Newsletters

While summer is a great time to slow down, we also use it as a chance to catch up, with the introduction of legislation to protect hundreds of thousands from the “Tenant Blacklist,” fight patronage, and open city owned and operated spaces for the arts after hours, as well as passing legislation I authored into law to plan for climate change and a more resilient waterfront.

You can prepare for hurricane season with storms like Hermine with the Office of Emergency Management and our Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) on September 29 on Roosevelt Island where you can get your free “Go Bag” or “Go Bag Kit.” RSVP to reserve your free Go Bag.

Please join me for our annual Town Hall this September to learn and ask questions about Pre-Kindergarten seats in the district, the completion of the Second Avenue Subway, Bus Service, Parks Improvements, Bike Safety, and get your free reusable bag. RSVP to reserve your free reusable bag.

How was your summer?

Sincerely

Ben Kallos
Council Member

P.S. We will hold First Friday this month on September 9th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

September 15, 6pm
Town Hall

DISTRICT OFFICE EVENTS

September 9
8am-10am
First Friday

September 13, 6pm
Policy Night

September 12, 19 & 26
6:30pm-8:30pm
Participatory Budgeting Neighborhood Assemblies

September 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
3:30pm-6:30pm
Fresh Food Box
 

I hope you had a chance to relax and enjoy yourself this month, maybe at Carl Schurz Park, where the New York Classical Theatre gave us our very own Shakespeare in the Park, with very well attended performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

We secured dozens of additional Pre-Kindergarten seats for the East Side, which allow four year olds to go to school in their own neighborhoods. I allocated $2 million this year  to revitalize the East River Esplanade. This adds to $45 million I have previously secured as Co-Chair of the East River Esplanade Task Force with Congress Member Carolyn Maloney. And in Ruppert Park, I helped fund Big Belly solar compactor trash cans to keep the park clean and pest free.

The Department of Investigation released its independent query into why the city removed deed restrictions on the Rivington Street nursing home, allowing it to be turned into luxury condos. The report confirmed that the best interest of the city was not given due consideration in this deal. I plan to hold a Council hearing in the fall to ask more questions and discuss proposals for how we can prevent a similar deal from happening again.

Don't forget on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, until November 17, you can get a GrowNYC Fresh Food Box full of farm fresh produce for only $12 at my district office (order the week before). There are only a few weeks left of the summer -- make sure you are outside enjoying them.

Sincerely,

Ben Kallos
Council Member

P.S. We will hold First Friday this month on August 12, not 5.

SPECIAL EVENTS
August 20 & 21
12pm – 4pm
FDR Four Freedoms Park
Imagination Playground & the Uni Project

August 4
6pm – 9pm
FDR Four Freedoms Park
Music at Sunset: Swing with Fleur Seule

DISTRICT OFFICE EVENTS
August 4, 11, 18 & 25
3:30pm – 6:30pm:
Fresh Food Box

August 9
6-8pm
Policy Night

August 12
8am-10am:
First Friday

August 25
6pm-7:30pm:
Citi Bike Skills Class

Dear Friend,

This year's budget reflected years of hard work with hundreds of millions in savings, billions set aside for a rainy day and investments in our district's parks and public schools. I continue to fight to protect our tenants and preserve our neighborhoods helping rent stabilized tenants win a second consecutive rent freeze.

As Co-Chair of the East River Esplanade Taskforce with Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, I've invested nearly $2 million in the Esplanade including adding irrigation, renovating, removing fences, and greening. I am also working with Community Board 8 to de-privatize our Queensboro Oval Park under the bridge and open it for the public, please circulate and sign the petition at BenKallos.com/petition/oval

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be completing the CitiBike rollout above 86th street, reducing the size of some stations, and infilling with new stations, a process I look forward to working with you to ensure takes you into consideration. DOT will also be painting crosstown bike lanes without taking away any traffic lanes or parking. We are also working with the newly formed East 72nd Street Neighborhood Association to restore the East 72nd stop for M15 Select Bus Service, please circulate and sign the petition at BenKallos.com/petition/m15sbs

As Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations I continue to fight special interests with legislation to limit their influence, oversight hearings, and stopping lobbyists from running our elections.

Stay-cation with me this July in the city and enjoy free Music at Sunset at Four Freedoms Park and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Carl Schurz Park, both supported with funding from my office and let me know what you think.

On Thursdays from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, starting this July 7 running through November 17, you can now get a GrowNYC Fresh Food Box full of farm fresh produce for only $12 at my district office.

Happy Fourth of July!

Sincerely,

Ben Kallos
Council Member

SPECIAL EVENTS:

July 7, 14, 21, 28:
3:30PM - 6:30PM
Fresh Food Box

July 10, 12PM
Cooking with Kallos

July 12, 14-17, 7PM
A Midsummer Night's Dream

July 16 & 17, 12PM - 4PM
Imagination Playground

July 21 & 28, 6PM
Music at Sunset

UPCOMING EVENTS:

July 12, 6PM
Policy Night

July 28, 6:30PM
CitiBike Street Skills Class