[Para ver la versión en español visite aquí).

Dear Neighbors, 

I write to you all from a distance in the beautiful country of Tanzania on the African continent, tending to a family affair. While here, I find myself reflecting and recharging for the tough fights that lie ahead, like that for social justice reform. 

I was disheartened with the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision this week. It's shameful that SCOTUS granted qualified immunity yet again when police officers engage in excessive force. We must end this treacherous doctrine borne out of the Jim Crow era. It's why I've introduced legislation (bill S1991) to end qualified immunity and hold police officers accountable for their actions when they violate people's civil rights. In reaction to the SCOTUS decision, there was a meeting between legislative staff and advocates to discuss ramping up pressure to get my bill passed. I will be there on the front lines with them and invite you all to stay tuned for how to get involved.

I also want to remind you to take advantage of early voting, October 23–31. Be sure to cast your vote on or before November 2!

The early voting locations in our district include: 

• JHS 143 Eleanor Roosevelt - 511 West 182nd Street 10033
• Columbia University Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion - 1150 St. Nicholas Avenue 10032
• Fort Washington Avenue Armory - 216 Ft. Washington Avenue 10032
• The Forum - 601 West 125th Street 10027
• Madison Square Garden - Lobby, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza 10001

Dates and times for early voting are:

• Saturday, October 23, 8am5pm    
• Sunday, October 24, 8am–5pm    
• Monday, October 25, 7am–4pm    
• Tuesday, October 26, 10am–8pm    
• Wednesday, October 27, 10am–8pm    
• Thursday, October 28, 10am–8pm    
• Friday, October 29, 7am–4pm    
• Saturday, October 30, 8am–5pm    
• Sunday, October 31, 8am–4pm

To find information on where polling places or early voting sites are located, go online to vote.nyc. 

Please continue reading this weekly update for important information about valuable resources, vaccines, and community updates. Keep safe and enjoy your friends and loved ones.

In solidarity,

RJ

#CommunityFirst

The 4th Annual Bruce's Garden Halloween Party

Team Jackson invites you and your family to the 4th Annual Bruce's Garden Halloween Party at Isham park on October 31st, from 12–4 pm. There will be candy, crafts, many games, and spooky storytime for the kids. Costumes and masks are required.

School Year COVID Concern Form

My office and I remain open to parents, students, and the educators who have concerns with school reopenings. With that in mind, I’m re-sharing our COVID Concern Form we created for the community to flag issues they see in their schools.

The bilingual form has the option for anonymity and will allow our office to track DOE's success in reopening at full capacity. We will also use the responses as a tool to raise community voices for DOE to address problems at individual schools. Feel free to share this public form with your school community.

Applications for the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund

The Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund (CCNSF) applications are open now. The CCNSF grants are of up to $35,000–$45,000 (based on the organization's budget size) to support work that builds, sustains and advances organizational wellness and effectiveness. 

Learn more about the grant, application process, and eligibility here. For FAQ answers, updates, and RSVP links, visit www.ccnsfund.org.

INCLUDEnyc's College is Possible

On Tuesday, October 26 and Wednesday, October 27, IncludeNYC will host a virtual College is Possible forum, where high school students with IEPs and their families can obtain information about college programs and how to apply for them. Details are on the flyer below.

New Food Benefits Coming to Families: P-EBT

The Mayor's Office for Food Policy has announced that all NYC public school students, regardless of family income or immigration status, who missed school meals while enrolled in remote/blended learning, will receive new food funds through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits. It can be used anywhere EBT/SNAP is accepted, including most retail food stores and farmers markets, and applies to all children attending NYC's public schools (including charters).

Families can expect $820–1300 for the 2020–21 school year; exact amounts will vary based on the number of days a student was learning remotely each month. Money will be added automatically to existing P-EBT cards that families received in the mail last fall. P-EBT is automatically issued; there is no application. If you lost your card, call the NYS Customer Service Helpline at 1-888-328-6399 or visit or www.connectebt.com.

RENT RELIEF UPDATE

Rent relief applications are still open for tenants. The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) covers up to 18 months of rent and is available online only.  

The fund is running out of money currently, but you should still apply in order to secure eviction protections until a decision is made on your application! There’s also hope that additional federal funds will be allocated to New York. 

City Cleanup Corps is Hiring

The City Cleanup Corps (CCC) will employ 10,000 New Yorkers for beautification across our city. CCC workers will wipe away graffiti, power-wash sidewalks, create community murals, tend to community gardens, beautify public spaces, and work with community organizations to clean their neighborhoods. Apply for a job now! Visit www.nyc.gov/ccc.

Attention Restaurant Owners! Restaurant Resiliency Application Now Open

The NYS Restaurant Resiliency Program that I supported in the State budget in April is now live. It sets aside $25 million for grants to restaurants that offer meals and other food-related items to people within distressed or underrepresented communities. Grants awarded under this program support the purchase of food and additional costs related to the preparation, provision, or delivery of meals and for any other expenses determined to be eligible under this program.

Restaurant owners must submit this application, with the following attachments: 

1. A copy of the Restaurant Operating Permit provided by New York State, New York City, or the Department of Health office.

2. The restaurant’s most recent food safety inspection report provided by the permitting office.

3. Sample menus meeting Nutritional Requirements found here

4. The restaurant's current menu

If you have any questions regarding the application, please email RestaurantResiliency.Applications@agriculture.ny.gov. Once applications are submitted, they will be in the order they are received. A representative will reach out to you with any missing information. Program representatives are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Department of Public Service Broadband Availability Survey

This survey about availability, reliability, and cost of high-speed internet and broadband services is easy to follow and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The survey webpage also includes an optional broadband speed test where you can test your current broadband connection for upload and download speed. Take a look at www.empirestatebroadband.com.

Gun Violence Prevention Initiative  

New York State has launched a long-term jobs program that will serve unemployed, under-employed, and out-of-school young New Yorkers ages 18-24 in areas impacted by high rates of gun violence.

Youth can sign up to participate in our partnership with the Consortium for Worker Education, the workforce development arm of the NYC Central Labor Council. If you’re between 18 and 24 and are interested in job training and placement services, please register here to obtain job training and placement in good, long-term jobs. Please note that youth enrolled in college or university will not be eligible. For more information, please visit this link.

I continue to encourage everyone to please get tested for Covid and vaccinated. It's going to take all of us to do our part to achieve our goal of being safe and sound.

Biden's "Children Plan" 

President Biden's Administration announced a plan to roll out COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 through 11. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are considering Pfizer-BioNTech's request for an emergency use authorization (EUA) for their COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11.

The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) plans to meet on October 26. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will follow with a meeting on November 2 and 3. 

Should the FDA and CDC authorize the vaccine for children ages 5 through 11, the Biden Administration will likely begin its planned vaccine rollout shortly after that, in early November. The Biden Administration plans to rely on states for this rollout. 

COVID-19 vaccine boosters

Eligible New Yorkers can start to access booster shots citywide and will need to attest to their eligibility. Additionally, there has been no change to the August guidelines about third doses for people with underlying conditions. 

Please see IMPORTANT information on COVID-19 vaccine boosters below:

If you got Pfizer:

Pfizer booster doses are now available for certain groups of people who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago. Those groups are:

• People who are 65 or older
• People who are 18 or older with an underlying medical condition, or
• People who are 18 or older and live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility.
• People who are 18 or older at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to occupational (e.g., healthcare workers) or institutional settings (e.g., people who live in shelters)
• Adults who received the Pfizer vaccine at least 28 days ago, and are moderate to severely immunocompromised, are still eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine as part of their initial vaccination series.

If you got Moderna:

•  People 18 years and older 2 (100µg) doses given 28 days apart
   People who have undergone solid organ transplantation or with moderately to severely compromised immune systems given 28 days after a second dose.

• People who are: 65 and older 

•  People who are:18 through 64 at high risk of severe COVID-19

• 18 through 64 with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.   

If you got Johnson & Johnson 

• Everyone 18 and over who's already received J&J's first shot at least two months after the initial dose.

Mobile Vaccine Buses returns to Inwood!

Get your covid-19 vaccine at the NYC mobile vaccine bus in Inwood!

·  Dates: October 25–October 29.

·  Location: 526 W 207th Street, New York, NY 10034

·  Monday–Friday 12–8pm daily.

You can also find the full schedule of mobile vaccine locations online here. Walk-ups are welcome, and you can also book in advance through the Vax4NYC website.

Free in-home COVID PCR testing

NYC Test & Trace is now offering free at-home testing to anyone over 65 and/or who is immunocompromised. Call 929.298.9400 9 am–5 pm to schedule an appointment for an at-home PCR test.

Free Transportation and In-Home Vaccinations

City residents 65 and older can get free transportation to and from a vaccination appointment. This service is also available for those with disabilities who have no other way to get to a vaccination site. You can find the In-home vaccination information here.

To schedule free transport by either ambulette or taxi (including wheelchair accessible vehicles), call 1-877-829-4692. If you are younger than 18, you must have your parent or guardian contact to book the trip on your behalf. You can also sign up online for an in-home vaccination or by calling 1-877-829-4692. Anyone 12 and older is eligible for in-home vaccination.

NYC Health + Hospitals is offering third dose

NYC Health + Hospitals is offering a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible New Yorkers with certain serious medical conditions or who receive treatments that weaken their immune system. You must meet the following three conditions to be eligible for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine:

• You must be 12 years of age or older.
• You received two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days ago.
• You are considered moderately to severely immunocompromised.

You can get your third dose at any NYC Health + Hospital vaccine location as well as other sites across NYC. You do not need to get your third dose at the same site where you got your first two doses. To find a vaccination site, go to nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 1-877-829-4692.

Get $100 or other exclusive rewards with your free COVID-19 vaccine!

New Yorkers can get $100, free tickets, memberships, or gifts for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. These giveaways will be available for a limited time. Get your COVID-19 vaccine today! To learn more, visit nyc.gov/vaccineincentives or call 877-VAX-4-NYC (877-829-4692) to find a City-run vaccination site.

MCB4\MCB5 Forum on Mental Health

On October 28 at 6 pm, all are invited to Forum on Mental Health sponsored by Manhattan Community Boards 4 and 5. The panel will discuss the services and gaps for people that are seriously mentally ill, specifically those that are unsheltered. You can submit your questions for the forum and register here. For questions regarding this event, please email jbodine@cb.nyc.gov or marisa@cb5.org.

Fall Harvest

Celebrate Fall Harvest with The Horticultural Society of New York staff, Saturday, October 30th, 12 pm at the Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park. Ages 3-12 are welcome, there will be free Goodie bags and a ride at the Carousel for the first 100 Children. Social distancing and face-covering are required. Come dressed as your favorite monster or ghoul and have some fun!

Raised Crosswalk at West 181 Street & Ft. Washington Avenue

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to increase pedestrian safety at West 181st Street and Fort Washington Avenue by installing a raised crosswalk on the west leg of the intersection.

Safety benefits include:

• reduced vehicle speeds
• improved pedestrian visibility since pedestrians are elevated to the height of the curb
• increased accessibility since they provide a level crossing for those with ambulatory disabilities and seniors.

These raised crosswalks are similar to a speed hump but with flat tops that are level to the curb for pedestrian crossings.

Good Shepherd Food Pantry

The Good Shepherd Parish is hosting a food pantry at Seaman Avenue & Isham street every Saturday, from 7:30 am to 9 am. Please help spread the word to those who are in need!

CLOTH Food Pantry

CLOTH food pantry has new dates in October for volunteers to register. Only 5 volunteers are able to register per shift, and volunteers must be 21 years or older.  Please limit registration to 3 shifts per week. All current or interested volunteers must register online before participating. Distribution shifts are available on Wednesday and Saturday at 8:45 am and 1 pm.