14th Street Busway:
Starting on October 3rd, there will be travel restrictions every day, from 6 AM to 10 PM, on 14th Street between 9th Avenue and 3rd Avenue. At those times, only trucks and buses can make thru trips between 9th Avenue and 3rd Avenue. All other vehicles may pick up and drop off, but must make the next right. These changes are because of the NYC Department of Transportation’s pilot for a transit and truck priority along 14th Street, in order to speed up the M14A/D Select Bus Service. For more information on the busway, view the website on the busway here, view a flyer briefly summarizing the busway, or view a flyer that goes into greater detail about the busway here. To view the presentation that the MTA and NYC Department of Transportation delivered on the busway at Community Board Six’s May 2019 Transportation Committee meeting, click here.
Call for Art Design Proposals on DOT Property:
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), through DOT Art, invites artists and designers to submit design proposals for having their design on a concrete jersey barrier along protected bike lanes at a designated site within the five boroughs of New York City. This design will be at the designated site on a weekday in October 2019. Submit your application through email to email to arts@dot.nyc.gov by Friday, September 13th at 11:59 PM EST. For more details on this call for art design proposals, click here.
Update on the L Train Project:
On January 3, 2019, Governor Cuomo announced that the impending full shutdown of the L Train between Manhattan and Brooklyn, scheduled to start in April 2019, would be canceled. A panel of engineers from Columbia University and Cornell University determined that, by utilizing new technological innovations, the necessary work to repair the tunnel could occur without a complete shutdown. Click here to read the press release from the MTA on this change. This proposed plan must still be voted on my the MTA Board and the governor has called on the Board to hold an emergency meeting as soon as possible. This represents a significant change to this project and some details still need to be sorted out. Andy Byford, President of new York City Transit (NYCT) has indicated that NYCT will engage an independent firm to review the plans for the L Train. NYCT is also communicating with the Federal Transit Administration and other federal partners regarding a necessary review and any funding ramifications of the new plan. Click here for an FAQ sheet released by NYCT. You can also visit the MTA’s new website on the L Train Project here. Click here for the CB6 page on this project.
NYC Ferry Winter 2019 Schedule
NYC Ferry’s Winter 2019 schedule is in effect. Click here for the schedule of the Lower East Side route and click here for the schedule of the East River Route. Both routes dock at the East 34th Street station, and the Lower East Side route also docks at Stuyvesant Cove. For more information on other routes, click here.
Opportunities to Help Neglected and Abused Children
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), which provides temporary placement for neglected and abused children, is offering two ways that New Yorkers can make a difference in the lives of these children:
1. Give an in-kind donation to support programs and activities available to children. Items that ACS routinely uses include: arts and crafts supplies, holiday gifts (for a range of ages 0-21, in particular gifts for teens), cultural event tickets, decorative items for parties and celebrations, gift cards (e.g., restaurants, movies), baby clothing for expectant young parents, and home goods and small appliances for older youth who are transitioning to their own housing/supportive housing. For questions or for learning how to contribute, please contact Sonia Galarza, ACS Director of In-Kind & Pro-Bono Resources, by calling 212-442-7268 or emailing Sonia.galarza@acs.nyc.gov
2. Become a foster or adoptive parent to a New York City child. Call 311 or the WISH Recruitment Line: 212-676-WISH (9474), or visit www.nyc.gov/acs/foster for more information.
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office adopts new “decline to prosecute” policy for marijuana possession and use
The D.A.’s Office’s new policy went in to effect on August 1, 2018 after an extensive study found virtually no public safety rationale for the ongoing arrests and prosecution of marijuana smoking. As with the February 1, 2018 policy ending the criminal prosecution of subway fare evasion (or “turnstile-jumping”), there are still some limited cases where the office may choose to prosecute the offense. The NYPD will also have a new policy go into effect on September 1, 2018, choosing to issue summons instead of arresting people for marijuana smoking in many cases. Click here to read the DA’s press release.
Immigrants’ Rights resources available via the New York Immigration Coalition
While there has been a lot of news on the subject of immigration lately, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) seeks to provide reliable information to the community. If you would like to request an Immigrants’ Rights workshop for your organization, you can fill out this form.
For updates on immigration policy changes or NYIC events, you can text “NYIC” to 864237. Further resources are available on the NYIC website.
Find Anti-Overdose Naloxone in Community District Six
Naloxone is a medication that reverses overdoses from opioids such as heroin and prescription painkillers. New Yorkers can get this life-saving medication without prescription from community organizations and pharmacies. View more information and distribution locations from the Department of Health. Click here to learn more about preventing overdoses.
