Upper East Side

The Upper East Side, stretching from East 59th to 96th Streets, and from Fifth Avenue to the East River, is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the United States. Home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the other cultural institutions of Museum Mile, six historic districts and 125 historic landmarks, world class shopping, and the former residences of U.S. presidents and titans of industry, the Upper East Side has long been a jewel of the City.

Council Member Garodnick has been a leader in the fight to improve the quality of life on the Upper East Side, which add up to impact business and the livability of the City. He began addressing those issues directly in the spring of 2006 with a Quality of Life forum that focused on street vendors, newsracks, sidewalk bicycling and graffiti.

His staff has identified, block by block, newsracks in Council District 4 that are not in compliance with the law. Members of his office have also gone door-to-door to every delivery business in the district to advise business owners of rules covering delivery bicyclists. In addition, Council Member Garodnick is currently exploring legislative solutions and working with enforcement agencies and the Mayor's office to find new approaches to these nagging problems.

Council Member Garodnick has also been pursuing transportation relief for East Siders. The Lexington Avenue Subway line is overburdened, and First and Second Avenues frequently look like a parking lot. That's why, as a member of the Transportation Committee, Council Member Garodnick continues to urge the Department of Transportation and the MTA to select First Avenue or Second Avenue for the Bus Rapid Transit program. He also continues to be a strong advocate for a full-build Second Avenue Subway.

Through the budget process, Council Member Garodnick helped secure funding to support the beautification of Park Avenue as well as capital funds for a new library at Wagner Middle School, an expanded technology initiative at PS 59, a Macintosh library at the Robert F. Kennedy School (PS 169), a new cafeteria at PS 6, air conditioning and a courtyard renovation at the Lower Lab School (PS 77) and PS 198, and a library upgrade, smart classrooms and a theater renovation at Hunter College and Hunter College High School.