Information that may be of interest...September 10, 2018

The information in this eblast is provided by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association. We are sharing the information as a service to our members. If this notice does not interest you, please disregard it.

You can also find these eblasts online in PDF (printable) format at www.murrayhillnyc.org in the News section, look for Weekly Eblasts 2018.

The MHNA Discount Program Please be prepared to show proof of membership when you ask for a discount.

Full list of discounts offered to MHNA members: Restaurant and Food Discounts General Discounts

Visit the Resources pages on the MHNA website it you need information on government resources, substance abuse programs, heat season rules, contact information for local elected officials, and more. For Murray Hill road closures for public projects and street fair information, visit Traffic Updates on www.murrayhillnyc.org.

If you would like to volunteer or join a committee, please send an email to [email protected]. Information about the MHNA committees can be found on www.murrayhillnyc.org. Click About > Committees.

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Our warm wishes for a good new year.

Community Notice The East Side Access site mobilization that was planned for 37th Street and Park Avenue starting September 4 has been delayed. A schedule update will be provided when it becomes available. For community related concerns, questions, or additional information, please contact the East Side Access Community Outreach Team: telephone 855-4-MTAESA, online www.mta.info/esa, Email: [email protected].

Source: City Council Speaker Corey Johnson's email of September 6

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES AS WE BEGIN A NEW SCHOOL YEAR School Registration and Enrollment: Family Welcome Centers are now open in every borough to help new students and their families enroll for the first day of school. For more information, including how and where to register and what to bring, call 311 or visit the NYC Department of Education’s website https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome- centers. School Meals: Thanks in part to the Council’s advocacy over the years, lunch is now free for all public school students. (Breakfast is already provided for free.) For additional information about free breakfast, free lunch, and after-school meals, including how to apply, visit www.schoolfoodnyc.org. After-School Programs: The NYC Department of Youth & Community Development offers engaging, high-quality programs for young people in all five boroughs of New York City during the hours they are not in school. To learn more about the different types of programs available and how to apply, visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/after-school.page. Families shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to their local Council Member if they experience any problems or issues during the first weeks of school. All of us have staff in our district offices who can work with the NYC Department of Education to help resolve any issues that may arise.

Upcoming events (that missed our last eblast) Friday, September 14 5-10pm Accordions Around the World A five-hour Accordion Festival with five bands performing music in five distinct musical traditions. There will be blankets to borrow at the Shop + Info tent, free lawn activities, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. at Bryant Park on the Lawn Between 40th & 42nd Street and between 5th & 6th Avenue (behind the Library) Thursday, September 27 6 - 8pm NY State of the Climate Event State Senators Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger are hosting a panel discussion on what New York State can do to fight climate change. Join a panel of advocates for a discussion of where New York fits in the global context, and what state-level solutions should look like, with an emphasis on environmental justice and just transition for workers. Panelists: Payal Parekh, Global Programme Director of 350.org; Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice; Lara Skinner, Executive Director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University; and Alex Tindal Wiesendanger, Campaign Coordinator at NY Renews. at the Loft 276 at 29th Street

Thursday, September 27 6 – 8 pm NYC Council’s Charter Revision Commission Public Hearing, http://www.charter2019.nyc/hearings/2018-09-27%2018:00:00%20-0400 at City Hall Council Chambers City Hall Park (between Broadway and Centre Steet, south of Chambers Street)

Exercise your right to vote! Primary Elections -> Thursday, September 13 NYC Voter Guide: Meet the Candidates and District Maps. You must be registered wth a party to vote in the Primary Elections in New York State. The Reform party permits you to vote if you are registered to vote but not a member of any party. NYC Board of Elections website: look up your polling place and other information. You can apply in person at the Board of Elections Manhattan office for an absentee ballot up until Wednesday, September 12th, the day before the election. There is still time to register for the General Election in November.

State of Small Businesses Survey NYC Small Business Services is asking small businesses to take a survey. Please take a few minutes to complete these questions so they can ensure that the voices of small businesses and entrepreneurs are heard. This survey is optional and all information collected will be confidential. Through this survey, they hope to better understand barriers to growth and hiring challenges faced by small businesses and how the City can support local entrepreneurs.

Changes in our neighborhood 126 Rapidly Rising Toward 756- Foot Pinnacle In NoMad, Manhattan September 7, 2018, newyorkyimby.com, by Andrew Nelson 15 East 30th Street, also known as 126 Madison Avenue, has been making swift progress toward its 51-story pinnacle... The structure will climb to a height of 756 feet...The project will yield over 300,000 square feet within, with 7,500 square feet of retail divided between two fronts, one located on 30th Street and the other on Madison Avenue. The building will be bringing 180 condominiums to the city, averaging more than 1,600 square feet apiece...Completion is expected by 2019, though 2020 doesn’t appear unlikely.

Photos: Left, actual construction, Right, rendering of completed building

Construction updates Pershing Square West Plaza reconstruction project Council Member Keith Powers's office helped us contact the NYC Department of Transportation and the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) about the Pershing Square West Plaza reconstruction project, which looks like it is nearly completed, but as yet there is no opening date. It was originally expected to be completed in Spring 2018. DDC expects it to be completed in several weeks. Shared Street on 43rd Street between Lexington & 3rd Avenue The shared street on 43rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue has opened and now provides areas to sit on rock bollards. Tables and chairs will be coming soon. This project is funded through the East Midtown Governing Group, as defined in the East Midtown Rezoning, where money is paid into the fund by developers who receive zoning bonuses in exchange for funding public realm improvements. The City also provided seed money for the fund.

The Most Uniquely Popular Amenity in Every NYC Neighborhood September 6, 2018, streeteasy.com, by Casey Roberts For renters and buyers in Murray Hill, Kips Bay and NoMad a doorman (who can accept packages) is the most wanted amenity. In Midtown East they are looking for a pied a terre.

Back-to-School Pedestrian Counts Source: Partnership blog, September 6, 2018 Several times yearly, the 34th Street Partnership counts pedestrian flows on 34th Street. In August, the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street (at the ), was the busiest corner at midday and in the evening with an average of 7,467 and 8,904 respectively. For more information about the Pedestrian Count program and to request reports, contact Claire Austin at [email protected].

Participatory Budgeting is introduced in Council District 4 Participatory Budgeting for Council District 2 Source: emails from Council Member Keith Powers, Council District 4 (north of 34th Street) and Council Member Carlina Rivera, Council District 2 (south of 34th Street). Search for your district: https://pbnyc2018.d21.me District maps: https://council.nyc.gov/district-2 https://council.nyc.gov/district-4 Participatory budget gives New York City residents a chance to weigh in on how they would like to spend city funds to improve their neighborhood. Eligible projects range from park upgrades and school improvements, to transportation innovations and more. You can view the guidelines for eligible projects. Please add any ideas for projects that would improve the neighborhood to the Idea Collection Map. You can submit your ideas on the map. Council District 2 and 4 each have $1 million to spend in the neighborhood. Council District 2: Carlina Rivera is inviting the community to join her and Council Speaker Corey Johnson for a Participatory Budgeting kickoff event at Union Square South Plaza on Sunday, September 23rd. Carlina Rivera and her team will be holding Neighborhood Assemblies throughout District 2 during September and October. There will be a Participatory Budgeting Neighborhood Assembly on September 26th, 6 – 8pm. Learn more about the PB process and submit your ideas for improving District 2. Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Bernstein Building,10 Nathan D. Perlman Place. Council District 4: Keith Powers is also aking people to sign up to volunteer to be a delegate who helps review and create project plans. Keith Powers will also be hosting several Neighborhood Assemblies throughout the district in September to further collect your ideas.Contact Keith's office with questions at [email protected]. District Office: 211 E. 43 Street, Suite 1205, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: 212-818-0580.

Trump moves toward public report on Postal Service overhaul by year's end August 31, 2018, thehill.com, by Morgan Chalfant and Jordan Fabian The Trump administration is promising to publicly release a report on reforming the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) by the end of the year...Trump in April created a group to propose an overhaul for the Postal Service, after accusing Amazon of fleecing the government by using it as its “delivery boy.” Numerous fact-checkers have refuted those Trump assertions, arguing that Amazon’s package deliveries are a moneymaker for the financially struggling Postal Service.

Clergy Abuse Hotline Established by Attorney General Underwood: New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood has established a clergy abuse hotline and online complaint form through which victims and anyone can provide information – part of the Attorney General’s ongoing investigation into sexual abuse of children within the New York dioceses of the Catholic Church. Victims and anyone with information about abuse can call the hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or file a complaint online at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse. An investigator will review all allegations; the Attorney General and her law enforcement partners will seek to protect victims’ and witnesses’ identities.

Murray Hill in the news

Paul McCartney’s Grand Central Surprise September 8, 2018, rollingstone.com, by Simon Vozick-Levinson Paul McCartney was playing air guitar when he showed up at New York’s Grand Central Terminal Friday night around 7:40 p.m. His livestreamed YouTube concert was starting in just a few minutes...

Woman Jumps To Death From Murray Hill Apartment: NYPD September 4, 2018, patch.com, by Caroline Spivack The 57-year-old woman jumped from her 11th-floor unit in the Park Avenue near East 36th Street building at 11 a.m, authorities said. PUBLIC SERVICE REMINDER: NYC Well is a free and confidential way to get help if you or someone close to you needs mental health support. You can text "Well" to 65173 or call 1-888- NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355) for anything from crisis counseling to appointments with mental health professionals. Click here to visit the website.

Traffic and transportation This Commuter Bus Took Nearly 3 Hours to Get to Manhattan. It Was the Express. Aug. 28, 2018, nytimes.com, by Winnie Hu [T]ransit officials are launching an ambitious plan to make bus commutes more bearable. The spaghetti sprawl of 300 bus routes fanning out across the city — some dating to the early 1900s when they were laid over trolley tracks — will be untangled in a complete overhaul of the bus system by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that began just over a week ago. Routes will be redrawn to avoid congested areas, with fewer stops and unnecessary turns...Transit officials said they have also identified congestion hot spots throughout the city — a major cause of bus delays — and are working with the police to increase enforcement of traffic rules and to cut down on cars blocking bus lanes and double parking, among other measures. [Editor's note: The article is about commuter buses, but it may be good for our neighborhood if they have fewer commuter bus stops in congested midtown.] What May Be Driving Growth in the Gig Economy? Ridesharing and the Gig Economy August 29, 2018, U.S. Census Bureau, by Kristin Sandusky One common example of the gig economy is driving for a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft. Drivers who work for those types of companies are self-employed [in the industry classified as] “Taxi and Limousine Services.” Self-employed drivers in this industry also include people who drive for traditional taxi companies...U.S. Census Bureau Nonemployer Statistics data from 1997 to 2016 were examined. “The nonemployer statistics show a phenomenal increase in the number of self-employed taxi drivers” said James Spletzer, principal economist at the Center for Economic Studies...Earnings differences, combined with the difference in the percentage who have a wage and salary job, could suggest that newer drivers worked part time. Many of the incumbents in 2013 likely worked full time. “All of this suggests that the rapid growth of ridesharing apps on smartphones has led to a dramatic growth in the number of self-employed persons driving on a part-time basis,” Spletzer said. “This is a prime example of technology lowering the barriers to entry and affecting how individuals earn money in the labor market.” (opinion) New York Is Least Free State In US, Libertarian Group Say August 28, 2018, patch.com, by Adam Nichols The right-leaning Cato Institute published its "Freedom in the 50 States" report...[which] rates each state's effort to promote fiscal, regulatory and personal freedom...New York is dead last in the overall freedom rankings..."To improve its ranking, the Cato Institute recommends New York cuts spending on hospitals, housing, public buildings, public welfare, education, corrections, police and fire sanitation and sewerage, employee retirement and "miscellaneous," which are all above national averages. They also recommend getting rid of rent control and slashing cigarette taxes. [Editor's note: Murray Hill was home to the influential Libertarian Ayn Rand. The sculpture of Atlas was the inspiration for the title of her book Atlas Shrugged.]

Neighborhoods fighting to preserve neighhborhood character Two-Bridges : This month, The Municipal Art Society released a new analysis and photo simulations of the Two Bridges Large-Scale Residential Development (LSRD) Proposal, which the Department of City Planning has classified as a "minor modification" to the neighborhood, thereby allowing the developers of three supertall towers to sidestep public review...The proposal would result in 2.5 million gross square feet of development including more than 2,500 new high-rise apartments, permanently change the Two Bridges neighborhood and the city’s skyline. Understandably, the LSRD proposal has triggered a heated debate about the City’s land use decision-making process, the role of community-based planning, and the importance of public input in major land use decisions. Full analysis: https://www.mas.org/news/two-bridges Interested members of the public are encouraged to join MAS at the City Planning Commission's public hearing on the proposal, which will be held on Wednesday, October 17, at 120 Broadway (Concourse level). CPC meeting schedule: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/about/commission-meetings.page CPC Public comment form: https://a002-irm.nyc.gov/EventRegistration/RegForm.aspx

14th Street Tech Hub Council Member Carlina Rivera, Council District 2 Approves Tech Hub With Expanded Education Benefits and Community Protections Source: Carlina Rivera's August 2018 newsletter Following eight months of negotiation, Carlina announced this month that she was voting in approval of the Union Square Tech Hub after securing a number of community protections and added benefits in the building that were not originally slated for the rezoning. These benefits included the hearing of seven new properties along the historic Broadway corridor at the Landmarks Preservation Commission; a protective zoning measure that, once approved, would require hotel developments in neighborhoods south of 14th Street to be approved by the City Council; new resources from the city to combat tenant harassment in District 2; an annual $200,000 contribution from the Tech Training Center's developer to a scholarship and grant fund to support expanded training opportunities; the creation of over 1,400 jobs, with an estimated 811 good construction jobs and 615 permanent jobs; and commitments to select minority and women- owned businesses for tenancies in both the retail and start-up spaces within the building. Carlina is proud to be bringing new pathways to success to the neighborhood, while also bringing the first of many neighborhood protections to an area that has gone ignored by two Mayors.

Related article: Lobbyists Got $300K To Push For Union Square Tech Hub The City Council approved the project on Aug. 8 with an up-zoning that preservationists fear will usher a wave of development to the area. Aug 28, 2018, Patch Staff, by Caroline Spivack

NYC Charter Commission The Mayor's Charter Commission Committee will put 3 proposals for changes to the NYC Charter on the ballot for the November elections. Mayoral Charter Revision Commission Puts Three Questions on November Ballot September 5, 2018, gothamgazette.com, by Samar Khurshid

(opinion) Charter a new course: Bail on bad city ballot items September 6, 2018, nydailynews.com, by Daily News Editorial Board Lowering contribution limits is a good idea undermined by an idea it’s attached to, doubling public matching funds for citywide offices to $2,000 per contribution. Creating an ill-defined and superfluous Civic Engagement Commission is silly. Placing term limits on Community Boards makes little sense. Besides, all could have been accomplished via ordinary legislation. Dumb. (opinion) Letter to the Chair of the Mayor's Charter Commission from Borough Presidents Gale Brewer and others This letter expresses concern about the hasty process with few public hearings and the content of the proposed changes, in particular term limits for Community Board members and the Civic Engagement Commission.

Volunteer Opportunity with the Court Navigator Program: The Court Navigator Program trains college students and other volunteers to provide non-legal assistance to unrepresented litigants in New York City Housing Court, connecting them to all resources available to them in the courthouse and community to empower them to better advocate for themselves. Since its inception this program has proved to be an invaluable resource for unrepresented litigants in the Court’s efforts to ensure access to justice to all court users. A minimum of 30 volunteer hours are required to participate in the Court Navigator Program. Hours may be completed Monday to Friday from 9:15am to 1pm in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Bronx Housing Courts except for court holidays. Volunteers are encouraged to complete more than 30 volunteer hours. The next training will take place on Tuesday, September 18th at 111 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013, Room 107 from 10am to 1pm. with registration beginning at 9:30am. Please use the court’s entrance at White Street (between Lafayette St. and Centre St.) An application is required. If you are interested in volunteering, please email a copy of your resume to [email protected].

Affordability Affordable Housing Opportunity in Manhattan - deadline September 24 Fulton Houses is now accepting applications for 159 affordable studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments newly constructed at 425 West 18th Street in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan. Rents for these apartments range from $702 to $3,216 depending on income and unit size. To be eligible, applicants must have incomes between $26,400 and $185,955 depending on unit and family size. Asset limits also apply. Preference will be given to Community Board 4 residents for 50% of units, NYCHA Residents for 25% of units, mobility-impaired persons for 5% of units, visual- and/or hearing-impaired persons for 2% of units, and City of New York municipal employees for 5% of units. Households may elect to submit an application by one of two methods: EITHER online OR by mail. To submit your application online visit NYC Housing Connect at www.nyc.gov/housingconnect and select “Apply for Housing.” To request an application by mail, send a self-addressed envelope to: FULTON HOUSES, 316 West 118th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10026. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by September 24, 2018. Applicants who submit more than one application may be disqualified. A full description of the building and application process is available at https://a806- housingconnect.nyc.gov/nyclottery/AdvertisementPdf/549.pdf (opinion) New York should create affordable housing in the suburbs August 27, 2018, cityandstateny.com, by Moses Gates The housing crisis isn’t restricted to New York City. The suburbs need to do their part as well. Mayor de Blasio Signs Into Law Bill Providing Oversight to Combat Illegal Short-Term Rentals Source: Council Member Carlina Rivera's August newsletter On August 6, Mayor signed into law Int. 981, a critical bill introduced by Council Member Carlina Rivera, Council District 2, which will establish new reporting requirements for short-term rental services to stop landlords from turning their buildings into illegal hotels that cut into the city’s affordable housing stock. Companies will finally be required to report vital data including the names and addresses of hosts to the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement, which is tasked with investigating short-term rentals that violate state and city laws. Companies like Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway that fail to accurately report this information will be fined $1,500 per listing. Carlina is looking forward to passing further legislation this fall to further address affordable housing preservation.

Middle-Income Americans Are Increasingly Making Use of the Social Safety Net September 5, 2018, psmag.com, by Dwyer Gunn A new report released by the Brookings Institution finds the safety net is not just for low-income folks anymore.

Legislation and rules (including pending) NYC Speed Cameras Return Near Schools As Bill Passes Council Aug 29, 2018, patch.com, by Noah Manska The potentially life-saving cameras will be back on before school starts Sept. 5 thanks to a joint city and state effort. New U.S. Sexual Misconduct Rules Bolster Rights of Accused and Protect Colleges August 29, 2018, nytimes.com, by Erica L. Green Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is preparing new policies on campus sexual misconduct that would bolster the rights of students accused of assault, harassment or rape, reduce liability for institutions of higher education and encourage schools to provide more support for victims...the Trump administration’s new rules will have the force of law and can go into force without an act of Congress, after a public comment period.

Economic Development Subsidies Source: State Senator Liz Krueger's September 2018 Community Bulletin The ineffectiveness and cost of New York State's economic development subsidies have been the subject of several recent critiques. State Senator Liz Krueger (28th District) introduced the Corporate Accountability for Tax Expenditures Act (S3364-A), which would create a Unified Economic Development Budget to improve transparency. It would also require that State economic assistance provided by any state agency or public authority must be based on the terms of a standardized written incentive agreement, and provide that if a business fails to create or retain the specified number of jobs and breaks the contract, the business will no longer qualify for State economic assistance. Economic development programs...have offered false hope for addressing underlying economic issues. A much better model involves a fair tax structure that doesn’t reward well connected businesses at the expense of other taxpayers, and the investments in infrastructure and human capital that create the conditions for a thriving workforce and a vibrant business climate for everyone.

Public service announcements September is National Preparedness month

Knowing Who Lives Where Is Key to Recovery Source: U.S. Census Bureau The 2017 hurricane season was one of the worst in recent history, with over a dozen named hurricanes striking the ...[R]ecovery organizations such as FEMA...rely heavily on data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

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