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As a third generation Upper East Sider, I am committed to maintaining our neighborhood's quality of life. I will support and work with our community centers such as cultural and religious institutions as well as neighborhood associations to ensure our neighborhood remains safe, clean and a wonderful place to live.

Council Member Ben Kallos Promotes Start of NYC’s Free Summer Meals Program with #FreeSummerMeals Campaign

Today, on the launch of this year’s New York City free meal program, Council Member Ben Kallos kicked off the #FreeSummerMeals campaign to distribute information and spread awareness to hundreds of New Yorkers.

The New York City Department of Education distributes free meals for children under 18 at parks, pools, community centers, libraries and schools in all five boroughs every weekday from June 27th through August 29th. The program does not require any paperwork, registration or ID. 

At the first event to promote the program at the 96th and Lexington subway stop, Kallos and volunteers spoke to dozens of residents and handed out flyers, many of whom were previously unaware of the available free, nutritious meals. 

 

“Teens on Community Boards” Resolution Unanimously Passes Through NYC Council Committee on Governmental Operations

 

New York, NY – City Council Resolution 115 to support allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to serve on their local community boards passed through the City Council Committee on Governmental Operations today in a unanimous vote of the Committee's five members. The successful vote for resolution, co-sponsored by Council Members Ben Kallos, Ritchie Torres, Mark Levine and James Vacca, and introduced at the request of Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, signals New York City’s support of Senate bill S04142, sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza and Assembly bill A02448sponsored by Assembly Member Nily Rozic, which would amend the Public Officers Law and City Charter to allow youth to serve. 

$35 Million East River Esplanade Investment in Mayor Bill de Blasio's Executive Budget Applauded by Congresswoman Maloney, Speaker Mark-Viverito, Manhattan Borough President Brewer and Council Member Kallos

New York, New York – Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Council Member Ben Kallos (District Five) and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer today praised Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposal to invest $35 million in the East River Esplanade, a stretch of public, open space along the East River from 60th to 125th St. in dire need of restoration. The funding in the Mayor's Executive Budget Proposal represents a crucial start to the total of $115 million over ten years needed to repair the seawall to prevent spending $430 million on the repair later, according to the Parks Department. Maloney and Kallos co-chair the East River Esplanade Task Force, a group of community members and elected officials advocating for improvements to the park.