[BwayDems] December 2009 - Monthly Update from Assembly Member O'Donnell

[Daniel O'Donnell]

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O'DONNELL NEWS -- DECEMBER 2009
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Community Office: 245 West 104th Street  •  (212) 866-3970


UPDATE: MORNINGSIDE PARK LIGHTING PROJECT
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Now, and in the coming months, you will notice work being done around 
Morningside Park and on nearby streets. This work, the installation of 
unique light poles, is part of the Morningside Area Distinctive Street 
Lighting Project for which Assembly Member O'Donnell secured nearly $1 
million in state funding. The project will improve public safety and 
enhance the historic character of this Olmsted and Vaux-designed 
landscape. Poles around the periphery of the park will feature sidearms 
to better light sidewalks for pedestrian use.

Once completed, more than 150 of these historic street lights will line 
the entire perimeter of the park, as well as Amsterdam Avenue from 125th 
to 110th Street and 110th Street from Amsterdam to Manhattan Avenue.

The lighting project is one very important investment to improve the 
safety, quality of life, and historic character of a vibrant community 
that has historically seen fewer public infrastructure improvements than 
it deserves.



MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT
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 From November 15 through December 31, people with Medicare have the 
right to change their health plan and prescription drug plan without 
restriction.

Assembly Member O'Donnell encourages everyone who is enrolled in a 
Medicare private health plan or stand-alone drug plan to review their 
coverage options for 2010. Even people who are happy with their current 
plan should do so, because many plans change their costs and benefits 
from year to year.

For more information about how to pick a plan that best suits your 
needs, please call the Medicare Rights Center at 800-333-4114 or visit 
www.medicarerights.org.



ASSEMBLY MEMBER O'DONNELL'S UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
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COAT DRIVE FOR NEW YORK CARES
Assembly Member O'Donnell's office will host a coat drive in December as 
part of a larger effort by New York Cares, which collects nearly 90,000 
gently used winter coats during the coldest months of the year. Please 
bring gently-used coats to Assembly Member O'Donnell's Community Office; 
245 W. 104th Street (bet. Broadway and West End).

**December 1st-31st, 2009**



2010 CENSUS FORUM
Co-Sponsored with Dominican Sunday

Attend to find out why being counted in the census is one of the most 
important civic duties a resident has. Census information affects the 
numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of 
Representatives and helps to determine how more than $400 billion 
dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and 
services like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, 
public works projects and emergency services.

**Wednesday, December 16th, 2009; 7:30 PM**
Ascension Church Senior Center; 221 West 107th Street (bet. Amsterdam 
and Broadway)



FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR TENANTS
An opportunity for constituents with housing issues to consult with a 
volunteer attorney. Call (212) 866-3970 to make an appointment.

**Thursday, December 17th**



CLOTHING AND TEXTILE RECYCLING IN YOUR BUILDING
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Upper West Side Recycling and Wearable Collections can help organize and 
publicize a textile drive in your building. The organization will 
provide a portable clothing bin or a rack with large bags depending on 
the size of your building and coordinate a pickup of donated materials. 
Wearable Collections accepts clean clothing (wearable or unwearable), 
shoes, pocketbooks, curtains, sheets, blankets, comforters, and towels.

For further information contact Upper West Side Recycling at 
212-865-9595 or jtwine at synerjy.com.



CHRISTMAS DINNER
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Goddard Riverside Community Center hosts its annual free Thanksgiving 
Dinner. All are welcome!

Friday, December 25th, 2009; 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM
Goddard Riverside Community Center; 593 Columbus Avenue @ W. 88th Street



FOOD STAMP ASSISTANCE AT CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY CARES
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Cathedral Community Cares (CCC) at the Cathedral Church of Saint John 
the Divine provides Food Stamp/SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program) Pre-Screening and Online Applications for eligible individuals 
and families to obtain Food Stamps. In an effort to streamline the food 
stamp application process and make it easier for clients to access food 
stamps, CCC is now a “single stop” POS (paperless operating system) 
SNAP/Food Stamp provider.

Walk-ins welcome Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10 AM – 1 PM
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine / 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (at 
111th Street)



HEAT SEASON 2009-2010
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Between October 1st and May 31st, a period designated as "Heat Season," 
building owners are required to provide tenants with heat under the 
following conditions:

- Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if the outside temperature 
falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at 
least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; and,
- Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if the temperature outside 
falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at 
least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tenants who are cold in their apartments should first attempt to notify 
the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. If heat is not 
restored, the tenant should call 3-1-1.

For more information, or for other housing questions, please call 
Assembly Member O'Donnell's Community Office at 212-866-3970.



ATENCIÓN!
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La oficina comunicaría del Asambleísta Daniel O'Donnell ahora tiene 
empleados que hablan español para asistir al publico, tiempo completo de 
lunes a viernes desde 9:00 AM -5:30 PM. La Oficina comunicaría esta 
localizada en el 245 West 104th, con la calle Broadway. También pueden 
contactar la oficina en horario de trabajo al (212) 866-3970.

Assembly Member O'Donnell's community office has full-time 
Spanish-speaking staff available to assist you, Monday through Friday 
from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. The office is located at 245 West 104th Street, 
just off Broadway. You can also call during business hours, (212) 866-3970.


--
Office of Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell
245 W. 104th Street
New York, NY 10025
p (212) 866-3970
f (212) 864-1095
odonned at assembly.state.ny.us
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=069


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