Join OANA and guests on Wednesday, November 18th, 2026, for a community meeting focused on energy infrastructure, power delivery, and the future of energy in New York City. Confirmed guests include representatives from Con Edison and the Champlain Hudson Power Express, with additional speakers to be announced. Learn about important energy developments affecting our city and community, and take part in the discussion. Meeting Details Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Virtual Register below to attend this community meeting. RSVP on Eventbrite

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This is Part 3 of our series celebrating OANA’s 12th anniversary by re-releasing a selection of our op-eds from over the years. This collection covers taxes, politics, development, transportation, and cultural issues, many of which remain relevant today. We will continue releasing approximately 10 op-eds each month through the end of the year. Please take a look below and share your thoughts with us. Thank you to all our friends and supporters. Your feedback and continued engagement have helped shape our policy analysis and proposals over the years. If you would like to support OANA’s work, please consider making a donation here. Read Part 1 and Part 2 of our anniversary series. 05/24/2025 – Tax Smarter: Reward Investment, Not Self-Enrichment (abridged) 05/01/2025 – Safety for All on 31st Street Requires More Than a Bike Lane 03/25/2025 – Property Taxes, Housing, and the City of Yes (abridged) 01/24/2025 – Neighborhood Rezoning 01/24/2025 – How Did the MENA Community Become Classified as “White” 01/07/2025 – The Hidden Influence: How the Financial Sector Shapes American Housing 11/25/2024 – Navigating Economic Stability Amid Immigration Policy Changes 07/02/2024 – Shuttle Service for Ferry 01/30/2024 – OANA Op Ed Migrant Crisis

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Central Astoria Local Development Coalition invites families and neighbors to celebrate Halloween at its 11th Annual Batty Over Halloween event on Sunday, October 25th, from 1 to 4 PM at the Astoria Park Great Lawn. The annual celebration will feature an afternoon of family-friendly Halloween activities, live entertainment, pumpkin painting, crafts, candy, and more in our beautiful Astoria Park. Halloween Entertainment Schedule 1:00–2:30 PM: Pumpkin painting 1:30 PM: Students from Voice Middle School perform spooky Halloween songs. 2:00 PM: Halloween-themed puppet show 2:30 PM: Interactive children’s songs with Miss Jaclyn and Miss Tracy 3:00 PM: Magician performance In addition to the scheduled performances, families can enjoy a haunted maze, costumed characters, photo opportunities, crafts, candy, and books. Pumpkins, crafts, and candy will be available while supplies last. For more information, see Central Astoria’s post here.

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The NYC Ferry winter schedule begins Monday, November 2nd. Changes will include stops along the East River relevant to fellow Astoria commuters. Changes to East River Service The East River route will operate differently on weekdays and weekends. During weekday morning and afternoon peak commuting hours, the East River A and East River B routes will continue to operate. Outside of these hours, a single East River local route will serve all stops. On weekends, the East River route will operate as one local route, making all stops. Some weekday afternoon departure times will also change, so commuters are encouraged to review the updated schedules. Additional Ferry Service Updates Beginning November 2nd, ferry service to Governors Island will relocate from Yankee Pier to Pier 101 due to construction. The South Brooklyn route will continue operating between East 34th Street and Governors Island on weekdays and weekends, with stops at Governors Island between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Weekend service frequency will change across all NYC Ferry routes. Additionally, Rockaway shuttle buses will operate only during weekday morning and afternoon peak commuting hours, with no service during off-peak hours or on weekends. Holiday Schedule Changes Finally, the NYC Ferry will operate modified holiday schedules on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. To learn more, please visit NYC Ferry.

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The Astoria Park Alliance will host its annual Pumpkin Smash on Sunday, November 1st, from 1 to 3 p.m. on the North Lawn in Astoria Park. The event will feature a pumpkin catapult, live music, and treats from your favorite local businesses. The DOS will provide composting toters for pumpkin remains. Live music will be provided by Music on the Inside Inc. Please join us for some pumpkin smashing and fun! For more information and to RSVP, visit the Astoria Park Alliance website.

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OANA recently received news that Socrates Sculpture Park has launched a redesigned website and digital archive in celebration of its 40th anniversary. We enjoyed exploring the site, revisiting the Park’s history, and discovering its new features. The archive aims to make four decades of the Park’s history more accessible to the public, with a searchable collection of exhibitions, artists, and institutional documents. Developed with support from the Mellon Foundation, the project was created in collaboration with Practice Index, an arts and cultural archive advisory, and the Queens Public Library. The launch coincides with the development of The Point, a physical expression of the Park’s founding story that connects its history with its future. Explore the new website and digital archive to learn more about the artists, exhibitions, and history of this iconic cultural institution in our community. Visit: Socrates Sculpture Park

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Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria is celebrating fall with a month of cultural programming, film screenings, workshops, dance, and outdoor art. The month concludes with the magnificent Halloween Harvest Festival on October 31th. Cinema Kids: ¡HOLA CINE! On Saturday, October 10th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Socrates will present a children’s short-film program celebrating Latin American stories, family, perseverance, and imagination. The program is recommended for ages 10 and older and is free with registration. En Comunidad: An Immersive Flamenco Experience On Sunday, October 11th, from 1 to 3 p.m., Flamenco Latino and Flamenco Vivo will present an immersive dance experience exploring the history of flamenco in New York City and Queens and honoring the elders who shaped the community. The event is free with registration. Halloween Harvest Festival On Saturday, October 31th, Socrates will host its annual Halloween Harvest Festival, featuring family-friendly workshops, a community resource fair, and a dog costume contest co-presented with Château Le Woof. The festival will also introduce new installations by artists Xayvier Haughton and Andrew Cornell Robinson as part of the park’s Artists Choose Artists fellowship exhibition. Homecoming: Sanford Biggers Throughout the fall, visitors can see Unsui (Mirror), a new installation by Sanford Biggers featuring towering cloud forms with reflective, sequined surfaces. The sculptures explore the relationship between nature, environmental change, and community resilience. For event details, registration, and the full program schedule, visit Socrates Sculpture Park.

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OANA is please to share some information on upcoming events hosted by the office of New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. SNAP, Medicaid and Essential Plan Workshop Thursday, October 15, 6:00–7:45 PM Queens Public Library, Long Island City Branch, 37-44 21st Street. Learn about benefit changes, how to maintain coverage, and connect with a benefits enroller. Register here. Department of Finance Office Hours Monday, October 19, 4:00–7:00 PM Senator Gonzalez’s District Office, 801 2nd Avenue, Suite 303, Manhattan. Get individual assistance with property tax relief programs, payment plans, and other Department of Finance questions. Register for an appointment.

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On November 3, 2026, New Yorkers will head to the polls and have a chance to vote on five proposed changes to the NYC Charter covering public space, city contracting, street safety, building permits, and budget reserves. These proposals include: Public Space: Streamline approvals for sidewalk cafes, ramps, and planters while retaining community input. City Contracting: Reduce contractor paperwork and update procurement procedures. Street Safety and City Property: Speed up street safety projects, property dispositions, and city office leasing. Building Permits: Simplify construction permitting and transfer waterfront permitting to the Department of Buildings. Rainy Day Fund: Establish a methodology for determining contributions to city reserve funds. Learn what each proposal would change and review the arguments before voting: https://nyc.gov/fast Read: COGE Proposed Charter Amendments 2026 FULL TEXT Read: COGE Proposed Charter Amendments 2026 BALLOT TEXT OANA encourages fellow Astorians to stay informed and make their vote count.

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