Good evening New Yorkers,
It has been an honor to follow in the footsteps of my predecessors in visiting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and meeting with the leaders of one of our closest allies. Like our city, Israel is a melting pot. So many faiths and cultures call it home and are constantly evolving, innovating and changing. As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, it was a special privilege to represent New Yorkers overseas.
I learned a lot on this visit, and I look forward to bringing this knowledge, inspiration, and new understandings to how we Get Stuff Done in New York City. For now, here’s how we Got Stuff Done for you this week: |
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More space for safe biking and walking is coming to Broadway north of Union Square! This is part of our “Broadway Vision” public space expansion initiative, which upgrades our outdoor infrastructure to meet the needs of our pedestrians, cyclists, and local businesses.
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We’re getting families ready for the new school year by highlighting four discount programs to help you save money. From $30 off internet to half-priced MetroCards, our Public Engagement Unit is making sure you have all the resources you need for a successful school year.
- NYC Housing Preservation & Development is helping move forward a Brownsville affordable apartments and arts center construction project. Working with our Department of City Planning, the 258,000-square-foot mixed-use space will house art schools, apartments, and a theater!
- NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad didn’t miss an opportunity to hop to it after spotting a man carrying a wallaby, which is illegal in NYC. They successfully rescued the marsupial on the Coney Island Boardwalk and brought it to an Animal Care Center for proper care.
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🚲 🌅 🎣 Make this YOUR weekend 🎣 🌅 🚲 |
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In a city of possibilities, I want to share free ways to live your best life in these final weeks of summer.
Whether that means finally getting an apartment repair looked at with the support of our free tenant advocates, riding a $0.00 rental bike down a car-free street, or learning how to fish in Brooklyn at no cost, here’s some ways you can Get Stuff Done for YOU this weekend. |
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↳ Three initiatives to know: |
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Turning vacant offices into housing – Neighborhoods like Manhattan’s Midtown have an incredible amount of unused space with ready and willing development participants eager to fill it. We announced three major steps to create housing, including allowing offices and manufacturing spaces to transform into residential buildings. We’ll “rezone” the area, letting commercial buildings become residential, to create 20,000 units of housing in vacant spaces.
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Inclusive training for NYPD recruits – The Police Academy welcomed special education experts to teach NYC’s next class of officers how to best interact and communicate with New Yorkers with autism and other developmental disabilities. Through this collaboration with NYC Public Schools, NYC’s approach to public safety will be more holistic, thoughtful, and just.
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Righting wrongs for fast food workers – NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection secured $5 million in restitution for staff at Panda Express, Au Bon Pain, and 7-Eleven’s “Raise the Roost” due to labor law violations. Moving forward, the businesses will comply with NYC’s Fair Workweek Law, which ensures appropriate work-life balances, shift schedule predictability, and adequately compensated schedule changes for all workers.
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Free live tenant support – If you need immediate help with overdue rent debt, eviction threats, repairs, or other living issues, please call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline! This free service connects New Yorkers in real-time to our Public Engagement Unit advocates, who will provide support to resolve your complaints and find relevant resources. You can also access their online self-help portal here.
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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.
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↳ FREE events this weekend: |
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☞ Of note: Our final Summer Streets of 2023 are coming to Brooklyn and the Bronx this Saturday (8/26) between 7am and 1pm!
In Brooklyn, along Eastern Parkway between Grand Army Plaza and Buffalo Avenue, there will be free bike rentals, fitness classes, cultural performances, a live DJ, and even bracelet making (full Brooklyn list viewable here). In the Bronx, along Grand Concourse between East Tremont Avenue and East Mosholu Parkway South, activities include free bike rentals, fitness classes, creative workshops, e-scooter test rides, a lip gloss making class, and dancing (full Bronx list viewable here). |
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🧭 Free flood prevention supplies |
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Throughout late August and the month of September, there will be free flood barriers and flood alarms available at locations around NYC from NYC Emergency Management. If your home has flooded before or if you live in a flood-prone area (check your flood risk here), please take advantage of these free supplies to keep your home and family safe. After all, hurricane season runs now through October.
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🐬 A home for retired NYC Parks animals |
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Generations of New Yorkers grew up with whimsical animal sculptures in our parks. In 2021, it was announced that these concrete creatures would be retired. NYC Parks just unveiled a permanent “Home for Retired Playground Animals” in Flushing Meadows Corona Park that is publicly accessible for all. There, you can admire an aardvark, dance with dolphins, and even chill out with a camel.
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🚴♀️ Brooklyn bike helmet giveaway |
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This Saturday (8/26) from 8am-12pm, NYC DOT will be helping Brooklynites get properly fitting bike helmets for free! Head to Eastern Parkway and Classon Avenue to find your perfect helmet size and take home a free helmet while supplies last. |
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🚮 A+ rat removal strategy |
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As part of our ongoing war on rats, Harlem schools received rat-proof garbage bins ahead of the new school year. The simple switch to containerized garbage, instead of exposed bags on the street, will cut off the critters’ nightly food supply and send them packing. Remember: lidded trash gets rid of rats!
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Before you go, did you know… |
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New York City is home to the largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network in the world? Our 2,000+ LinkNYC kiosks have provided free access to internet, nationwide phone calling, and mobile phone charging to tens of millions of New Yorkers since the program's inception. Beyond closing the digital divide and giving all New Yorkers vital 24/7 access to Wi-Fi and calling, the kiosks also share important locally relevant information and fun historical city facts on its screens.
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Have a wonderful weekend, New York! I hope you enjoy the warm weather and see some shimmering summer sunsets. While I had an incredible and educational trip abroad, there’s no place like home. Your Mayor, Eric
P.S. Have a question, comment, or request? Contact my office here. I look forward to hearing from you. |
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