Community Alerts 10.16.26
West 65th Street Closure
West 65th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, October 17, and Saturday, October 24, from 8:00am to 6:00pm due to crane operations. The M66 bus stop at West 65th Street and Central Park West will also be temporarily closed. Passengers should use the stop at West 65th Street and Broadway, on the Lincoln Center side.
Free Food Safety Workshops for Restaurants
The NYC Health Department is offering free food safety workshops to help restaurant owners and operators improve food safety practices and achieve an A grade on inspections. Learn about inspection requirements, daily self-inspections, and resources to help avoid violations.
In-person workshops will take place on Tuesday, October 20, at Queens Borough Hall and Monday, October 26, at the Manhattan Municipal Building. A virtual workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 17. All sessions run from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
Register for the workshops here. For questions or accommodations, call 212-676-1600 or email infobfscs@health.nyc.gov.
E-Waste Recycling Day on October 25
Bring your old, unwanted, or broken electronics to E-Waste Recycling Day on Sunday, October 25, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM outside the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan at 334 Amsterdam Avenue. Working and non-working electronic equipment will be accepted for responsible recycling. Please note that batteries (except lead-acid batteries from uninterruptible power supply systems) and media such as DVDs, VHS tapes, and cassette tapes will not be accepted. The event is cosponsored by the Office of NYC Council Member Gale A. Brewer and the Lower East Side Ecology Center. Learn more at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan website.
TCS New York City Marathon
The 55th New York City Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 1. The marathon begins on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and runs through all five boroughs, ending in Manhattan’s Central Park. Many street and bridge closures will be in effect citywide from 7:00am to 4:00pm on November 1. You can get real-time traffic and travel conditions on NYS 331’s Traffic Condition page. Stay tuned for more updates and visit the TCS New York City Marathon website for more information.
Year-Round Roadway Dining
New York City Council passed legislation allowing year-round roadway dining. Applications opened in early September 2026. New applicants can choose a year-round license with higher fees. Existing participants may upgrade their existing license or application by paying an additional fee. To learn more, click here.
NYC DOT Offers Funding for Off-Hour Deliveries
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is offering funding to businesses through its Off-Hour Delivery Incentive Program to encourage deliveries between 7:00 pm and 6:00am. Funded through the Central Business District Tolling Program Mitigation funding, the initiative aims to reduce daytime traffic congestion and double-parking while improving traffic safety and protecting the environment. Businesses interested in shifting deliveries to off-peak hours can learn more and apply at ohdnyc.com. For additional information, view the program fact sheet.
Small Business Credit Survey
The Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey is now open, and the NYC Department of Small Business Services is a partner in this effort.
Your voice shapes the policies and programs that affect your business. Owners and key financial decisionmakers of for-profit businesses, share your recent operational and financial experiences, about whether and how you use debt, and more. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others – a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours.
The survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch. All responses are confidential. The survey closes Friday, November 13. Take the survey here.
Commercial Waste Zones Rollout
The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is rolling out Commercial Waste Zones across the city. Businesses in each zone must sign a contract with an authorized private waste hauler during their zone’s implementation period. Businesses in Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan must sign up by Monday, November 30, or DSNY will assign them a carter at the maximum allowable rate. The West Side rollout is next year, but it’s never too early to plan.
Qualifying nonprofits in tax-exempt buildings may request free DSNY collection services, while certain licensed professionals operating in residential buildings may qualify for fee-based collection. Learn more about the Commercial Waste Zones rollout schedule, collection services for nonprofits, and fee-based collection for professional offices.
Commercial Waste Customer Rights
The NYC Business Integrity Commission (BIC) licenses commercial waste haulers and protects businesses’ rights to fair pricing, written contracts, and reliable waste-removal service. Review the Commercial Trade Waste Customer Bill of Rights to learn about your rights when hiring a commercial waste hauler.
For questions, call 212-437-0500. To file a complaint, call 212-437-0600 or submit a complaint online.
Land Use Lookup Tool
The NYC Department of City Planning has introduced a Land Use Lookup Tool that lets users search by zoning district to find permitted uses or search by use to identify which zoning districts allow it. Watch this overview video to learn more.
For questions, contact Michael Carper at MCarper@planning.nyc.gov or Carolyn Grossman Meagher at CGROSSMAN@planning.nyc.gov.
Deadline to Install Natural Gas Alarms is January 1, 2027
On or before Friday, January 1, property owners must provide and install natural gas alarms in accordance with Section 908.13 of the New York City Building Code and relevant Department rules.
For additional information, review the Natural Gas Detection Devices FAQs and refer to 1 RCNY §908-02 and 1 RCNY 3616-06 for relevant standards regarding the installation and location of natural gas alarms. For assistance, please send inquiries to LL102of2025@buildings.nyc.gov.
Emergency Snow Shoveler Jobs
The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is hiring Emergency Snow Shovelers for the upcoming winter, with pay increased to $30 per hour and $45 per hour after 40 hours worked in a week. Applicants who register by November 30 may qualify for a paid four-hour orientation in December and faster paycheck processing.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, authorized to work in the United States, and able to perform physically demanding work in winter conditions. Additional registration events will be announced at nyc.gov/SnowEmploy. Learn more about the program and requirements in the Mayor’s announcement.
