Community Alerts 7.26.23

Food Businesses MUST Comply with New Rule to Fight Rats

As of August 1, 2023, ALL food-related businesses in NYC must use rigid containers with secure lids when setting out trash for collection. You can find out all of the details for the new rule on DSNY’s website here or in our recent story about the rule here. Both links include information on info sessions you can join to learn more. Clickhere to read the adopted rule relating to the use of certain receptacles by food-related businesses, and download the official commercial containerization notice here.

NYC Cooling Centers

New York City will be under a heat advisory from Thursday, July 27, through Saturday, July 29. Cooling centers in air-conditioned public facilities will be open across the city to help prevent heat-related illnesses or deaths beginning Thursday, July 27. Starting Wednesday evening, you can click here for updated cooling center information, including locations and hours of operation. You can also call 311. You can find additional ways to stay cool and beat the heat here.

Traffic Advisories

For about the next two weekends, 60th Street will be partially closed between Broadway and Columbus Avenue due to a crane operation. Only one lane will be open to vehicular traffic. 

On Saturday, August 5, there will be a single-block street fair on the east side of Broadway between 60th and 61st Street from 10:00am – 6:00pm.

For more information, call 311. 

National Night Out on August 1

Join us at National Night Out – we’ll be there! National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships to help make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. It seeks to strengthen the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement, fostering a true sense of community. The 20th Precinct will hold its National Night Out event at Verdi Square (West 73rd Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway) from 5:00pm – 8:00pm on Tuesday, August 1.

Community Commissions: Partners Request for Proposals 

NYC DOT Art invites community-based, nonprofit organizations to apply for the 2023 – 2024 Community Commissions: Partners Request for Proposals. Through their signature program, Community Commissions, NYC DOT Art, and selected organizations commission artists to design and install temporary public art on NYC DOT infrastructure citywide. Organizations are invited to identify sites for artwork in their district and will help select individual artists to propose site-responsive artwork. NYC DOT Art provides up to $20,000 towards direct project costs, engineering and operational support, and the opportunity to beautify sites accessible to a diverse audience. Click here to download the Community Commissions application, which is due by Thursday, August 1, 2023, at 11:59pm EST.

“Get Sheds Down” Rule

On Monday, July 24, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo unveiled “Get Sheds Down,” a sweeping overhaul of rules governing sidewalk construction sheds and scaffolding. The “Get Sheds Down” plan will improve public safety and quality of life by removing them more quickly and replacing them, where possible, with more aesthetic or less intrusive alternatives, like safety netting, that keeps New Yorkers safe without creating blight in public space. To read more about the new plan, click here to read the press release.

Updated Outdoor Dining Bill Potential Vote on August 3rd

The NYC Council has published an updated version of the permanent outdoor dining bill, Int. 31-C. There is currently an effort to bring the bill to a vote at the upcoming Council Stated Meeting on August 3rd. If the vote is postponed, the next City Council Stated Meetings are scheduled for September 14th and September 28th. This updated version only adds minimal references to sidewalk widenings. Click here to read it.

Hurricane Preparedness Webinar

The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is offering a Hurricane Preparedness Webinar on Thursday, August 3, from 11:00am – 12:00pm to help businesses create a business continuity plan to manage extreme weather events. You will learn how to stay in business, protect your investments, and be ready for action. To learn more and register for the program, click here.

Weekly Public Safety Briefing

The New York City Mayor’s Office holds a weekly public safety briefing every Friday. Leaders answer questions submitted by the public during the weekly Friday livestream, which is available on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.