Here’s What’s Happening (in order of appearance):

Pick of the Week / Free Film Screening /  Holiday Caroling / / The Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) Transportation Planning Committee Meeting / ICE Out of NYC: A Community Mobilization Town Hal

PICK OF THE WEEK (NEXT WEEK)

Holiday Caroling: Monday, December 22 / At 6pm, Meet in Front of 360 West 22nd Street (btw. 8th/9th Aves.) | Annual Tree and Menorah Lighting events have come and gone–and we’ve even had an accumulation of snow. With a week to go, chances are Chelsea will see even more seasonal sights–making December 22 a well-timed occasion for some seasonal sounds. That’s set to happen in the form of familiar holiday songs, sung with good cheer by members of the 300 West 21st, 22nd, & 23rd Streets Block Association (and friends…possibly you?). The amiable assemblage of carolers–backed by live musicians–will stroll through West Chelsea for about an hour, finally arriving back where they started to enjoy hot cocoa and cookies. See the below flyer for details.

Free Screening of A Home Worth Fighting For: The Push to Stop the Demolition of Public Housing in Chelsea / Tuesday, December 16, 7pm in Penn South’s Community Room 8A (343 Eighth Ave.) | Fresh off the positive buzz from last week’s world premiere at The People’s Forum, director Natasha Florentino’s 40-minute, pro-tenant documentary gets another free screening, this time mere footsteps from where the film’s high-stakes events continue to unfold.  A Home Worth Fighting For follows longtime Chelsea residents who organize to resist the “flawed political process” they say favors a “profit-driven plan aimed at privatizing public housing.” As we wrote in advance of last week’s screening, efforts to resist have “taken on new urgency as of late, with the first wave of Chelsea’s NYCHA tenants placed into temporary living spaces while the much-opposed demolition and construction plan begins to unfold.” Questions? Comments? Bring them to the panel discussion with tenant leaders and the filmmaker, set to take place right after the screening. Facilitating the event is LEAPS (Limited Equity & Affordability at Penn South), whose membership has been vocal and unapologetic in their support of nearby NYCHA residents. Admission is free, but space is limited–hence LEAPS’ request that you register in advance (click here to do so). Can’t make it to Penn South on December 16? “Please note,” says the Coordinating Committee, “there will be more screenings organized around the city in the Spring – we will update you!” (Click here to send them an email request to join the LEAPS subscriber list.)

Holidy Caroling: Wednesday, December 17, 5pm at Mathews Palmer Playground (445 W. 45th St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves.) | See the below flyer for more info.

The Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) Transportation Planning Committee Meeting: Wednesday, December 17, 6:30pm, Online & In-Person in the Community Room at 353 West 30th Street | First on the Agenda, there will be a presentation followed by a vote on the matter of a Street Co-Naming Application for La Nacional – Spanish Benevolent Society (the co-naming location would be on the northeast corner of West 14th Street & Eighth Ave.). The desired co-naming is meant to celebrate their 100-year anniversary at 239 West 14th Street; and 157 years as the nation’s oldest Spanish Cultural Center. Another Agenda Item sees committee member Rodney Washington  presenting a “Knowledge Transfer” on the topic of ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure) Applications. Washington will give a primer on how MCB4 and this particular committee come into contact with ULURP applicants, playing their part in the public review procedure that takes place when proposed new or expanded projects seek to change existing land use law. This Knowledge Transfer will be of particular interest to new committee members–and members of the public seeking a better understanding of ULURP matters.That’s followed  by a discussion about parking regulation changes for West 18th Street (btw. 10th/11th Aves.) that would address illegally parked vehicles. Also scheduled are updates on Port Authority, Penn Station, and a US 1 Study. To attend via Zoom, click here to register. By phone, dial 646-828-7666 (Webinar ID: 160 324 4328). This meeting will also be livestreamed via the MCB4 YouTube Channel.

ICE Out of NYC: A Community Mobilization Town Hall | Monday, December 15, 6:30pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (346 W. 20th St.) | Chelsea Neighbors United–which launched last month by handing out hundreds of flyers on how to defend against abuses by ICE, the National Guard, or other federal agencies–present neighborhood ICE preparedness/Know Your Rights training by a representative of New York Immigration Coalition. Registration is required via bit.ly/4ptOFYc.

—-Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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  Caroling, Chelsea, Chelsea Neighbors United, Town Hall