transit in New York City with Richard Davey on Wednesday, March 15, at 5:30 PM. Click here to register.

Last Chance to Apply for Manhattan Community Board

Community Boards are the independent and representative voices of their communities. The Boards are pivotal in shaping their communities and work to enhance and preserve the character of the city’s many unique neighborhoods. The 2023 Community Board Application is open until Friday, March 17, at 5:00pm. Submit your application to serve on your Community Board here.

NYC Half Marathon on March 19

On Sunday, March 19, New York Road Runners will hold the 2023 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. The race will begin next to the Brooklyn Museum at approximately 7:00am and conclude inside Central Park at West 68th Street. While the route itself does not touch our district, there will be no parking regulations and road closures. Starting at 12:01am, there will be no parking on the east side of Central Park West from 59th Street to 67th Street, and from 6:00am to 3:00pm, there will be a full road closure on both sides of Central Park West from 59th Street to 72nd Street. For more information, including road closures and no parking, click here, or visit the NYRR website here.

RFP for Outdoor Holiday Gift Market at Columbus Circle

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has issued a significant Request for Proposals (RFP) for the installation, operation, and management of an Outdoor Holiday Gift Market at Columbus Circle, Central Park, Manhattan. There will be a recommended remote proposer meeting on Monday, March 20, 2023, at 12:00pm, and if you are considering responding to this RFP, you should make every effort to attend. Click here for the link to the meeting; Meeting ID: 246 162 834 478, Passcode: f4KnhA. All proposals submitted in response to this RFP must be submitted no later than Monday, April 17, 2023, at 2:00pm. To download the RFP, click here. To obtain a hard copy of the RFP or for more information, contact Angel Williams, Senior Project Manager, at (212) 360-3495 or Angel.Williams@parks.nyc.gov.

Building "Greening" Workshop

Buildings are the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in NYC, and Local Law 97 sets limits on emission levels from buildings over 25,000 sq. ft. starting in 2024. On Tuesday, March 21, from 10:00am - 12:00pm, you can learn what steps your building should take now from the New York City Accelerator and Department of Buildings. RSVP at this link for the Zoom.

Minimum Pay for Food Delivery Service Workers

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is proposing to add rules establishing methods for determining the minimum payments that must be made to a food delivery worker by a third-party food delivery service or third-party courier service. DCWP will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule at 11:00am on April 7 by phone and videoconference. For more information, including how to attend the hearing or submit a comment, click here.

File Your Taxes with NYC Free Tax Prep

If you earned $80,000 or less in 2022, file your taxes for FREE with an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer. Learn more here.

Water Bill Amnesty Program Ends April 30

DEP is offering a water bill Amnesty Program available through April 30, 2023. Customers in all tax classes and with any amount of water bill debt are eligible, which means that nearly 1 in 4 customers may be able to benefit. The Amnesty Program will offer customers up to 100% forgiveness of accrued interest if they pay all or part of their outstanding debt and enter into a payment agreement. There is still further support available for low-income water customers. Learn more about this limited one-time Amnesty Program here. 

Take the Central Park Drives Survey

The Central Park Conservancy, in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation and NYC Parks, is leading a community-informed, multi-year plan of the Park’s Drives to increase safety and mobility for the Park's 42 million annual visitors. Your feedback and ideas will be used to recommend innovative design and policy solutions. Take the survey by clicking here to help improve Central Park’s Drives and make them more equitable to a variety of users.

NYC DOT - NYC Streets Plan

NYC DOT developed the NYC Streets Plan, a five-year transportation plan to improve the safety, accessibility, and quality of the City’s streets for all New Yorkers. The plan involves an in-depth analysis of the current state of New York City’s streets and responds equitably to the uniqueness of the City’s many neighborhoods and local needs. Every year, NYC DOT must publish an annual update on the plan, which highlights new initiatives, reports progress, and updates maps with finished and potential projects. To view the NYC Streets Plan Update 2023 and learn more, click here.