Council Member Mark Levine

Lawrence -- 2016 dealt some serious blows to values dear to so many of us--tolerance, social justice, and even truth. But I am confident that in 2017 New Yorkers will respond as we always have whenever we’ve faced challenges in the past: by coming together, by standing firm in our beliefs, and by supporting our most vulnerable. Here at the local level, at least, we have scored some important victories this year.  I am pleased to have passed legislation promoting computer science education in our schools, ensuring the safety of gas line work, and mandating public reporting of hate crimes. And I am excited to close out the year by announcing a big win for our district: working with Mayor de Blasio we have secured funding for development of a new building on W. 152nd St. with 100% affordable apartments (details below). I look forward to continuing to work with you and for you in the year ahead.  Wishing you and your family a joyous and peaceful holiday season. Sincerely, Mark Levine Council Member, 7th District Creating 38 Affordable Units in Harlem  I am thrilled to announce that in collaboration with the City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), I have helped secure a deal bringing 38 affordable units to the long-vacant site formerly owned by Dance Theater of Harlem on West 152nd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. The location had previously been slated for an entirely market-rate development, but will now become a 100% affordable project. The building will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, with subsidized rents starting at $648 for one-bedrooms and $777 for two-bedrooms. We expect to have details on the application process for this affordable housing in late 2017 and will keep you informed of future updates. Aiding Syrian Refugees in Aleppo With the holiday season now underway, so many of us are turning our thoughts to those in need--including the civilians in Aleppo who have been subjected to an appalling level of brutality by the Syrian government.  Refugees from this war-ravaged city are in desperate need of assistance.  You can help by donating to one of the relief agencies working on the ground there, including the White Helmets, who were recently featured in an episode of 60 minutes, Doctors Without Borders, or UNICEF. Recognizing Morningside Heights' Historical Significance  Earlier this month, I testified before the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in support of designating Morningside Heights as a Historic District. I have been a strong advocate for this proposed designation, located between Riverside Drive and Broadway between 110th and 119th Streets, for many years, and I am excited that our hard work as a community brings us one step closer to the designation it so rightly deserves. You can read my full testimony here. Bring Our Schools Into the 21st Century  One of my top legislative priorities since taking office has been to bring our schools into the 21st Century by drastically increasing the number of computer science classes to keep up with the modern economy. Recently, I passed legislation to help us prepare a diverse generation of young New Yorkers for careers in technology by requiring the Department of Education to report on the progress of the City’s Computer Science for Allinitiative. Mark in the News: Making the case for modernizing the food vending industry, a New York Daily News Op-Ed by Council Member Mark Levine Increasing Access to the Hidden Gems of New York’s Parks System Mi conversación en Pura Politica con Juan Manuel Benitez, y concejales Ydanis Rodríguez y Fernando Cabrera sobre la necesidad de reformar las leyes sobre financiamiento de campañas. Want to Get Involved in Your Neighborhood? Apply for Membership to Your Local Community Board! Community Boards are the most grassroots form of local government, and are pivotal in shaping our communities by working to enhance and protect the character of our neighborhoods. In fact, before I was elected to the City Council, I proudly served as the Chair of Manhattan Community Board 12’s Transportation Committee for five years. If you’re looking to make a difference by making key decisions about transportation, land use, and quality of life issues in your own community, I encourage you to apply online here or complete a paper application, downloadable as a PDF by Friday, February 3, 2017. Please contact Stephanie Bello at my office if you have any questions and to let us know you've applied at (212) 928-6814. New York State of Health Insurance Sign-Up On Thursday, January 19th, my office will be hosting a low/no-cost insurance sign-up event at the Children’s Aid Society, located at 885 Columbus Avenue, from 1 - 5 p.m. Residents will have the opportunity to sign up for insurance plans, ensuring that individuals and families have access to affordable healthcare. To RSVP for this event, please call (212) 928-6814 or RSVP at our website. Support for Right to Counsel Continues to Grow Last week I rallied with several hundred tenants activists on the steps of City Hall to advocate for passage of my bill, Intro 214, guaranteeing the Right to Counsel for low-income tenants in New York. Together, we hand-delivered over 7,000 letters to the Mayor calling on him to support the measure. The bill was also recently listed by City & State Magazine as the best idea to come out of New York City in 2016! CM Levine, City Council Jewish Caucus Meet with NYPD Commissioner on Hate Crimes In response to the alarming increase in hate crimes reported by the NYPD since this year’s election, my colleagues and I on the City Council Jewish Caucus met with Police Commissioner James O’Neill to discuss how the City can better respond to these vile incidents. Community Events: Financial Literacy Course for Teens Sponsored by Broadway Housing Communities: Year Up New York Is actively recruiting 17-24 year olds who are interested in starting their career in business (finance/sales) or technology (IT). If you work with young people who are mature and hungry for an opportunity, Year Up New York is looking for young people who have never been to college and young women who they can introduce to careers in technology through their Women in Tech Initiative. Year Up is an intensive, one year program that offers paid training, paid internships, and employment placement with over 40 Fortune 500 companies here in New York City. Those interested should fill out Year Up's online interest form. The 28th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive New York Cares' Annual Coat Drive kicked off mid-November with 125,000 coat requests from the community left to fufill. They're relying on us to keep tens of thousands of New Yorkers warm throughout the coldest months of the year. To Drop off a coat at a collection point just type your zipcode in to locate a collection point near you. A Different Kind of Holiday Donation Drive Low-income working parents—especially homeless parents—face a problem when using child care: the services often require supplying their child’s own disposable diapers. Without diapers, the parents can’t go to work. To remedy this, my colleague Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer in partnership with the Food Bank For New York City, are mounting a "Holiday Diaper Drive” to collect these vital items for low-income New Yorkers. Here’s how you can help: Bring new, sealed boxes of diapers—sizes 3, 4, 5 or 6, but especially 4 & 5—to either of the Borough President's offices: 1 Centre St. (19th Fl. South) or 431 W. 125th St. (storefront).  If you’re an Amazon customer, order from the Food Bank’s Amazon Wishlist for delivery straight to their warehouse. Free Concerts at the Bloomingdale School of Music Thursday, January 12th, 7:00pm Student Recital Music Access Project: students present solo recitals as Music Access Project student present solo recitals. Free and open to the public. Bloomingdale School of Music - 323 West 108th Street. Friday, January 13th, 7:00pm  Celestial Mechanics George Crumb's “Celestial Mechanics” creates a cosmic choreography of musical shapes and sounds. Also performed will be Debussy and Faure who paved the way for the innovations of Crumb. Free and open to the public. Bloomingdale School of Music - 323 West 108th Street. Thursday, January 19th, 7:00pm  Music Access Project Student Recital Music Access Project students present solo recitals as Music Access Project student present solo recitals. Free and open to the public. Bloomingdale School of Music - 323 West 108th Street. Explore the City with FREE ADMISSION at these Diverse NYC Cultural Institutions: Council Member Mark Levine http://marklevine.nationbuilder.com/ Visit our website to find out more:  About |  Newsroom |  City Council |  The District |  Resources |  Contact Follow us! Keep up with CM Mark Levine: