| Dear New Yorker, One year ago, a devastating fire took the lives of 17 people in the Bronx at the Twin Parks apartment complex. Mayor Adams ordered all flags on all city buildings, as well as stationary flagstaffs throughout the five boroughs, to be lowered to half-staff as a mark of respect for the memory of the lives lost. I attended the vigil with the Mayor to mark the one-year anniversary of the Twin Parks fire as well as to honor the New Yorkers whose lives were lost. Community Boards are the first level of local government and consist of volunteers who address issues that affect our communities including land use, transportation, business, and education. Interested New Yorkers can visit on.nyc.gov/cb for information on how to apply. Happy Three Kings Day! May the gifts of three wise men fill your home with prosperity. Wishing you a happy Orthodox Christmas! May you and your loved ones have a joyous holiday. For the latest updates, please follow CAU on Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to check out the Mayor’s ‘Week In Review’ video below! All the best, Fred Kreizman Commissioner, Community Affairs Unit Key Updates: Christmas Tree Collection General Curbside Christmas tree collection began on Friday, January 6, 2023. Collection will run through Saturday, January 14, 2023, barring any delays that may be caused by winter weather events. The kindergarten application is open! Apply by January 20, 2023. This year you can add G&T programs to it, too! In New York City, children enter kindergarten in the fall of the calendar year they turn five, and are guaranteed a kindergarten seat at a public school. Once your child starts kindergarten, they can remain at the same school until its final elementary grade. Watch our video series to learn more about kindergarten admissions. Need an elementary school for your child now? Learn if your child has a zoned school by entering your address at schoolsearch.schools.nyc(Open external link) (this website includes schools’ contact information) or by calling 311. Contact your zoned school directly to enroll. If you don’t have a zoned school, contact schools of interest directly or visit a Family Welcome Center for help finding a school. Keep swimmers safe next summer by becoming a lifeguard! Take the qualifying test this month and protect New Yorkers. More info: http://nyc.gov/parks/lifeguards In case you missed it: .@NYCMayor and @mayorsCAU helped distribute food to the homeless. Thank you to @pcny and all their partners for their continued commitment to NYC and for helping those in need. pic.twitter.com/VAhoJfhdIK — Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (@mayorsCAU) January 3, 2023 .@mayorsCAU #Brooklyn Borough Director conducted site visits at Albany Houses and Stuyvesant Gardens to work with the Resident Association Presidents to address necessary repairs. pic.twitter.com/oBmm7UqqTB — Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (@mayorsCAU) January 3, 2023 Highlights From the City Hall Press Office: PACT Program on Track to Improve Living Conditions for 76,000 NYCHA Residents: Mayor Adams announced that 36,103 apartments, across 137 NYCHA developments, have been renovated, are under construction, or are in the community planning and design process under NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program from its inception through the end of 2022. The PACT program transitions developments from traditional public housing assistance to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program — unlocking funding for designated PACT partners to complete comprehensive repairs. With strong support from the Mayor and HUD, PACT is a key tool in the city’s strategy of preserving and upgrading New York City’s aging public housing stock. Photos of 2022 projects are available online. NYCHA to Replace 335 Elevators in 20 Developments: Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul announced that Phase I planning for critical capital work has begun to replace 335 elevators at 20 NYCHA developments, as part of a $300 million funding agreement with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) that was signed in April 2022. Nearly 34,000 residents living in almost 16,000 apartments will benefit from improved elevator service at the 20 developments, which include six senior-designated campuses. All elevator construction work is scheduled to be complete by early December 2028. A full list of the developments that will receive elevator upgrades is available online. Lawsuits Filed Against Landlords of Buildings with Dangerous Conditions: Mayor Adams announced that the city filed two lawsuits against landlords Alma Realty Corp. and Empire Management America Corp. for allowing thousands of residents to live in dangerous conditions as a result of thousands of code violations. Additionally, the city’s Law Department entered into a separate agreement with a third landlord — Sentinel Real Estate Corporation — that sets time frames for repairs. “All New Yorkers deserve to live in safe, clean homes, which is why we will not tolerate landlords who repeatedly flout the law and put the health and wellbeing of tenants at risk,” said the Mayor. Additional Resources: Food Help NYC: Free food locations including food pantries & soup kitchens. NYC Well: Free, confidential mental health support in more than 200 languages, 24/7/365. Call 888-NYC-WELL or text “WELL” to 65173. Mental Health For All: A comprehensive hub with helplines and services that offer a range of free, direct support to meet the needs of all New Yorkers. Buildings After Hours: Free in-person information session with DOB staff every Tuesday from 4 PM to 7 PM at your local borough office. COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illnesses: Resources including test kits, treatment, vaccines, and masks available to New Yorkers as New York City experiences high levels of COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses. Notify NYC: Enroll for free in New York City’s dedicated emergency public communications program. 311: Non-emergency municipal services available online, by texting 311-692, or by calling 3-1-1 from within the City or 212-NEW-YORK outside the five boroughs. TTY service is also available by dialing 212-504-4115. Mayor’s Office–Community Affairs 253 Broadway 9th Fl New York, NY 10007 United States |