Community Alerts 5.4.23

NYPD Crime Prevention Division on TikTok Auto Theft Challenge

Do you own a Kia or Hyundai? Be aware of the popular social media challenge targeting these vehicle brands. If possible, utilize a steering wheel lock and always lock your car and activate your alarm. Read above for more helpful tips.

Traffic Advisories

On Sunday, May 7, the Five Boro Bike Tour will take place. While the route does not touch our district, and we are not directly impacted, there are a number of road closures throughout the five boroughs in relation to this event. For a list of street closures, click here. To view the route map, click here.

On Saturday, May 13, the annual Japan Day Parade and Street Fair will take place. The parade will be held on Central Park West between 68th Street and 81st Street and may use 67th and 68th Streets between Broadway and Central Park West for overflow and production parking. The street fair will be on 72nd Street between Columbus and Central Park West. For more information, click here.

On Sunday, May 14, the east side of Broadway between 60th & 65th Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8:00am to 8:00pm due to a multi-block street fair.

For more information, call 311. 

Information session on Reduced-Fare OMNY for seniors

On Friday, May 5, from 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Council Member Gale Brewer and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal are hosting an in-person and virtual information session on Reduced-Fare OMNY for seniors at Goddard Riverside’s Lincoln Square Older Adult Center (250 W 65th Street). The MTA is phasing out MetroCards by the end of 2023; new OMNY cards will be introduced later this year, but you can use a smartphone to use OMNY now. Representatives from the MTA will explain how and help you set things up on your phone and answer any questions. Please bring a smartphone, a debit card, and your current reduced-fare MetroCard. RSVP by clicking here or by calling 212-633-8052. 

Free West Side Shred Day on May 21

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, from 10 am - 2 pm, Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal is hosting West Side shred day outside of her district office at 230 West 72nd Street (between Broadway and West End Avenue). There is a limit of three boxes of documents. To RSVP, contact her office at 212-873-6368 or rosenthall@nyassembly.gov.

Con Edison Work Schedule

From May 1 to July 31, Con Edison is performing gas upgrade work on West 69th St between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West. The work will take place Mondays - Fridays from 9:00am to 4:00pm. You can expect limited street parking, temporary lane/bike lane closures, noise, and generator(s).

NYC Summer Youth Employment Program

The NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program that connects NYC youth ages 14 to 24 with a six-week paid summer work experience. Hiring young people through SYEP is a direct investment in the economic recovery of New York City. Click here to learn more, including how to participate in the program.

Support for Veteran Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Are you a Veteran who owns a business in New York City? The NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) offers two initiatives geared toward supporting Veteran Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs. One is VetBizNYC, a map of NYC Veteran Businesses. Veteran Business Owners can click here to fill out the online form to be included in the interactive map. The other is the Veteran Business Leadership Association (VBLA), which provides free one-on-one business counseling, access to capital, and help with government contracting. The VBLA’s goal is to create a specialized network for veteran business leaders that is peer-driven and supportive of the community’s unique needs. You can register with the VBLA here. For more information, please email business@veterans.nyc.gov.

Reminder to Remove Standing Water from Your Property

This is your yearly reminder to eliminate standing water on your property in order to control mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and spread West Nile virus and other diseases. Keeping your property free from accumulated water is the best way to protect your community from mosquitoes. Removing standing water is also the law. Section 151.03 of the New York City Health Code requires property owners to remove accumulated collecting water from their property from April 1 through October 31. Failure to do so can result in summonses subject to fines. You can learn more about preventing mosquitos by reading this flyer and visiting the Department of Health website.

Read the May/June 2023 UWSR Eco Letter

The free UWSR Eco Letter comes from Upper West Side Recycling six times a year. Each Eco Letter lists events taking place during the following two or three months and also includes a Commentary on an environmental topic relevant to the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Click here to read the letter.

Apply NOW to Become a CERT Member

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members receive intensive training in emergency preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and more. If you are 18 or older and want to join NYC CERT, please click here to complete the online application. The next NYC CERT Basic training cycle is due to begin in late May 2023, so apply now!

DEP Water Bill Amnesty Program Extended through May 31

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala announced New York City is extending the successful water bill amnesty program for an additional month — through May 31, 2023 — to help New Yorkers save money while also clearing debt. 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.