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

[Daniel O'Donnell]

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

O'DONNELL CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE DOWNZONING OF WEST 106TH STREET SITE
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On August 12, Jewish Home Lifecare unveiled an agreement with The 
Chetrit Group to swap JHL's West 106th Street site for one in Park West 
Village.

The West 106th Street site was cut-out of the sweeping 2007 rezoning 
when the Department of City Planning and the Upper West Side Rezoning 
Task Force recommended that much of the existing R7-2 zones be replaced 
with contextual zoning designations. The land on all sides of this site 
were rezoned either R8A or R8B. In response to Jewish Home Lifecare's 
proposal to redevelop its nursing home facilities here, its site 
remained R7-2 which has no height limit and provides a significant Floor 
Area Ratio bonus for the inclusion of community facility uses.

Assembly Member O'Donnell vigorously supported the community's call for 
the comprehensive rezoning to prevent inappropriate development and 
unequivocally opposed the exemption along West 106th Street, which the 
City Council ultimately approved.

O'Donnell responded to the announcement of the plans:

"The sole reason these parcels retained their original zoning is because 
Jewish Home Lifecare made the case that it needed the flexibility 
afforded by an R7-2 designation to develop a state-of-the-art skilled 
nursing facility. Now that the institution has announced the site will 
be used by a for-profit developer, the City Council must immediately 
eliminate the special cut-out and establish the full zoning plan as 
originally recommended by the city's Planning Department and the Upper 
West Side Rezoning TasK Force."

As regards the Park West Village site, O'Donnell is committed to the 
maintenance of existent open space and believes strongly that any 
proposed project must be carefully reviewed to ensure adherence to both 
the letter and spirit of the open space law.  Additionally, every 
possible attempt must be made to mitigate the impacts of construction on 
this community that already has endured quality of life compromises 
throughout the current development project.



NEW YORK STATE AND CITY PREPARING FOR H1N1 (SWINE FLU)
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New York State is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) to address possible cases of H1N1 in New York. 
H1N1 is different from a seasonal flu, although some symptoms are 
similar, including fever, cough, sore throat, chills and fatigue.  H1N1 
can be treated with antiviral drugs, so there is no need to panic.

If you have questions or concerns about H1N1, the state has set up a 
24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-800-808-1987.  You can also call 311. 
The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in mid-October.

Up-to-date information regarding H1N1, travel warnings and alerts can be 
found at the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or the NYS Department of 
Health Website, www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/. 
  New York City Department of Education has information about symptoms, 
precautions, and school closings at 
http://schools.nyc.gov/Home/Spotlight/swine.htm.



ASSEMBLY MEMBER O'DONNELL'S COMMUNITY EVENTS
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COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS BACKPACK & SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
Through September 21st
Help New York's homeless kids get the school supplies they need to 
succeed by donating new backpacks and lunch boxes, along with other 
school supplies.  Assembly Member O'Donnell's community office is an 
official community drop-off center, and you can donate there between now 
and September 21st from 9:00 AM until 5:30 PM.


FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR TENANTS
Thursday, September 24th
Consult with a volunteer attorney about housing issues you are facing. 
The legal clinic occurs on the last Thursday of every month.  Please 
call Joyce Goodman at 212-866-3970 for more information.



SCRIE ELIGIBILITY EXPANDED
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Individuals 62 years and older living in rent regulated housing should 
be aware that the income eligibility for the Senior Citizen Rent 
Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program has been increased to $29,000 as of 
July 2009. For more information, please visit 
www.nyc.gov/html/dfta/html/scrie/scrie.shtml or call Assembly Member 
O'Donnell's community office at 212-866-3970.



SENIOR SUPPORT NETWORK FORMING
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Our oldest community members are challenged by an insufficient care 
system, a growing number of seniors, and a shrinking economy. 
"Morningside Village" is a volunteer network of neighbors who are 
helping to look after seniors living in the area from W. 110th St. to 
West 114th St. between Morningside and Riverside Drives. The group will 
host a community meeting at Bank Street College on September 16th from 
6:00–8:00 PM. Please consider attending to help this important project 
succeed.

For more information please visit www.supportseniors.org.



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