Dear Neighbor,

The last few days have been incredibly disturbing, though perhaps not surprising, for residents of New York City. The Federal corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams are extensive, and come on top of several other investigations into members of his administration that have led many top officials to resign.

I feel it is simply common sense to say that Mayor Adams should follow the example set by those other officials in his administration, and resign. Of course in a court of law he is innocent until proven guilty, but as an elected official I have always believed that we need to be held to a much higher standard than the bare minimum of saying we have not yet been convicted of the corruption with which we are accused, and that we should avoid even the appearance of corruption, let alone a series of actions that lead to us being indicted. Frankly, in my two decades as a State Senator, I have not found it particularly difficult to avoid engaging in fraud, bribery, or any other form of corruption.

New Yorkers deserve a mayor whose integrity is not in question, even if they may disagree with him or her on policy or other grounds. After all, the corruption with which Mayor Adams is charged has real consequences for the lives of New Yorkers. To take one example from our district, the Federal indictment alleges that the newly built Turkish Consulate building on 46th Street was not properly inspected by the FDNY and the Department of Buildings prior to opening, on orders from the mayor. This put the health and safety of our neighbors in jeopardy.

I hope that the mayor will realize soon that his position is not tenable, and allow New Yorkers to move on so that a new mayor can get back to the business of running this city of 9 million people.

Below you will find information on many upcoming events, as well as information about voting in the General Election on November 5th, and the new COVID-19 vaccines.



As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535.



Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

The following information will help to facilitate the voting process for the November 5th General Election. Please Note: If you need assistance with checking whether you are registered to vote, registering to vote, requesting an early mail ballot or an absentee ballot, or tracking your ballot, please call my office at 212-490-9535.

Remember, November 5th is your last chance to vote in this year's General Election, but there are opportunities to cast your ballot before that date, either by voting by mail or voting early.

Voting Resources

• Check if you are registered to vote: https://www.vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered
• Voter registration options: https://www.vote.nyc/page/register-vote
• Request an early mail ballot or absentee ballot for the November 5th General Election: https://requestballot.vote.nyc/
• Track your early mail ballot or absentee ballot: https://requestballot.vote.nyc/tracking
• Look up your Early Voting and Election Day poll sites and view a sample ballot: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/
• Check the wait time to vote at your Early Voting poll site: https://vote.nyc/page/wait-time-map
• NYC Board of Elections: 1-866-868-3692 

Voting Tips

• Whether you are voting in person or by mail, remember to flip over your ballot to weigh in on six ballot proposals, one amending the New York State Constitution and five amending the New York City charter. The state ballot proposal, Proposition 1, would enact the Equal Rights Amendment and would amend the New York State Constitution by adding protections for New Yorkers against discrimination by the government based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, and protect the right to reproductive health care services such as contraception and abortion. This would be an expansion of the Constitution's existing protections against discrimination based on a person’s race, color, creed, and religion. Information about all six of the ballot proposals is available on the NYC Campaign Finance Board's website and included in the official voter guide mailed to all voters.
• Important: If you request an early mail ballot or absentee ballot, you may not cast a ballot in-person on a voting machine for that election.
• If you do not want to worry about the NYC Board of Elections receiving your early mail ballot or absentee ballot by mail before the deadline, early mail ballots and absentee ballots can be dropped off in person at the Manhattan Board of Elections office, as well as at Manhattan Early Voting and Election Day poll sites.
• If you requested an early mail ballot or an absentee ballot for the June 25th Primary and you wish to vote by early mail ballot or absentee ballot for the November 5th General Election, you must request an additional early mail ballot or absentee ballot (the deadline is October 26th to request an early mail ballot or absentee ballot online or by mail).
• Early Voting is quicker and less crowded.
• If you have problems at the polls, you can call the NYS Attorney General at 1-866-390-2992 or the League of Women Voters/Common Cause at 1-866-687-8683

Important Dates and Deadlines

• October 26: Last day to register to vote online, in-person, or by mail to vote in the November 5th General Election. If you register to vote by mail, your voter registration application must be received by the NYC Board of Elections by October 26th.
• October 26: Last day to apply online or by mail for an early mail ballot or an absentee ballot for the November 5th General Election. If you apply by mail, your request must be received by the NYC Board of Elections by October 26th.
• October 26 – November 3:  Early Voting for the November 5th General Election. If you are voting by early mail ballot or absentee ballot, you can deliver your early mail ballot or absentee ballot to an early voting poll site in your county during voting hours on these days.
• November 4:  Last day to apply in-person at your county board of elections for an early mail ballot or absentee ballot for the November 5th General Election.
• November 5: If you are voting by early mail ballot or absentee ballot, this is the last day to deliver your ballot in person to the Manhattan Board of Elections office or to any poll site in Manhattan by 9 p.m. If you are mailing your early mail ballot or absentee ballot, it must be postmarked no later than November 5th.
• November 5:  General Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. to vote in-person.
• November 12: Deadline for the NYC Board of Elections to receive absentee or early mail ballots.

Early Voting Schedule Saturday, October 26 - Sunday, November 3, 2024

• Saturday, October 26:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 27:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 28: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 29:  8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 30:  8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 31:  8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 1:  8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 2:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 3:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Early Voting poll sites may be different than they have been in the past. If you are going to vote at an Early Voting site, please make sure to verify which location is your designated Early Voting site in case there are any last minute updates and changes. You can find your Early Voting site at: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/

Older Adult Benefits Clinic

We are pleased to hold a benefits clinic for our constituents in conjunction with LiveOn NY. Attendees will meet one-on-one with a benefits expert from LiveOn NY to be screened for public benefits and begin eligible benefits applications. Each attendee will be screened for the following benefits:

• SNAP (food stamps)
• HEAP
• SCRIE/DRIE
• Medicaid
• Medicare Savings Program
• EPIC
• Property tax exemptions (SCHE, DHE, STAR & ESTAR - also veterans property tax exemptions)
• Energy Affordability Program (Con Ed & National Grid)
• Lifeline
• One Shot Deal
• Public Assistance

To participate in this event, you must make an appointment in advance, be 62 years or older, and live in Senate District 28. Space is very limited and appointments will be given on a first-come first-served basis. 

Please RSVP by calling our office at 212-490-9535.

The district office is located at 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite #2000 (20th Floor). The building is situated between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. When you enter the building off 43rd Street, you will be required to sign in at the reception desk. Once you have signed in, please proceed to the bank of elevators and take one of the elevators on the left side to the 20th Floor. Turn right once you exit the elevator and the office is straight ahead.

Please do not arrive without an appointment as we will be unable to accommodate walk-ins.

Due to a scheduling conflict, my Virtual Older Adult Resource Fair, previously scheduled for October, will now take place in December. The new dates are as follows:

Tuesday, December 6th

2 pm – 3:45 pm

Aging Alone

Thursday, December 12th

2pm – 3:45 pm

Arts and Culture

Friday, December 13th

2 pm – 3:35 pm

Legal Resources

More information will be shared closer to the dates, including RSVP details.

Medicare Parts A, B, C and D:

Changes You Can Make to Your Coverage

Tuesday, November 12th, 2pm - 3:30pm

On Tuesday, November 12th from 2pm – 3:30 pm, join Senator Krueger and Eric Hausman from the Department for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information and Counseling Program (HIICAP). Mr. Hausman is the HIICAP Volunteer Outreach Manager, and an expert on all things Medicare.

During his presentation, you will hear about changes coming in 2025 to premium rates and deductibles for Medicare Parts A and B, and changes to Part D, your prescription drug coverage. Additionally, you will learn about Medicare Advantage and supplemental (Medigap) plans, and programs that can help defray Medicare costs, including prescription drug costs. The Medicare open enrollment period ends on December 7th; attending this event is a great opportunity to learn about changes you can make to your coverage now.

You will have the option of joining the event online through Zoom, a webinar hosting service.

You will also have the option to view the event online through Facebook. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account or profile to view the event through Facebook.

Finally, you will have the option of calling in to access the audio-only portion of the event.

The event will feature a question and answer session with Eric Hausman. If you have questions about changes coming in 2025 to Medicare premiums and deductibles, Medicare Advantage plans, supplemental (Medigap) plans, your Part D prescription drug plan coverage, or how to find out if you are eligible for programs to defray the costs of your health insurance, please join us on November 12th. You will be able to submit questions during the event but are strongly encouraged to submit them in advance.

The event will be recorded, and will be available to view afterwards at krueger.nysenate.gov and facebook.com/statesenatorlizkrueger, along with any slides and links that were shared. It will also be emailed to everyone who RSVP'd for the event.

After you register, a confirmation email with the Zoom link and the call-in information will be sent at least a week in advance of the event.

Please let us know if you plan to attend on November 12th by registering at https://tinyurl.com/2024MedicareTownHall.

Don't Get Scammed: Learn How to Protect Yourself

Thursday, November 14th, 6:30pm - 8pm

Scared of being scammed? Get the tools you need to protect yourself.

Scams are getting more and more sophisticated. Even the tech savvy among us are falling victim.

At this virtual event you will learn about the newest scams, preventive measures to keep your personal information safe, and about available resources and support. You will learn to protect yourself against phone scams, gather tips for searching safely on the internet, and learn how to prevent identity theft.

The Virtual Town Hall will feature:

• Kathleen Benedetti-Fisher, AARP, SCAM Expert
• Jeanine Launay, Chief of Elder Abuse Unit at the New York County District Attorney’s Office
• Anthony Nuccio, Detective, 19th Precinct Crime Prevention

You will have the option of joining the event online through Zoom, a webinar hosting service.

You will also have the option to view the event online through Facebook. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account or profile to view the event through Facebook.

Finally, you will have the option of calling in to access the audio-only portion of the event.

The event will feature a question and answer session with Kathleen Benedetti-Fisher, Jeanine Launay, and Detective Nuccio. If you have questions about the newest scams, the best way to protect yourself from common scams, internet safety strategies, and how to prevent identity theft, you should attend the November 14th Town Hall. Attendees will be able to submit questions through Zoom and Facebook during the event but are strongly encouraged to submit them in advance.

The event will be recorded, and will be available to view afterwards at krueger.nysenate.gov and facebook.com/statesenatorlizkrueger, along with any slides and links that were shared. It will also be emailed to everyone who RSVP'd for the event.

After you register, a confirmation email with the Zoom link and the call-in information will be sent at least a week in advance of the event.

Please let us know if you plan to attend on November 14th by registering at https://tinyurl.com/Protect-Yourself-2024.

Order Free COVID-19 At-Home Rapid Test Kits

I am happy to share that U.S. households are now eligible to order 4 free COVID-19 test kits from the federal government at COVIDTests.gov. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 for help with placing your order. The COVID-19 tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.

As we start to enter the colder months and respiratory virus season, it is particularly important to have a supply of at-home rapid tests on hand. When placing your order, you will have the option to provide your email address in order to get shipping updates.

The Updated 2024-2025 Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines Are Available to Maintain Stronger Protection against Severe Health Outcomes

It is important to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations. As the Coronavirus continues to mutate, new strains develop and circulate. COVID-19 does not pose the same extreme level of threat as before; however, individuals are still at risk for severe health outcomes, including hospitalization and death. Even if you were vaccinated last year, it is necessary to get the updated vaccine in order to maintain maximum protection.

The 2024-2025 Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are FDA-approved and include a monovalent (single) component that is formulated to provide maximum protection against the KP.2 strain of COVID-19, which has been rapidly circulating.

The updated vaccines include Moderna's Spikevax and Pfizer's Comirnaty, both of which are approved for individuals age 12 and above, as well as Moderna's and Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines that have emergency use authorization for children age 6 months through 11 years. Individuals age 12 and above are eligible for the updated Comirnaty or Spikevax vaccine if at least two months have passed since their last dose of any COVID-19 vaccination. Please see the FDA announcement for additional dosing and eligibility details.

I encourage you to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with your primary care physician or at your local pharmacy. You can schedule a vaccine appointment at CVS, Rite Aide, and Walgreens locations, and you can also search for vaccine providers on NYC Vaccine Finder.

If you have questions about which vaccine to select or when to get vaccinated, please contact your health care provider to ask for guidance on what will give you the best protection.

Flu & COVID Vaccine Clinic

I am co-sponsoring a Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinic that will be held on Monday, October 7th from 12 - 3 p.m. at Assembly Member Tony Simone's district office.

The Moderna (Spikevax) and Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccines will be available for individuals aged 12 and above. To make an appointment, click here.

Update From Attorney General Letitia James

A new guide is out for large residential buildings, including co-ops and condos, offering clarifications on how to calculate and report carbon emissions in order to comply with Local Law 97. The 98-page document from the Department of Buildings (DOB) also explains how properties designated under Article 320 — the compliance bracket for most large co-ops and condos — can challenge that status and request an extension for carbon emission reporting.

Buildings that are 25,000 square feet or more and market rate properties with fewer than 35% rent-regulated units must meet increasingly stringent emissions limits and file annual reports starting May 1, 2025. However, some co-ops and condos face challenges in determining their carbon-emission penalty exposure, especially if they have multiple buildings on a lot or are uncertain if they meet the size threshold for compliance.

The guide provides clarity on how disputes around Article 320 designation can be resolved with evidence presented to the Department of Finance or DOB, typically with the help of an attorney and a design professional.

Also outlined in the guide is information about compliance pathways and how to request deadline extensions. Extensions can be requested starting April 1, with a 30-day grace period after the May 1 reporting deadline. There’s also information on possible deductions from “beneficial electrification” — a credit applied to future compliance periods for the early adoption of electric alternatives to fossil fuels.

On October 6th, every New Yorker will have access to curbside composting. Whether you rent or own, live in a small or large building, you can participate—and it's as easy as taking out your trash or recycling.

Universal curbside composting is a crucial step in our efforts to reduce waste and NYC's carbon footprint. Currently, one-third of what New Yorkers throw away is food scraps and yard waste. Instead of ending up in landfills and contributing to greenhouse gas production, this waste can be processed into compost to be used as fertilizer, to power wastewater treatment systems, and even for heating homes.

As a resident of Manhattan, you can order a FREE brown bin from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to collect your compost in your building. You can also use any bin (55 gallons or less) with a secure lid and can order a free DSNY decal for your bin describing how to compost here. If you need additional bins or want to purchase the official NYC Bin, you can do so online.

• Learn more about what and how to compost here.
• Building owners, property managers, superintendents, board members, and owners can join free DSNY info sessions throughout the fall for additional information.
• Want to get a free bag of compost? Click here to find a DSNY compost giveaway event near you!

Housing Court Answers is announcing a new workshop/training series. These workshops will be on the most basic, most commonly requested topics from tenants and advocates, and will take place on a near-daily basis. Workshops will be available in English and Spanish.

 Planned topics:

• Navigating Housing Court
• Overview of HP Actions (Repairs) 
• Overview of Nonpayment Cases
• Overview of Holdover Cases
• Getting Rental Arrears Help
• How to Get a Lawyer in Housing Court
• How to Get Repairs
• Accessibility in Housing Court
• What Kind of Housing Do I Live In and What Are My Rights?
• Illegal Lockout Cases
• Harassment Cases

Workshops take place on zoom, and last 60 minutes, with time for brief Q&A. The idea is to equip tenants with basic information that prepares them to participate more effectively in their own specific case. 

The upcoming workshops can be found by clicking this link: https://housingcourtanswers.org/ahtp/

Partnering with law schools and pro bono clinics from across the City, the New York City Council will be offering FREE estate planning services for New Yorkers who are 50 years old or older with an income under $100,000. Services offered will include drafting important documents like your will, power of attorney, or healthcare proxy that will ensure your resources are protected and wishes are honored.

Scheduled sessions in each borough are as follows: 

Manhattan 

Monday, October 7

2 pm – 8 pm

Goddard Riverside Community Center

593 Columbus Avenue

Queens

Tuesday October 8

9 am – 6 pm

YWCA of Queens

42-07 Parsons Boulevard

Brooklyn

Wednesday, October 9

12 pm – 8 pm

111 Livingston Street

21st Floor

Bronx

Tuesday, October 15

2 pm – 8 pm

NYPL Bronx Library Center

310 E Kingsbridge Road

Staten Island

Wednesday, October 16

9 am – 4 pm

Staten Island Museum

1000 Richmond Terrace 

Please note that those interested in attending will need to click here for an online screening questionnaire and provide some basic background information by Tuesday, October 1.

The following site change to an MTA Mobile Van location is being made due to the lack of parking at 57th St & 3rd Ave due to a turning lane. This change will go into effect on October 1, 2024, and October 15, 2024, moving forward. The MTA web page will be updated as well to reflect the changes. 

OLD ADDRESS/ TO BE CANCELED

57th Street and 3th Avenue

1st and 3rd Tuesday

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

NEW ADDRESS/ TO BE ADDED

57th Street and 1st Avenue   

1st and 3rd Tuesday

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Eligible U.S. citizens who want routine service can now renew their passports online.

You can renew online if you meet all these requirements:

1. The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.
2. We issued the passport you are renewing between 2009 and 2015, or over 9 years but less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application. 
3. You are not changing your name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
4. You are not traveling for at least 8 weeks from the date you will submit your application. We will only offer routine service, and the time it takes to get a passport will be the same as renewing by mail. 
5. You are applying for a regular (tourist) passport. You cannot renew a special issuance (diplomatic, official, service) passport online.
6. You live in the United States (either state or territory). You do not qualify to renew online if you live in a foreign country or have an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
7. You have your passport with you, and it is not damaged or mutilated, and you have not reported it as lost or stolen. Keep your most recent passport and do not mail it to us.
8. You can pay for your passport using a credit or debit card.
9. You can upload a digital passport photo.
10. You are aware that we will cancel the passport you are renewing after you submit your application. You cannot use it for international travel.

If you do not qualify to renew online, you may be able to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency or center.