Dear Neighbor,
This week has been full of excitement and I am truly excited to see unity in the district continue. As we enter the fall season in the coming weeks, it’s important that we focus on two things: unity and empathy.
Our communities thrive off of the values instilled over years of development. As we continue to grow, unity and empathy are critical values that we must continue to demonstrate in our everyday lives. With school starting and the holiday season quickly approaching, we must remind each other that our youth are a reflection of not only us as individuals but our values. As we show our children what unity looks like, let’s remind ourselves to lead by example.
In this week’s newsletter, you will read about some of the changes coming to our City and upcoming events in our district. I invite you all to complete each survey (click here for my office’s Congestion Pricing Survey or here to submit a Congestion Pricing Testimony), ask questions and provide suggestions because we are all here, united, to make our community a better place.
If you have questions about any of the resources below, you can reach out to my office Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM at (718) 931-1721 or via email at District13@council.nyc.gov
In the meantime, I look forward to this weekend’s event and hope to see you all there!
Sincerely,
Council Member Marjorie Velázquez
What’s Happening In District 13?
Welcome Back to School!
This week, our students and educators stepped back into the classroom to kick off a fantastic year. I stopped by a few schools to share this moment, especially with students entering our schools for the first time. There were many smiles as students high-fived their teachers with our favorite teachers and their friends at MS X101. Thank you, Principal Rosoff, for such an exciting morning. Here’s to an amazing year!
LEGISLATIVE CORNER
A Message For Our Homeowners
Recently, I helped pass a law within the New York City Council that has since been signed by Mayor Adams, indicating that eligible New York City homeowners will receive property tax rebates of up to $150.
The majority of eligible property owners have received their checks automatically and did not need to take any action. However, many property owners are unaware they may be eligible for this rebate, and we are working to ensure our residents have access to information to determine their eligibility.
Owners may be eligible for a property tax rebate if they own their home, it serves as their primary residence, and their household income is $250,000 or less. More information about the rebates is available at www.nyc.gov/propertytaxrebate.
Constituents who believe they meet the eligibility criteria but do not receive a check by the end of September can take the following steps by November 15, 2022:
Visit www.nyc.gov/dofsmartfile.
If you do not already have an account, select “Create Account” and log in.
Select “2022 - Property Tax Rebate Form.”
Complete the information and upload the documentation requested.
Remember to click “Submit.” The Department of Finance will notify property owners whether they are eligible for the rebate.
If you have any questions about the rebate initiative, please contact the Department of Finance via our online customer service portal, www.nyc.gov/dofcustomerservice
NYC Congestion Pricing
The MTA recently announced their draft Environmental Assessment for the ‘Central Business District Tolling Program,’ commonly known as congestion pricing. This program would call for tolls ranging from $9 to $23 to enter and travel through Manhattan, south of 60th Street by car. If you were unable to attend a hearing to testify, click here for a list of upcoming regional meetings and environmental justice public meetings
Previous hearings, meetings and video presentations explaining the project can be found on the MTA’s project website by clicking here.
Upcoming Regional Public Meetings (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island)
Thursday, September 23, 2021 (click here to view meeting)
Thursday, September 30, 2021 (click here to view meeting)
Reminder: Today is the last day to submit a testimony through the MTA website by clicking here. For many of our neighbors, congestion pricing is a huge factor that will effect one’s ability to commute between their homes and Manhattan. I am also including a link here to a survey that has been put together by my office, so that we can support those in our district in regards to congestion pricing.
For information on how Congestion Pricing can impact our community, click here.
Serving Our Seniors
PROTECTNG OUR SENIORS AGAINST DIGITAL MONEY TRANSFER FRAUD
In recent years, digital money transfers have been increasingly popular. Unfortunately, many individuals, particularly our seniors, have been a victim of digital money transfer fraud. Scammers come in all forms, and can contact you requesting payment through a Wire Transfer or digital service such as Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle, which allow money to be sent instantly and are often difficult to recover and monitor. Below are a few tips on how to protect yourself from digital money transfer fraud.
There are many entities that will try scam you; you should never transfer money to:
Anyone who claims to be from a government agency
Any stranger, no matter what reason they give
A telemarketer trying to sell you something
Anyone claiming your account is compromised
Unauthorized, unverified cryptocurrency sites or salespeople
Anyone asking you to send money to yourself
To view the video on the risks of digital money transfers, please click here.
 Upcoming Events - Family  Achilles International in partnership with Citi Bike and Lyft have established an adaptive cycling program, which will provide free, weekly sessions where people with disabilities can reserve a tandem bike or handcycle for recreational use. The program runs through November 2022; to RSVP for the Bronx session on Wednesdays at 11 AM, fill out the registration form by clicking here. |
 Important Information - JOBS
 Important Information - PARKS Join us on Monday, October 24th at 6 PM for a virtual town meeting to discuss and share your input on the upcoming renovations at Ferry Point Park Playground. All participants must pre-register at least 24 hours ahead by clicking here. |
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