Community Alerts 10.8.25
Traffic Alerts
Alternate Side Parking Suspensions: Alternate side parking regulations will be suspended for the following upcoming holidays:
- Succoth on Tuesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 8;
- Columbus Day on Monday, October 13;
- Shemini Atzereth on Tuesday, October 14;
- Simchas Torah on Wednesday, October 15; and
- Diwali on Monday, October 20.
Block Party: On Saturday, October 11, the West 68th Street Block Association is hosting a Block Party from Amsterdam Avenue through Central Park West. From 9:00am to 6:00pm, this stretch will be closed to vehicular traffic.
West 79th Street Rotunda: From Monday, September 29 through Saturday, November 15, the NYC Department of Transportation Division of Bridges will conduct overnight operations on the West 79th Street traffic circle. The West 79th Street exit ramp from southbound Henry Hudson Parkway will be closed from 10:00pm to 5:00am, Monday through Friday, and from 12:01am to 7:00am on Saturdays for approximately six weeks. A map of the rotunda and additional information are available here.
Open Streets: On Sunday, October 19 from 12:00pm to 7:00pm, West 77th Street to West 68th Street along Columbus Avenue will be closed to traffic for Open Streets, hosted by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District. For information about other street fairs happening on the Upper West Side, click here.
Voter Registration
To vote in the upcoming mayoral election, New York City residents must be registered to vote by October 25. New Yorkers who are not already registered can click here to register to vote online or for instructions on how to submit your registration by mail or in person.
To find your polling site to cast your vote, enter your home address here. The early voting period is October 25 to November 2. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, with polls open from 6:00am to 9:00pm.
Vaccines
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu shot this flu season (consult with your primary care doctor). Most health insurance plans cover flu vaccination without a co-pay or other fees. Flu vaccines are widely available at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, community health clinics, and through employer-sponsored programs—vaccination sites can be found on the NYC Health Map. New Yorkers with no or limited health insurance can get low- to no cost vaccines, including at NYC Health+Hospitals sites.
COVID-19: On October 5, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced an extension of Executive Order 52, which allows pharmacists to continue administering COVID vaccines to New Yorkers who wish to be vaccinated. The Executive Order will be in place for at least another 30 days. More information is available here.
Small Business Survey
The NYC Office of the Comptroller’s audit bureau has extended the deadline for small businesses to take their brief survey—which covers the elimination of certain violations, lowering of civil penalties, and providing opportunities to correct first-time violations—to Friday, October 10. Responses will be kept confidential and survey results will be shared in a summary format only.
Free Trainings
Clean Buildings: The NYC Department of Sanitation is hosting a series of Clean Buildings Trainings, which are free courses intended to help New Yorkers keep buildings clean through best practices for waste management and recycling. There are separate trainings for residential maintenance staff (also available in Spanish), residents, NYC agency staff, and schools. Click here for more information and to register.
Rat Academy: On Monday, October 20, the NYC Department of Health is hosting a Rat Academy training about safe and effective methods for rat prevention. This free training may be helpful for supers and building staff, property managers and owners, neighborhood associations, community gardeners, and local businesses. The event is taking place online from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Registration is available here.
Older Adult Tech Clinic: On Monday, October 27 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Lincoln Center’s Rubenstein Atrium (1887 Broadway between West 62nd and 63rd Street), trainers from Older Adult Technology Services and Senior Planet/AARP, volunteers from DOROT, and staff from NYPL’s TechConnect will provide one-on-one answers to questions about smartphones, laptops, and email software. Advance registration is required at the link or call (212) 873-0282 for an appointment window.
New York Road Runner Events
NYRR Race Free Program: NYRR is offering 1,000 spots for its Race Free Program in 2026, providing more than 3,000 complimentary race entries. The application period opens on Monday, October 20 at 12:00pm and closes on Monday, November 10 at 11:59pm. More information on the program and how to apply is available here.
NYC Marathon: The NYC Marathon will be taking place on Sunday, November 2. In Lincoln Square, expect crowds and traffic delays throughout the day as runners and spectators exit Central Park. The NYC Marathon course is closed to vehicular traffic during the race. The course will reopen to vehicles on a rolling basis; the schedule of bridge and street closures and re-openings will be available soon.
