Paul Newell

FRIENDS: THIS PARTY HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER.  I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU, ON TUESDAY, MAY 28TH, FROM 6:00-8:30 PM.

Please join me next Tuesday May 28th, as I celebrate my birthday in one of the Lower East Side’s most beautiful community gardens.  We’ll have music, a few drinks, great company and celebration.

Please get your tickets now at: https://www.wepay.com/events/newellnyc-birthday-38! 

It is an incredible honor serving these wonderful neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan, and our city.  It would not be possible without your support.  I hope to see you there.

The Big Three-Eight! – Paul Newell’s LES Birthday Garden Party
Tuesday, May 28th, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
At The Orchard Alley Community Garden
450 East 4th Street (between Avenues C and D)
Lower East Side, New York City
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/ELa3Q
F/M Train to 2nd Avenue.

Reserve your spot at https://www.wepay.com/events/newellnyc-birthday-38! 
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/588020721232927

If you cannot join us next Thursday, please consider making a contribution at http://NewellNYC.org/Contribute.

Thank you,
Paul

Photo by Lower East Side photographer, Laura Goggin.  Check her out on Etsy and Flickr.

On Sunday, May 19th, I will walk in AIDS Walk New York to support GMHC and Ubuntu Education Fund.  In many ways, this is one of the defining struggles of my life.

I grew up in downtown Manhattan in the 1980s.  It was a community beset by a plague.  Watching our neighborhood respond – the birth of GMHC, ACT-UP and AIDS activism – taught me what it meant to organize communities.  And continues to inspire and instruct me today.

Please help me fight AIDS in NYC by clicking: http://awny2013.kintera.org/newellnyc

In 2001, I traveled to South Africa to help build Ubuntu Education Fund.  I worked with Ubuntu for six years, in NYC and South Africa.  In a community where 1 in 4 adults is HIV positive, Ubuntu works with over 25,000 orphans and vulnerable children and their families.  Whether it’s getting a mother onto life-saving drugs, or enrolling a child who’s lost their family in school, Ubuntu is committed to long term, intensive interventions. 12 years on, Ubuntu’s model is working. Many of the most vulnerable children I worked with in South Africa are graduating university and moving on to careers.

I have seen Ubuntu Education Fund turn around lives.  I have seen mothers brought back to life and children re-enrolled in schools.  And I have learned that determined, community-based solutions can have dramatic and inspiring results.

Please help me support Ubuntu Education Fund by clicking: http://awny2013.kintera.org/newellnyc

As an organizer and activist, I’ve believed that access to healthcare is a vital social justice goal.  Whether it was organizing support for Obamacare, fighting the closure of hospitals like St. Vincent’s and Brooklyn’s Long Island College Hospital, opposing cuts to Medicare, or working with Ubuntu Education Fund to create futures for our neighbors around the world, I have always known that a healthy society is key to the success of our communities.

I have lost more friends to HIV and AIDS than I care to count – across three decades and two continents.  Thirty years on, this struggle continues.  Millions still lack access to life-saving drugs, new infections are on the rise here in NYC, and a cure remains elusive.  On Sunday, May 19^th, I will walk with Team Ubuntu in AIDS Walk New York. I have pledged to raise $5,000 to support the work of GMHC and Ubuntu Education Fund. I ask for your help.
 
Even the smallest gift makes a huge difference.

Thank you.

P.S. Please join me on Team Ubuntu. It’s a great time, a beautiful walk, you get a cool T-Shirt and it makes a difference.  Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/WalkUbuntu2013

“That’s our politicians in New York. They’re all like that, all like that. And they get like that because of the drives that the money does for everything else.
You can’t do anything without the f—— money.”

That’s what a Queens Republican politician recently said into a Federal wiretap.  He’s been arrested, but illegal bribes are not the real problem.  Legal bribes are.

Money – from wealthy individuals, corporations, PACs and more – dominates New York State politics.  NYS Candidates can take contributions as much as 20 times the amount a candidate for US President can.

And it hurts us every day.  Our legislators just passed another $135 Billion budget.  Despite overwhelming support for stronger tenants’ protections, saving LICH Hospital in Brooklyn, adequate funding for mass transit, NYCHA  and NYC schools were left out. Also skipped was Campaign Finance Reform. This is not a coincidence.

We can change this.  The Campaign for Fair Elections in New York has outlined four proposals that will go a long way to reducing our political leaders’ dependence on wealthy and corporate campaign contributors.  And with the stated support of the Governor, this year is the best chance we’ve seen to get this done in New York yet.  They are kicking off their campaign tomorrow afternoon.  I hope you can join us:

Fair Elections community rally
SEIU 1199 Auditorium
310 West 43rd Street, New York City
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 3^rd, 5:30 p.m.

And for folks who want to join us on the Lower East Side, I’m hosting a Fair Elections House Party at my apartment on Sunday, April 7^th at 5:30 PM.  Please join us, or consider hosting one yourself (they’re fun).

There’s also an online petition at http://fairelectionsny.org/get-involved/, which I encourage you to sign.  This is a winnable battle, and it’s winnable this year.  I look forward to working with you for a better Albany and a better New York.

UPDATE: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again extended deadlines for post-Sandy assistance.

Sandy survivors now have until Mar. 29 to apply for federal assistance, including FEMA grants and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration, which are available to businesses, homeowners, and even renters.

——-

This Wednesday, February 27^th is the deadline to register for FEMA disaster recovery plans.  I strongly encourage everyone impacted by Superstorm Sandy to register – as damages sustained may not yet be known, and insurance payouts may be less than predicted.  Wednesday is the last day for Sandy survivors in the 13 New York counties designated for federal disaster assistance to register with FEMA and complete and return low-interest Small Business Administration disaster loan applications, an important step in the FEMA grant process. Designated counties include: All of New York City, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Individuals also can register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or calling 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). People who use 7-1-1 Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST, seven days a week until further notice.

For more information on FEMA’s New York Sandy recovery programs, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, and www.facebook.com/FEMASandy.

Survivors who register may be eligible for federal grants to help cover various disaster-related expenses including rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

By returning the SBA disaster loan application, homeowners may be eligible for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their storm-damaged primary residence. Homeowners and renters may be eligible for up to $40,000 for replacement of personal property. Businesses and private nonprofits may be eligible to borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace storm-damaged property.

Project Hope:
I also wanted to let you know about Project Hope.  Also funded by FEMA, Project Hope provides one-to-one or group counseling services wherever you wish to have them: in your home, place of work, community centers, schools or houses of worship.  In additiuon to counseling, Project Hope staff help find people or agencies that can assist with any disaster-related problems.

In Lower Manhattan, services are being administered through:

• Henry Street Settlement, 265 Henry St., (212) 766-9200
• Hamilton – Madison House, 253 South St. 3rd Fl., (212) 349-3724
• Partnership with Children, 299 Broadway #1300, (212) 689-9500
• University Settlement, 184 Eldridge St., (212) 228-0918

Other Project Hope providers can be found at http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/disaster_resources/project_hope/content/resources/provider_agency_list.html.

And of course, neighborhood stalwarts like Good Old Lower East Side, CAAAV, and several other local organizations continue to coordinate responses as we rebuild.

Wishing you and your family the happiest of holidays
and a joyous, healthy and prosperous new year.
I look forward to working with you to build and rebuild
our neighborhoods in 2013 and beyond.

 Peace on Earth,

Paul

Photo by Lower East Side photographer, Laura Goggin.  Check her out on Etsy at and Flickr.

I just wanted to give you a heads up about two important events related to our communities’ continued recovery form superstorm Sandy.  Details are below.

1) Friday and Saturday, December 7^th and 8^th, join us for Rally Downtown, a two-day effort to reboot Lower Manhattan and the Lower East Side’s small businesses – many of which have taken a huge hit from the storm.  We’ll be encouraged to shop, eat, drink and attend events across Lower Manhattan.  Tomorrow, Friday, December 7^th, they’ll be hosting a Rally Downtown Scavenger Hunt.  On Saturday, December 8^th, there will be the Rally Downtown Food Crawl – a tour through some of Lower Manhattan’s most fantastic eats.

For more info or to RSVP, go to: http://www.rallydowntown.org/

2) Our State Senator, Daniel Squadron, is hosting New York After Sandy: Resource Fair and Community Conversation this Sunday, December 9^th.  There are actually two events, one in Lower Manhattan and one in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

For residents and businesses in need, he is bringing together representatives from city, state, and federal agencies, utility companies, volunteer groups, and others who can help in Sandy’s aftermath. From disaster assistance (which has December 31st deadlines in many cases) and utility restoration, to legal and social services, this will be a good opportunity to have your questions answered. Think of it as a one-stop post-Sandy shop for all New Yorkers.

I’ll be at the event in Manhattan.  For more info and to RSVP, go to http://www.nysenate.gov/webform/new-york-after-sandy-resource-fair-and-community-conversation

Senator Daniel Squadron’s
New York After Sandy: Resource Fair & Community Conversation

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Brooklyn
11:00AM to 2:00PM
Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street (DUMBO)

Manhattan
3:00PM to 6:00PM
Murry Bergtraum High School, 411 Pearl Street

In addition, Senator Squadron’s maintains an invaluable Post-Sandy resource page at http://www.nysenate.gov/blogs/2012/nov/04/sandys-aftermath-resource-page-what-expect. The page has detailed information on where to get help on any number of issues.

From what I’ve seen this month, I am certain that our community will come back stronger than ever.  I’m proud to be there with you.

Today, as I’m sure you know, is election day. Our neighborhoods have been through a great deal this week, and indeed over the past 10 years. To me, as a District Leader and a community organizer, it has never been clearer why we need to move forward as a nation.

I will be proudly voting to reelect Barack Obama as our President today. I hope you will join me.

For the first time in a generation or more, this country is moving forward. Over 30 million Americans will have access to health insurance as a result of The Affordable Care Act. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restored the rights of women and other workers to challenge unfair pay and help close the wage gap. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act will allow millions of students to graduate college with less debt – and prevent hundreds of thousands from dropping out.

In Lower Manhattan, and around the NYC metro area, the need for a President, and a Congress, committed to investing in our nations infrastructure has never been more apparent. Barack Obama has been, and will continue to be, that President. He has earned our support.

After voting, if you have any time to help during the day, volunteers will be making calls to swing states at SEIU’s HQ, at 310 West 43rd. St between 8th and 9th Ave. When you get there, ask for Obama organizer, David Barda. They’ll be there from 9:00 AM until 9:00 PM. I’ll be making calls for most of the afternoon. I hope to see you there.

If you can’t make it to SEIU, you can make calls from home by going to https://call.barackobama.com.

It is equally imperative that we elect a Congress that will work with our President on behalf of working and middle class Americans. In New York State, we have a great opportunity to make that happen. In Staten Island and Brooklyn, voters have the chance to support Democrat Mark Murphy for Congress – and to vote out a corrupt, tea-party supported Republican obstructionist. I know many Staten Islanders are in a tough spot these days. Please try and make it to your poll sites.

In Long Island, Congressman Tim Bishop deserves another term representing NY in Washington. Upstate, great candidates like Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, Sean Patrick Maloney and Dan Maffei will be the champions our state and our country so vitally needs right now.

Locally, New Yorkers who care about affordable housing, quality schools, functioning mass transit, access to health care and equality for all need a Democratic State Senate more than ever. Please join me in voting for a better future for New York.

VOTING INFORMATION:

Polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 throughout New York. The following downtown NYC poll sites have changed due to the storm:

— The Poll site at Bard High School at 525 East Houston St is relocated to: P.S. 188 at 442 East Houston Street.
— The poll site at St. Margaret’s House at 49 Fulton St. is relocated to Southbridge Towers at 66 Frankfort St.
— The poll site at Westbeth Housing in the West Village has been restored.

In addition, many poll sites have changed since the last general election due to redistricting. Even if you think you know where you vote, I suggest you go to http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm to find your poll site.

If you have evacuated, and are unable to reach your poll site, the Governor has signed an executive order allowing all voters to vote by affidavit ballot at any poll site in New York State. Please use this only as a last resort, as you will only be allowed to vote in Federal elections – and not the very important local races in NY.

If you’re not in NYC, Google has a good poll site locator at https://www.google.com/elections/ed/us/vote.

Finally, many Lower Manhattanites who have lost power or even just cable this week, have asked for a place to watch returns. Drinking Liberally and Manhattan Young Democrats are sponsoring an event at DCTV, 87 Lafeyette St at White St. starting at 8:00 PM. More info at http://www.facebook.com/events/322341927861338/. I’ll probably be there from about 10:00 PM on.

Yours in hope and democracy,
Paul

P.S. Our neighborhoods continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy. For resources and information, please see my previous emails on the matter at http://newellnyc.org/, or Senator Daniel Squadron’s excellent resource page at http://www.nysenate.gov/blogs/2012/nov/04/sandys-aftermath-resource-page-what-expect.

Well, it has been quite a week in our neighborhoods.  Like most of you I was without power or water for the entire week.  Also like most of you, I was inspired by the response of our city, state, neighbors and nation – and remain concerned about the thousands of our neighbors still in harms way.

Below is some information that may be helpful.

SCHOOLS:
Most NYC Public Schools will be open as usual tomorrow, Monday, November 5^th.  A few schools have sustained serious damage or are still without electricity.  In Lower Manhattan, schools that may have relocations or cancellations include P.S. 126, P.S. 226, Bard H.S.E.C., Urban Assembly/Harbor School and Millennium High School.  More information and a full list can be found at http://schools.nyc.gov/Home/InOurSchoolsToday/2012-2013/cancellations.

All NYC Public Schools will be closed again on Tuesday, November 6^th for Election Day.

More time to study!  The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) scheduled for this Saturday, November 3, has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 17. Accommodations will be made for students with conflicts.  The SAT test administration scheduled for this weekend (Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4), has been cancelled in public schools in NYC.  A makeup date has been scheduled for Saturday, November 17 for the November 3 test-takers, and Sunday, November 18 for those test-takers who were scheduled to test on Sunday, November 4.  Students can also go online and change their test date to a regularly scheduled December administration date.

TRANSIT:
Much of the Subway service is expected to be running, at least on a limited basis, for Monday morning.  LIRR and Metro-North Services are also returning.  As of this email, the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, J, F and D trains have returned partially to Lower Manhattan.  Nevertheless, much of our neighborhood remains unserved.  The best place for information is at http://www.mta.info/.

IT’S GETTING COLD:
Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s tonight and tomorrow.  Much of Lower Manhattan and the Lower East Side (including my building) are still without heat and hot water.  If you or anyone you know is in need of warm shelter, call 1-800-733-2767 or text SHELTER & your zip code to 43362.  Manhattan’s warm shelter is located at George Washington High School, 549 Audubon Avenue between Fort George Avenue and West 193rd Street.  Busses to the site will pick people up at Seward Park High School, 350 Grand Street between Ludlow and Essex Streets.

ELECTRICITY/WATER:
Power has been restored to almost all of Lower Manhattan, though a few buildings remain without power.  Con Edison has asked us to conserve energy until the entire system is restored.  Please turn off all lights and appliances that you are not using so we can help get the entire area back on track.

If there is water running in your tap it is drinkable.  If it runs brown (which it well may), let it run for a few minutes until it clears up.

VOTING AND ELECTIONS:
The following downtown NYC poll sites have changed due to the storm:

• The Poll site at Bard High School at 525 East Houston St is relocated to:  P.S. 188 or P.S. 196 at 442 EAST HOUSTON ST.  For Election/Assembly Districts:  002/74  004/74  005/74
• The Poll site at Westbeth Housing, 155 Bank St. is relocated to: P.S. 3 at 490 HUDSON ST.  For Election/Assembly Districts:   079/66   080/66   081/66   082/66   093/66

Polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Tuesday.  To find your poll site and a full list of Sandy-related changes in NYC, go to http://vote.nyc.ny.us/.

If a person is stranded, sudden illness, accident or extenuating circumstances (as many of us are right now), an Emergency Absentee Ballot may be received.  An authorized representative must present at the Board of Elections a request and letter explaining the situation.  The representative must show proper identification. For Manhattan voters, go to the temporary offices of the Board of Elections at 450 West 33rd St., 10th Flr, between 9th & 10th.Sunday, today, until 8 pm and Monday 9 to 5.  Please check website for exact details:  http://vote.nyc.ny.us/html/voters/absentee.shtml

While we’re on the subject of elections.  Most of us have been focused on rebuilding our neighborhoods this past week.  But there is a vital presidential election on Tuesday.  If we care about protecting homebound seniors, preparing for natural disasters, durable public transit systems, taking care of the needy in times of crisis and in trying to reduce the impact of global warming, and any one of a hundred other reasons, it is crucial that we re-elect President Barack Obama on Tuesday.  One way to help, from now through Tuesday night, is to go by the Obama for America NYC HQ at 520 8th Ave, 20th floor (near 37th street), and call some of our neighbors in swing states.  They may be particularly open to hearing from New Yorkers right now.  They are open 9AM to 9PM.  More information is at http://www.facebook.com/events/134342113379817/

THANK YOUS:
So, obviously there are way to many people to thank over the past week.  First and foremost are the NYPD, FDNY and EMS workers who saved countless lives.   Joining them were thousands of volunteers who came to our aid, climbing stairs to feed and take care of homebound neighbors, donating food and supplies and more.

The MTA and the workers of TWU 100 have done an outstanding job bringing a 100-year-old system back on track for millions of New Yorkers.  Likewise Con Edison and the workers of UWUA Local 1-2 and others have been incredible in restoring vital power to our city and region.

Among the many groups who have been invaluable are the Red Cross and NY Cares.  In the Lower East Side, GOLES and CAAAV came through with all kinds of support and volunteers.  Please consider supporting these fine organizations.

Many of our elected officials also did a tremendous job, coordinating efforts and getting needed help to our neighborhoods.  Of those, from my local perspective, two stood out and deserve recognition.

Our State Senator Daniel Squadron has, this week, been one of the finest public servants I have ever seen.  Wherever and whenever help was needed, Squadron’s team was contactable, organized and helpful.  They organized hundreds of volunteers, coordinated calls from thousands of residents from Battery Park City and the Financial District to Chinatown and the Lower East Side to much of riverfront Brooklyn (in at least 3 languages).  They contacted emergency services when residents could not.  They solicited and distributed literally tons of supplies.

Former Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin did a superb job of communicating vital information and organizing volunteers at vulnerable high rises across the area.

I can say this week more than ever, that I am genuinely honored to serve this incredible community.  The recovery process will continue for months and indeed years.  I look forward to keeping you informed and working with you as we move forward.

yours,
Paul

I hope you are faring well as we recover from Superstorm Sandy.  I apologize that I have not been in more contact, but like many of you, I have lost power and have been working actively to make sure our neighbors have food, water, medicine and shelter.

Below is some potentially useful information.

Zone A including all of Battery Park City, most of the Financial District, the Seaport area and parts of the Lower East Side and Tribeca closest to the river remains under evacuation order.  Please do not return until the order is lifted, as it creates additional danger and burden for our first responders.

ConEd is working to restore power, but it’s expected to take up to four days. If you can safely move to a friend’s or family member’s home with power, it makes sense to do so.  Most predictions are saying Lower Manhattan and the LES will be without power until Saturday.

Some subway service will begin tomorrow (Thursday).  Obviously, not trains will be running south of 34th Street, or in any areas without power: Bus service is already running on a limited schedule.  A good list of working lines is at: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121031/new-york-city/limited-subway-service-resumes-tomorrow-lirr-metro-north-today.

NYC Schools remain closed Thursday and Friday.

Most bridges and tunnels will be open, but a strict carpool regulation has been placed.  Only cars with 3 or more passengers may cross into Manhattan.  The Battery and Midtown tunnels remain closed.  Yellow cabs are temporarily allowed to pick up multiple passengers at multiple stops, and livery cars can temporarily pick up street hails.

President Obama has declared and emergency for most of the NY Metro area.  If you have sustained damage to your business or property, you can begin to apply for disaster assistance http://www.disasterassistance.gov.  I highly recommend you take photographs of all damaged items, and keep strict records of related expenditures.

If you have other needs, please reach out to 311. Phone wait times are long so http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/  or text (311692) is your best bet.  Unless it’s a real emergency, please do not call 911, which has been overloaded.

If you want to volunteer:  Most evacuation shelters need volunteers today for eight hour shifts and, in some cases, clothing donations. You can find the closest shelter to you at http://gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.html.  In Lower Manhattan, our closest evacuation center is Seward Park High School, 350 Grand Street, between Ludlow and Essex Streets, and reach out to find out what they need.  There is also a volunteer hub at Rutgers Community Center on Madison St. and Rutgers St. You can also email  nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email address, and borough to volunteer in the coming days.  The Red Cross has volunteer info at http://www.nyredcross.org/?nd=news_room_detail&news_id=606&jid=63321.

Speaker Silver has set up a phone charging station during daylight hours at the corner of Grand and Lewis Streets in the Lower East Side.

The Department of Environmental Protection began placing water-on-the-go drinking fountains at six locations in Manhattan on Wednesday and will keep them open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until power is restored. They are at

Canal Street and Centre Street, Monroe Street, Houston Street and 6th Avenue, W 23rd Street and 8th Ave., East 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue, West 14th Street and 8th Avenue.

Con Ed is distributing Dry Ice at Union Square and 17th Street.

To find up-to-date information on the recovery effort (including electricity, transit, and reporting damage), please visit the City of New York’s Office of Emergency Management website: http://www.nyc.gov/severeweather or call 311.

I am sure I am missing a great deal, but I hoe this is helpful.  Please feel free to reach out to me via this email, but be aware that my access to email and other communication is very limited.

Thank you, and please stay safe.

Best,

Paul

P.S. Happy Halloween!

New York City has issued a mandatory evacuation order for all residents of hurricane Zone A – including all of Battery Park City, most of the Financial District, the Seaport area and parts of the Lower East Side and Tribeca closest to the river.  New York Downtown Hospital is already evacuating.

All New York City Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, October 29^th.

• MTA Subways will shut down at 7:00 PM tonight.  Buses at 9:00 PM
• Elevators in NYCHA developments in evacuation zones will shut down at 7:00 PM tonight.
• In Lower Manhattan, out closest evacuation center is Seward Park High School, 350 Grand Street, between Ludlow and Essex Streets (MAP), but it is preferable to find other accommodations.  Please contact friends and family who live in higher ground immediately, and make arrangements.
• Street cleaning and parking meter rules are suspended.

• Many people have asked about pets.  As a cat owner, I understand their concern.  NYC shelters are taking pets this weekend.  For more info on pet care during an evacuation, see http://home2.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/get_prepared/preparedness_pets.shtml.
• Keep track of developments online or via radio and television.  The city is updating http://www.nyc.gov/severeweather regularly.  You can sign up for text alerts by going to https://a858-nycnotify.nyc.gov/NotifyNYC/Home.aspx.  Or follow https://twitter.com/NotifyNYC

 
New Yorkers often feel like we can handle anything that comes our way.  But please take this storm seriously.  As if you needed more proof of the gravity of the situation, The NYC Subway will be closed beginning 7:00 PM tonight.  The area most at risk, called Zone A in the city’s hurricane evacuation plan, includes Battery Park City, parts of the Financial District and Chinatown, some of the East Village and Lower East Side, but also extends up to Hell’s Kitchen and Murray Hill along Manhattan’s riverfronts. In Brooklyn, parts of Greenpoint and Red Hook are largely in Zone A, as well as the Navy Yard, Coney Island and Manhattan Beach.  A complete map of evacuation zones is at http://project.wnyc.org/news-maps/hurricane-zones/hurricane-zones.html.

What else can we do right now?

1)      If you live in Zone A, please prepare to leave now.  The Subway and all NYC Transit will be closed from 7:00 PM tonight

2)      Contact elderly or mobility-impaired neighbors, family and friends.  Make sure they have a plan for evacuation.

3)      Keep track of developments online or via radio and television.  The city is updating http://www.nyc.gov/severeweather regularly.  You can sign up for text and email alerts by going to https://a858-nycnotify.nyc.gov/NotifyNYC/Home.aspx.  Or follow https://twitter.com/NotifyNYC

4)      Make a go bag with medicine, keys, emergency supplies, important documents and a few essential personal items, non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries in a waterproof portable container.

5)      Charge your cell phones and other important electronics.

Again, I know many New Yorkers think this is overblown.  I hope they are right.  But all the relevant authorities are in agreement that we face a serious possibility of major damage.  Please take this storm seriously.

My apartment is not in an evacuation zone, so I plan to be volunteering at Seward Park High School tonight.  Please be safe, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Please stay safe,

Paul