Happy Thursday, New Yorkers!

I hope you’re having a wonderful week so far. This has been another busy one for me, including calling for additional support from our partners in Albany and Washington on the asylum seeker crisis, naming a new Deputy Mayor to streamline City communications, and even finding time to race in the 31st annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival with our incredible City Hall Dragons team.

Let’s get into how we’re Getting Stuff Done this week:

We completed major pedestrian safety upgrades along Jamaica’s Parsons Boulevard! Doubling sidewalk space, making sidewalk ramps ADA-compliant, and bringing in public space enhancements, this once-dangerous corridor will now be safer and more accessible for all.
Free bike helmets will be distributed in Harlem on Saturday (8/19) from 8am-12pm at 124th St. and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. NYC DOT will help you get fitted in your perfect size to stay safe while cycling around the city.
We reminded New Yorkers about the numerous benefits of having an IDNYC card, such as grocery store discounts, free access to 35+ museums and cultural institutions, $1 gym access, and so much more. IDNYC is your key to unlocking countless no-cost and low-cost deals!
NYC Health launched an interactive map to visualize where West Nile Virus is identified in neighborhoods across NYC. As always, take precautions to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent and reporting standing water in your area.

🛶 🦆 🌳 The great outdoors 🌳 🦆 🛶

There’s nothing like a warm weather day in New York City, when you can walk along one of our 150 miles of greenways, cool off at one of our eight public beaches, or dine outside in good company (we just made outdoor dining permanent, BTW!).

With a sunny summer weekend ahead, I wanted to make sure you knew about some of NYC’s outdoor scenic sights, where to go boating for free, and no-cost concerts coming to Queens and Manhattan. Keep scrolling for everything to know this week.

↳ Four initiatives to know:

Broadway tickets for NYCHA residents – Families living in NYCHA housing can see a Broadway production for free! Per season, each family can claim up to four tickets to see a show at the New Victory Theater. This program is especially impactful for NYCHA’s youth residents, who will get the opportunity to be inspired by and exposed to new forms of creative expression.
Vaccine equity campaign – We’re making sure thousands of older adults and New Yorkers with disabilities know where, when, and how to get their COVID boosters and flu shots this fall with on-the-ground outreach. Starting in September, outreach will begin to educate our neighbors on why they should get vaccinated before the peak of the season.
Green with victory – By 2030, all of New York City’s rideshare fleet will be comprised of zero-emission vehicles or wheelchair accessible vehicles. We’ll be the first large city in the world to accomplish this greener and more accessible future for taxis and riders alike.
Outdoor dining is here to stay – I am proud to say New York City will be home to America’s largest permanent outdoor dining program! Enabling restaurants to explore outdoor dining saved 100,000 jobs during the height of the pandemic. Now, we’re empowering restaurants to both continue their al fresco dining and ensure dining structures are safe and secure.

↳ In case you missed it:

The dog days are *not* over – The Animal Care Center of NYC (ACC) needs your help to reduce shelter overcrowding by adopting and fostering dogs! You can browse all adoptable animals here. Maybe you’ll fall in love with one of their adorable faces, or maybe you’ll find yourself smiling reading their fun names – like Yas Queen, Old Man, and Calamari Extravaganza (yes, New Yorkers, those are their real names). Learn about becoming a foster pet parent here.

↳ Scam watch:

Unsolicited COVID tests – Older adults on Staten Island have reported receiving unsolicited COVID tests, which can sometimes be associated with Medicare fraud. Local elected officials have advised people receiving these tests to report the issue to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and to request a new Medicare number and card.

↳ Don't forget:

Public questions for public safety – New Yorkers like you can submit questions for the weekly Friday public safety briefing here. Our leaders will answer these during the Friday livestream, available on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

↳ FREE events this weekend:

Bronx: Dance all night at a silent disco on Orchard Beach
Brooklyn: See an outdoor screening of Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Manhattan: Make a farm-to-table cocktail on an urban farm
Queens: Spend an afternoon watching Chinese theater performances
Staten Island: Take out kayaks on Page Avenue Beach

☞ Of note: There's no need to head upstate to enjoy the natural serenity of seeing a waterfall when we have our own breathtaking green spaces throughout the boroughs. Here’s where to chase waterfalls across New York City:

🌊 The Bronx River has three waterfalls providing scenic views along the Bronx River Greenway. While planning a visit, check out the Bronx River Alliance’s free events for the whole family, such as karaoke, canoeing, and textile making.
🌳 Central Park has three spots to see waterfalls: the Loch, the Ramble, and Hallett Nature Sanctuary. After enjoying the park’s natural beauty, watch a free movie after sunset, catch a free concert through SummerStage, or grab plant-based bites at the Vegan Night Market.
🏞 Prospect Park’s Ravine area has 150 acres of woodlands and waterways. There’s a half mile trail you can walk along to see six waterfalls. While you’re there, head to a free live concert through BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn festival or support local food businesses at Smorgasburg.
💧 On Staten Island, go to Clove Lakes Park to see a wonderful waterfall flowing into the lake. Once you’re there, be sure to take advantage of free canoeing, designated barbecuing areas, basketball courts to shoot some hoops, and locations to go fishing.

🎤 Free concerts in Queens and Manhattan

Our Rise Up NYC concert series is coming to Queens (today, 8/17) and Manhattan (tomorrow, 8/18) this week! We know how special it is to spend a summer evening outdoors and moving and grooving to live music alongside friends and family, so we organized safe, fun, and free performances in all five boroughs.

🍣 Restaurant Week deals are ongoing

There’s still time to enjoy multi-course meals at some of New York City’s best eateries for discounted prices! With cuisines from around the world, Restaurant Week allows New Yorkers to try something new on specially curated prix-fixe menus through this Sunday (8/20). From Malaysian to Mediterranean, I hope you decide to dine out and explore our city’s delicious international offerings.

🔌 Assistance to reduce your electric bills

New Yorkers, one reason I write to you every week is to make sure you know about assistance programs that can help you and your family. Many New Yorkers can get cash assistance to pay for energy bills, including New Yorkers with disabilities, people living in neglected/hazardous environments, and low-income New Yorkers. Learn more about other payment assistance for Con Ed bills here. I highly encourage you to review the options and see if you qualify.

🥪 Get excited for back-to-school season

It’s almost time for our youngest New Yorkers to head back to school, so NYC Schools gave a sneak peek of the first month of school’s lunch menu. With dishes like teriyaki veggie nuggets, kale Caesar salads, and Caribbean style patties, our NYC Schools students are going to be eating well this September. If browsing that menu made you hungry, remember all New Yorkers ages 18 and younger can pick up free Summer Meals all summer long at select schools, pools, parks, and food trucks.

Before you go, did you know…

The Intrepid turned 80 years old yesterday? An aircraft carrier built during World War II, the USS Intrepid would eventually set sail to New York City and house what we now know as the iconic Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum! During the summer months, the Intrepid hosts “Free Fridays” for visitors to enjoy free activities, outdoor movie screenings, and astronomy nights. The next “Free Friday” is next week (8/25). If you’re looking for other unique outings at the Intrepid, take a free sunset yoga class aboard the vessel next month on 9/18.

🛳 ⚓️ 🛟

New York, have a great Friday and an even better weekend! I hope you explore new green spaces and see some waterfalls. Anyone who thinks our city doesn’t have incredible nature hasn’t been to the right spots. Now, you can show them all our hidden gems.

Your Mayor,

Eric

P.S. Have a question, comment, or request? Contact my office here. I look forward to hearing from you.