It’s that time of year when we remind you that Open Plans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by friends, advocates, and people just like you. Your gift fuels stronger communities and a more people-friendly New York. We’ve set a goal of reaching 700 charitable gifts before the year ends—help us cross the finish line by donating today at any level. You’ll feel great knowing you powered real change ☺️.

Dear [first-name],

Safer streets are important to all of us. And we know one of the easiest, fastest, and cheapest ways to do this is with daylighting. Daylighting makes it safer for us to cross the street by preventing cars from parking right up against crosswalks.

The good news is that achieving universal daylighting has never been closer! But city council only has a few weeks left to pass Intro 1138 and make it happen.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we thought a video would be worth even more. So we created this short (with the help of 3 NYC public school students!) demonstrating what it’s like to cross the street from their point of view. You’ll see the kids crossing two intersections—one without daylighting, and one with daylighting. The video shows how this relatively small change makes navigating the streets simpler and safer for our younger New Yorkers.

Please share this video, tag your Councilmembers, and ask for their help to pass Intro 1138.

Let’s get this done together.

In solidarity,
Katie and the Open Plans Team

P.S. Hi! I'm Katie, your new Director of Communications. I'm bringing fresh energy to our advocacy work—including the student-led daylighting video you just watched. Can't wait to share more of our work with you in the weeks ahead.

Mamdani's victory offers a chance to deliver the street improvements Adams failed to provide. "We are excited to put forth ideas that are doable in the very near-term [...] we don't have to move heaven & earth," says our co-executive director.

Tomorrow, Nov 19 at 12 PM, we're breaking down why NYC needs to measure and reduce how much we drive, and the strategies that actually work to make it happen.

Donald Shoup's parking reforms have quietly revolutionized how cities think about their streets. Join our FREE in-person event on Nov 20 at 6 PM to celebrate his transformative legacy and explore how his ideas are shaping the future of urban planning.

CECM is proposing rules that would extend the street fair moratorium into 2026. Street fairs are vital to our neighborhoods and communities, not to mention their economic benefits to our city. Testify against the moratorium using our toolkit.

🥕 Hub/Melrose Farmers Market Survey

Want fresh, local produce in your neighborhood? The Third Avenue BID is planning a farmers market for the Hub and needs your input on everything from location to what foods should be available. Take this bilingual survey to help build a market that serves the community—it only takes 3 minutes.

🎨 Cultural Organizing Workshop in Gowanus | Sat, Dec 6 | 10 AM-6 PM

Deepen your organizing work through creativity! This day-long convening hosted by Arts & Democracy brings together artists, policy makers, and community organizers for workshops on cultural organizing frameworks and real-world case studies. Sliding scale admission with group rates available.

📸 Photoville Festival 2026 Submissions Open | Deadline: Jan 8

Photoville's 15th anniversary festival is calling for photographers, educators, and curators with visual stories to share. They welcome all genres—from street photography to community archives—and cover all exhibition costs for selected independent artists. Exhibitions will fill Brooklyn Bridge Park, NYC Parks spaces, and cultural institutions across all five boroughs.

🌍 Environmental Justice Plan Community Panels

The Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice wants your input on addressing citywide environmental challenges. Join panel discussions featuring advocates, policymakers, and communities working on solutions. Each borough gets its own focus:

• Tue, Nov 18 - Riding Out the (Heat) Wave: Adapting to Extreme Heat (240 E 109th St, Manhattan)
• Wed, Nov 19 - Closing the Green Space Access Gap (29 Fort Greene Pl, Brooklyn)
• Thu, Nov 20 - Building Resiliency: Adapting to Flooding (41-15 104th St, Queens)
• Tue, Dec 2 - Equitable Approaches to Climate Change & Food Insecurity (85 St Josephs Ave, Staten Island)

🚶 Become an Open Streets Partner for 2026 | Applications Open

DOT partners with community groups, educational institutions, and businesses to manage streets for multiple uses—from outdoor learning to programming and dining. They'll work with you on operational plans and local coordination. Submit your application to bring Open Streets to your neighborhood.

🚊 Weigh In on the Interborough Express | Comments Due: Nov 26

The IBX would connect 17 subway lines along a 14-mile route, cutting travel times to under 40 minutes and serving 900,000 residents in underserved neighborhoods. Submit comments on the Draft Scoping Document as environmental review begins.

🌳 34th Avenue Permanent Design Survey | Deadline: Nov 30

Help design Queens' permanent Open Street. DOT is transforming 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights from temporary car-free corridor to the city's first capital-built Open Street with plazas, shared streets, and green space. Take the survey in your language (7 options available) to influence how this pioneering project takes shape.

Open Plans
PO Box 1009
New York, NY 10013

Copyright © 2025 Open Plans Inc. All rights reserved.

[browser link available in email] | unsubscribe