Council Member Mark Levine

Lawrence -- I hope you are having a great summer. As this weekend will be exceptionally hot, with temperatures close to 110 degrees, I ask you to please check in on your neighbors and follow these tips to beat the heat. With the new school year just weeks away, please join us on Thursday, August 25th for our 3rd Annual Back-to-School Block Party! The event will feature a number of activities, educational resources and giveaways. Please click here to register and check out the many other updates and events taking place in our district below. Stay cool, Mark North River Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Last week, the The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the city will invest $360 million in much-needed repairs and upgrades to the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant right here in our district. The upgrades, which will include a replacement of the fuel oil engines with cleaner machines that run on electricity and natural gas, will ensure cleaner air and water, and reduce pollution in the Hudson River. After increased levels of formaldehyde were reported this year, I am relieved that we will finally see some improved reliability and reduction in emissions in Riverbank State Park. Keeping Our Streets Clean with Your Help One of the organizations I’m proudest to fund is The Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE), a group that gives formerly homeless individuals jobs and training by working with them to clean our city neighborhoods. ACE has been working tirelessly to improve our district, removing 13,000 pounds of garbage from our streets last month alone, keeping vermin away, and improving our streets. My office is committed to ensuring every street from the Upper West Side to Washington heights is garbage free. If you see the need for additional cleaning in your area of the district, please contact my office and let us know. For a map of the borders of our district, click here. Iconic Keith Haring Mural At Risk A residential building which houses dozens of tenants and a mural by the iconic Keith Haring is in danger of being lost to our community. Formerly known as Grace House, the building’s current owner is in the process of fielding offers on the property to developers who could redevelop the  nearly century old building and construct luxury units in its place. I am deeply concerned about the current tenants residing in the building and about losing such an important piece of our history, which is why I have called for the Landmarking of the mural. My office also reached out to the current property owner and the Keith Haring Foundation, so that we can work together in preserving this treasured part of our neighborhood. (DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg)  National Night Out  Last week I had the pleasure of joining hundreds from the community at precincts throughout northern Manhattan for National Night Out.  Each year these events provide a wonderful opportunity to strengthen ties between local police officers, neighborhood leaders, families, and neighbors.  This community building is more important than ever, as we pursue the twin goals of honoring the service of men and women in uniform, while pushing harder to ensure that all people--regardless of color--are treated fairly by our law enforcement system.  Thanks to all who participated in National Night Out, and thanks to all who serve our community, whether as volunteer leaders or members of the NYPD! How Would You Spend $1,000,000 in Our Neighborhoods? The time for participatory budgeting is here again, and that means this is your chance as District 7 residents to submit your ideas on how to spend public funds on community improvements. Do you want to improve a park? Make a street safer? Give a school new technology? My office has set aside $1 million to fund the most popular projects as voted on by you, the residents! Join one of the three upcoming Participatory Budget Neighborhood Assemblies to brainstorm possibilities. We have three assemblies coming up where you can voice your ideas: For more info and to RSVP, click here. To submit your idea, click here. Citi Bike is Coming to the Upper West Side I’m pleased to announce that over the next few weeks, Citi Bike will be expanding into our district for the first time. The public bike sharing program will now reach up to 107th street, with plans to expand even further north in 2017. Along with promoting a healthier lifestyle, the Citi Bike program will add convenient and affordable transit options for our residents. To celebrate the expansion, Citi Bike is offering $25 off of Annual Memberships for a limited time. To sign up for the reduced-price memberships and to see a map of new locations, click here. Delivering Food and Compassion to Our Seniors This month I had the wonderful opportunity to assist Citymeals-on-Wheels deliver meals to homebound seniors in our neighborhood. Citymeals-on-Wheels is truly an amazing organization, providing 2 million nutritious meals to 18,000 New York City seniors each year. Along with Citymeals staff and volunteers, we delivered hot and cold meals to seniors residents who don’t always have someone to provide needed support and companionship. So many of our seniors have spent a lifetime enriching our lives and making our city a better place, and we must ensure their needs are met in their golden years. To volunteer with Citymeals-on-Wheels, click here. Hamilton Heights Has A New Spot For Dog Owners On July 23rd, I was happy to join the community in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly opened 142nd Street dog run in Riverside Park. Green spaces are so important to the wellbeing of our communities, and I’m proud to help make one of our city’s best parks even more user-friendly. Comment on the Final Design of the Bloomingdale Playground Improvement Project I was happy to fund the renewal of Bloomingdale Playground, and now I need your help to bring it to fruition. Join the conversation and comment on the final design of the Bloomingdale Playground to ensure that you and other members of the community approve what is built. WHAT: Final Design Proposal Meeting WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 6:30pm – 8:00pm WHERE: Community Board 7 Office, 250 W 87th Street Corner of 156th Street Co-Named in Honor of Bishop Joseph Bell On July 17th, our district honored Bishop Joseph H. Bell in a street co-naming outside of Bethel Holy Church. 156th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue was co-named Bishop Joseph H. Bell Sr. Way in honor of Bishop Bell’s work as pastor of Bethel Holy Church and as President and Senior Bishop of the Mount Sinai Holy Church of America. Throughout his life, Bishop Bell selflessly aided those within his church community and the community at large. He established an outreach ministry to provide food and clothing to those in need, and helped parents and their children work through social and academic issues. Councilman King and I were honored to attend the ceremony in remembrance of this great man.  3rd Annual Back to School Block Party this month! To RSVP, click here or call 212-928-6814. Community Updates City Bike is Hiring! Citi Bike is looking to fill approximately 40 temporary positions as they begin their 2016 expansion. All types of jobs and hours are available. For more info and to apply, click here Quality Affordable Apartments available Thirteen quality affordable housing apartments — with rents starting at $868 a month — are now available to apply for. The 10-story building, located on 607 W. 161 St., will have a total of 62 apartments. Of the available affordable apartments, six units are studios starting at $868 for residents with an annual household income of $29,760 to $38,100. There are six available 1-bedroom units at $965 a month, for one to two people with an annual income of $33,086 to $43,500. The single remaining 2-bedroom unit is going for $1,085 for two to four people with an annual household income of $37,200 to $54,360. Residents who live in Manhattan Community Board 12 will get preference to half of the units. The deadline to submit an application is August 15th. To apply, click here. Music School Looks to Grow As It Hosts Free Open House For all students looking to ignite their hidden inner musical talent or simply interested in having their questions answered, the Bloomingdale School of Music welcomes you to join their free open house on Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 11am-2pm. There will be musical performances as well as opportunities for children to play over 14 different instruments. The school is also offering a unique incentive for individuals who register for classes while at the event, who will receive a $35 discount. WHAT: Bloomingdale School of Music Free Open House WHEN: Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 11:00am - 2:00pm WHERE: 323 West 108th Street off of Broadway Columbia University Welcomes Job Seekers For those looking to find a job, this September Columbia University is hosting its annual Career and Resource Expo, giving you access to dozens of employers. The opportunity to receive assistance from job skills training providers and partake in a job readiness workshop will also be available. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more info and to register, click here. WHAT: Columbia Career and Resource Expo WHEN: 9:30am to 3:00pm Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Register by Friday, September 2. WHERE: Columbia University, 116th St & Broadway 200 Construction Union Apprenticeships Available Apprentice opportunities are now available! In the next 5-8 months, the Union of Constriction and General Building Laborers is looking to hire close to 200 Apprentices and have opened the application process for Skilled Construction Craft Laborers. Apply or find more info by clicking here. Calling All Parents of 5th Graders in Community School District 3 Do you know about all your child’s middle school options? I welcome you to the seventh annual Middle School Principal’s forum, where you’ll have the chance to hear directly from the administrators of 17 schools within Community School District 3. They will discuss each school’s culture, programs, teaching styles, as well as admissions policies, followed by a Q&A. WHAT: Middle School Principal's Forum. WHEN: Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 6:00pm - 8:00pm WHERE: PS / IS 76, 220 West 121st Street   Visit our website to find out more:  About |  Newsroom |  City Council |  The District |  Resources |  Contact