It’s Time for the City to Pay Up to keep our Open Street OPEN in 2024. 

Ask Mayor Adams to Release the More than $13,000 We are Owed for 2023 Expenditures

The City allocated $13,000 last year for the 31st Avenue Open Street’s 2023 season. Instead of being able to directly access those dollars, the Collective was encouraged to spend that funding out of pocket and promised reimbursement by the City. We’re still waiting! The delay in reimbursement for funds already spent reached a tipping point for the Collective in February, when the group’s bank account was overdrawn after paying monthly rent for its storage space. The group rents basement space from a local business owner, in order to store the tables, tents, chairs, and games used on the Open Street.

We’re grateful for the outpouring of support from the local community who donated $12,500 last year so we could run all the programming and operations. Now, we need your help to urge Mayor Adams to expedite our reimbursement payments so we can bring you an amazing season beginning April 20 without going into personal debt! Please send an email asap to Mayor Adams at mayoreric@cityhall.nyc.gov and copy Deputy Mayors Sheena Wright and Meera Joshi at swright@cityhall.nyc.gov and mjoshi@cityhall.nyc.gov. The sample letter is below. Feel free to cut/paste, personalize, or write your own.

Sample Letter to Mayor Adams

Dear Mayor Adams,

As an enthusiastic supporter of the 31st Avenue Open Street in Astoria, Queens, I am writing to urge you to expedite the long overdue reimbursement of over $13,000 in funds to the 31st Avenue Open Street Collective. 

The Collective was allocated funds for the 2023 season, has submitted all of its paperwork to the City, and expected reimbursement in a timely manner. The community generously donated to help the Collective front the costs for incredible programs and competent management of the open street in 2023, and now finds itself in danger of not being able to resume operation for the 2024 season. 

The City relies on mostly unpaid labor to operate many of its open streets, including the one on 31st Avenue. It is simply unconscionable that the City expects volunteers to also fundraise, write grants, and find other revenue sources because of its reimbursement model and failure to reimburse expenses in a timely manner. 

Please release the long overdue reimbursement payment to all of the open streets. 

Sincerely,

Name

Address