Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies: Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell

A Message from Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell

Dear Neighbor,

With winter in full swing, the 2015-2016 Assembly session has returned to Albany. I look forward to sharing some important updates and aspirations for this session in this update, and I am pleased to keep you abreast of several events happening in our neighborhood.

During the last few days of January, I shared my education agenda for 2016. In outlining priorities for a variety of education levels, I intend to address local community and statewide issues. To that effect, I am principally dedicated to furthering the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), advocating for the safety of public school students, and promoting reading and the use of public libraries. Last year I held a DASA symposium where education experts testified on how to achieve effective implementation of New York's anti-bullying law. As a result of their testimony, I look forward to working with my colleagues Assemblywomen Cathy Nolan and Deborah Glick to identify a way to implement a 3 credit diversity course to teacher certification requirements. Last week during an Assembly Budget Hearing on Education, I addressed my concerns regarding the impending construction of a 22-story Jewish Home Life building located 12 feet away from P.S. 163, and the proposed construction of the ten story addition to a building across the street from P.S. 75. I called on Chancellor Farina and Mayor DeBlasio to intervene on the behalf of the health and safety of the students as well as to prevent the chaos of construction from interrupting their instruction. Lastly, my Community Reading Challenge and Reading Festivals in local libraries have been a huge success. This year's theme of outer space exploration to promote interest in science and technology has been widely enjoyed by the families participating in the challenge and celebrated at the festivals. For details regarding the February Reading Festival and grand culmination of the Reading Challenge, skip to the events section of this publication.

In the community, I was pleased to host another Rodent Academy for local landlords and tenants in our area following the successes of last year's event. In coordination with the NYC Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene, Sanitation and Parks; the Columbus Amsterdam BID, Community Board 7, the 107th Street Block Association, and the Ascension School, this event fostered a conversation regarding the successes and challenges of the Rat Reservoir Pilot Program. Stakeholders and community members were able to share their feedback, have questions about the program answered, and discuss the critical next steps that we must take to continue reducing the levels of rodent activity in the area. My office continues to be engaged in the important effort to reduce the rat infestation in our community. If you were unable to attend the Rodent Academy or would like more information, please contact Justin Simmons in my office at (212) 866-3970.

I am happy to announce that this February kicks off my annual Children's Book Drive! My office is accepting book donations from now until March 3rd. Please limit donations to new and gently used books for elementary school children through high school students. Please note that we cannot accept adult books, library discards, or out of date non-fiction/reference books. Donations will benefit NYC Public Schools. For more information, jump to the events section of this update.

As always, should you need assistance or information, my Community Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Feel free to call my office at (212) 866-3970 or email me at odonnelld@assembly.state.ny.us. I also encourage you to follow my official New York State Assembly Twitter & Facebook accounts to get exclusive insight into the work I'm doing in my district and for all New Yorkers by visiting www.twitter.com/dannyodonnellny and www.facebook.com/danieljodonnellny

Very truly yours,

Daniel O'Donnell

Assembly Member O'Donnell in the News

Prison Reform

- The New York Times covered Assembly Member O'Donnell's call to create an independent oversight agency to monitor the state prison system: http://nyti.ms/20FgQCx

- The New York Times published Assembly Member O'Donnell's Letter to the Editor regarding oversight for New York prisons: http://nyti.ms/1UPLPbt

- The Albany Times Union published two of Assembly Member O'Donnell's Letters to the Editor, also regarding oversight for New York prisons: http://bit.ly/1V5YYNC & http://bit.ly/1PTcTsg

Ethics Reform

- The Gotham Gazette covers Assembly Member O'Donnell's comments on refusing LLC contributions: http://bit.ly/2070FvO

Education

- The West Side Spirit published Assembly Member O'Donnell's opinion piece on why his Reading Challenge is meaningful to him and important for the community: http://bit.ly/1QFHfvm

Assembly Member O'Donnell's Upcoming Free Legal Clinic

For constituents who need help with legal issues but are unable to come to Assembly Member O'Donnell's Community Office during the workday, Assembly Member O'Donnell hosts a monthly evening opportunity for constituents to consult with a volunteer attorney.

Call Joyce at (212) 866-3970 to make an appointment.

**Thursday, February 25th**

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HOPE 2016:

THE NYC HOMELESSNESS STREET SURVEY

The Department of Homeless Services is looking for thousands of volunteers to help conduct the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) survey. Volunteers will be asked to survey streets, parks, subways and other public spaces to estimate the number of people living unsheltered in our city. For more information, or if you wish to sign up to volunteer, visit www.nyc.gov/dhs or call 311 today.

CHILDREN'S BOOK DRIVE

Assembly Member O'Donnell's Children's Book Drive in coordination with Project Cicero is ongoing from February 1st to March 3rd. Please feel free to bring new and gently used children's books to Assembly Member O'Donnell's office at any time during the upcoming weeks, all of which will be donated to NYC Public Schools.

Project Cicero accepts children's books of all kinds - appropriate for children ages 5 to 18 -but is unable to accept library discards, out of date non-fiction/reference books, and books for adults.

Please feel free to call: (212) 866-3970 should you have any questions, or drop by with questions or books any time during the work week - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

"To Infinity and Beyond!" Community Reading Challenge Festivals

This year's 13th Annual Community Reading Challenge, To Infinity and Beyond!, is fully underway. The book festivals at Morningside Heights and Bloomingdale New York Public Libraries were a great success. In case families could not make those festivals, we're holding a third and final festival on Wednesday, February 17 from 4pm to 5pm at George Bruce Library. The festival at George Bruce will feature author, singer, songwriter, and producer Tish Rabe, known for authoring over 160 books for The Cat in the Hat Learning Library, Sesame Street, Disney, Blue's Clues, Curious George, and many others.

Finally, to culminate this year's space exploration themed reading challenge, we are holding a star gazing and lecture night on Monday, February 22nd from 5pm to 7pm in conjunction with Columbia Astronomy Public Outreach. Reading Challenge participants are invited to learn about the stars and use the telescope (weather permitting) to see them up close! For more information and to RSVP call or email Nicole Migliore at 212-866-3970 or miglioren@nysa.us. Please note that space for this event is limited.

Columbia University Shuttle Bus Service for Senior Citizens and Disabled

As part of the State approval process associated with the Manhattanville expansion, Columbia University will be funding and implementing a Shuttle Bus Service for Senior Citizens and Disabled. Known as the Columbia Community Shuttle, this initiative provides free shuttle bus service for seniors and the disabled in the community, Monday- Friday 9am-5pm. This shuttle service connects the Manhattanville Project site to key subway stations and Medical Centers in the area.

The shuttle is wheelchair accessible and free for people with disabilities, the elderly and a companion, or individuals with a service animal. Along with the Senior and Disabled Persons MetroCard, the Columbia Community Shuttle also accepts the Medicare Card and Access-A-Ride as acceptable forms of identification to use this service.

For more information, please click here.

Department of Finance Property Value Information Sessions

Every January, the Department of Finance (DOF) mails New York City property owners a Notice of Property Value (NOPV). This important notice has information about their property's market and assessed values. DOF determines property values every year, according to NY State law. The values on these notices will be used to calculate property taxes for the 2016/2017 Tax Year that starts in July.

The DOF be holding information sessions where property owners can meet one-on-one with DOF property assessors and the New York City Tax Commission to ask questions about their property's market and assessed values, learn how to get property descriptions changed, and learn about valuable property tax exemptions.

The sessions will be held this month, February 2016, and are open to any anyone who would like to attend. For a list of dates and locations, please visit http://on.nyc.gov/1FzOT4g. Please note that dates, times and locations may change. Check back closer to the dates of the sessions to confirm details.

IDNYC New "Pop-Up" Enrollment Site at Morningside Library

A new IDNYC pop up enrollment site in Morningside Library (2900 Broadway between 82nd street and 83rd street) will open on February 17th to March 11th. The pop-up enrollment site will be open Monday to Thursday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and Friday & Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

IDNYC is a free municipal identification card for all New York City residents, regardless of immigration status. IDNYC enables cardholders to access city services, enter municipal buildings, engage with NYPD, open banks accounts and redeem countless of entertainment benefits and discounts. The most popular feature is the free one year membership to 40 cultural institutions all over New York City.

Appointments are preferred; walk-ins are not guaranteed. To schedule an appointment, visit www.nyc.gov/idnyc or call 311.

Bloomingdale School of Music Concert Series

On Friday, February 5th join Bloomingdale School of Music (323 West 108th Street) at 7:00pmfor a concert entitled "Dancing and Singing with Violin." BSM Faculty artist Annette Homann presents a concert of original compositions and arrangements in a variety of styles, incorporating dance and song. Free and Open to the Public. Call 212-663-6021 ext. 0 for more info.

On Sunday, February 7th join Bloomingdale School of Music (323 West 108th Street) at 7:00pm for a concert entitled "Bloomingdale Pops." A string quartet playing your favorite Top 40 songs! From the Beatles to Bruno Mars, you'll tap your toe and sing along in your head the whole time. Free and Open to the Public. Call 212-663-6021 ext. 0 for more info.

On Friday, February 12th join Bloomingdale School of Music (323 West 108th Street) at 7:00pm for a concert entitled "Friendship." BSM faculty artist Lisa Pike presents a concert celebrating the intimacy of both composers and performers--the great personal friendship of Brahms and Schumann and their love of the horn. Free and Open to the Public. Call 212-663-6021 ext. 0 for more info.

On Saturday, February 27th join Bloomingdale School of Music at Symphony Space - Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater (2537 Broadway) at 11:30am and 2:00pm for a concert entitled "A4TY: Album for the Young." Bloomingdale School of Music's student composition project presents its culminating concerts, featuring performances and original compositions by BSM students. Call 212-663-6021 ext. 0 for information on tickets.

The New York State STEM Incentive Program

The NYS STEM Incentive Program provides a

full SUNY or CUNY tuition scholarship

for the top 10 percent of students in each New York State high school if they pursue a STEM degree in an associates or bachelor degree program and agree to work in a STEM field in New York State for 5 years after graduation.

For eligibility requirements please visit http://on.ny.gov/Wcx3mn

The deadline for submitting the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program Application is August 15, 2016.

Full Scholarship to SUNY Maritime

Assembly Member O'Donnell is happy to announce that he is looking to nominate one student to SUNY Maritime College's Cadet Appointment Program (CAP), which is a four-year full tuition scholarship. The scholarship is designed for a first-time college student who plans to start attending SUNY Maritime in the Fall 2016 Semester.

If interested, please contact Justin in Assembly Member O'Donnell's office for more information as soon as possible. He may be reached by email at jsimmons@assembly.state.ny.us or by phone at 212-866-3970.

The Carey Gabay Scholarship Program

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the State University of New York is now accepting applications for the Carey Gabay Scholarship Program. This scholarship was announced by Governor Cuomo last year in honor of Carey Gabay, an attorney and public servant, who was tragically killed as an innocent victim of gun violence in October at the age of 43. This program will provide full-ride scholarships to five incoming SUNY students who exemplify Carey's commitment to social justice, leadership, and mentoring, as well as his personal story of succeeding academically despite having an economically disadvantaged background.

The Carey Gabay Scholarship Program will annually award full-ride scholarships to five students to attend four-year SUNY colleges beginning in the 2016-17 school year. These scholarships will cover all costs of attendance, including tuition, room and board, college fees, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses.

Applications are available at http://bit.ly/1lrvwW7 and are due on March 15, 2016.

File Your Taxes Safely and for Free

If you earn $62,000 or less, you may qualify for free tax prep services, including online filing and in-person filing with a certified preparer.

Before you file your taxes, see what documents you need: http://on.nyc.gov/1SDjWEl

There are two ways to file your taxes safely and for free:

1) In person at your local free tax preparation site

Sites offering this service have varying income eligibility requirements. For most sites, you must earn $54,000 or less (with children) or $30,000 or less (no children).

There are more than 200 NYC Free Tax Prep sites throughout the city.
IRS certified preparers will help you claim important credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and NYC Child Care Tax Credit (NYC CCTC) to get the full refund you deserve. http://on.nyc.gov/1KVeWEL
Some sites let you drop off your tax documents and pick up the completed return later.

Find an NYC Free Tax Prep site near you by visiting http://on.nyc.gov/1Pxu0y0

2) Online

Annual income $62,000 or less.

The online service is quick, easy, and secure.
Step-by-step instructions make it easy to claim credits like the EITC and NYC CCTC and deductions to get the refund you deserve. http://on.nyc.gov/1KVeWEL
Experts are available by phone to help with questions.

Visit http://myfreetaxes.com to file your taxes.

The NYC Organics Collection Program

New York City runs one of the largest food waste recycling programs of its kind, collecting organic waste from residences, schools, city agencies, and institutions in all five boroughs. Every week, the Department of Sanitation collects food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from participants in pilot areas. Sanitation transports this waste to local and regional processing facilities where it is recycled into compost or turned into renewable energy.

To request NYC Organics Collection in your apartment building, city agency, or non-profit organization, submit an online inquiry at http://nyc.gov/organics.

Single-Family homes and small apartment buildings in pilot areas automatically receive service, as well as select public schools. If you don't live in a pilot area or if your building does not qualify for NYC Organics Collection, you can still recycle your organic waste by composting at home or bringing your food waste to a drop-off site in our community. Visit http://nyc.gov/compostproject for food waste drop off locations and more information.

The office of Assembly Member O'Donnell urges the community to participate in this initiative, as the NYC Organics Collection Program is a proven way to combat rodent infestation on our streets and in our spaces.

Historic Preservation Grant Outreach Workshop

On Friday, February 5th from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, a Historic Preservation Grant Outreach Workshop will be hosted at the Neighborhood Preservation Center (232 East 11th Street.) The workshop will discuss the Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grant programs of the Preservation League of New York State, how to apply and give examples of successfully completed projects. The Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grant programs are made possible through funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, with additional funding provided by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Co-sponsored by the Historic Districts Council, this program will also include a presentation by Kristin Herron, Arts Program Director for Architecture + Design at NYSCA. Kristin will briefly review funding opportunities for General Operating and Project Support for FY2017.

RSVP to Neighborhood Preservation Center at (212) 228-2781 or email npc@neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org by February 3rd.

Space is limited for this workshop, and this one is a brown bag lunch event!

Pre-K Application Deadlines

Pre-K applications are open! Children who live in NYC and were born in 2012 are eligible to start free Pre-K in September of 2016. The Pre-K application period will be open from January 25, 2016 to March 4, 2016.

You may apply in any one of three ways:

1. Online via the application website (http://bit.ly/1gao34b).

2. Over the phone by calling 718-935-2400.

3. In person at a Family Welcome Center (http://on.nyc.gov/1r0lxJq).

NEED A LARGE PRINT COPY OF THE MONTHLY UPDATE? CALL OR VISIT ASSEMBLY MEMBER O'DONNELL'S DISTRICT OFFICE FOR ONE!

If you are visually impaired or feel that you read better in large print, please do not hesitate to request a large print copy of Assembly Member O'Donnell's monthly update. Please call or stop by the Assembly Member's Community Office to request a copy.

ATENCION // ATTENTION

La oficina comunitaria del AsambleÃsta Daniel O'Donnell tiene empleados que hablan espaÃ±ol para asistir al pÃºblico, tiempo completo, de lunes a viernes desde 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM. La oficina de la comunidad estÃ¡ localizada en el 245 West 104th St., cercana a la calle Broadway. TambiÃ©n se puede contactar la oficina en horario de trabajo al (212) 866-3970.
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Assembly Member O'Donnell's community office has full-time Spanish-speaking staff available to assist you, Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is located at 245 West 104th Street, just off Broadway. You can also call (212) 866-3970during business hours.