John,

A quick reminder! We are in the formal “communications blackout” period, less than 90 days out from the June 2023 primary. To comply with election law, we are restricted with what we can discuss in mass communications from now until the primary is over. Please bear with us as we pare down and change content to comply with election law.

Our Cannabis Conversation

Please join us this Wednesday, 4/12, at 6:30 PM for our Candid Cannabis Conversation! As the landscape of legalization continues to change in our City and State, many of us are left with more questions than answers. While New York State has one of the most progressive frameworks for legalizations in the nation, the slow pace of granting licenses for storefronts has left a vacuum that has been filled by a “gray market.”As we navigate this new uncharted territory in City policy, we’ve brought together an all-star panel of industry experts and enthusiasts to discuss the state of marijuana legalization in New York and where the market might be headed.

We’ll hear from the City’s Cannabis Czar, Dasheeda Dawson, Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Jason Ortiz, CEO of Queen Mixxy Media and cannabis advocate across New York, Esther Lelievre, as well as long-time cannabis cultivation expert, parent, and Windsor Terrace native, Danny Danko. I’ll be asking each of them a series of questions to help us understand the state of the cannabis market in our City and where they think the market, as well as new regulations, will take us. We will also hold a short Q&A section at the end for audience members to ask questions.

The event will be over Zoom, and you need to RSVP beforehand.

Community Bulletin

● Join me on 4/27 at BMCC for a screening of In Search Of Bengali Harlem. This urgent film tells the story of filmmaker and New York native Alaudin Ullah. The film retells his story of growing up on the streets of New York City, retracing his roots to small villages in Bangladesh, and finally grappling with his family's past and, ultimately, his place in the world. I’ll be on a panel after the screening, so get your tickets before they sell out!

● This 4/20, the last night of Ramadan, join our friends at the Bangladeshi Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA) for music, small vendors, and henna art! The event will take place on Kensington Plaza (110 Beverley Road) at 6 PM and is open to the public.

● It’s that time of year again! The first day of the Beverly Road open street will be on Earth Day (4/22) this year, and our office has special programming to celebrate. Mark your calendars, and we can’t wait to reclaim public space with our neighbors.

● The Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) will hold a town hall on Thursday, 4/20, at 7 PM to provide an update on their work cleaning up the Gowanus Canal. The town hall will be in person and hosted at PS 372 (215 1st Street).

● Eid is right around the corner, and for the second year in a row, we’ll be celebrating with the Brooklyn Children's Museum on Sunday 4/23, 10 AM - 5 PM! Get your tickets now, and if you need a reduced price or free ticket, email our office, and we’ll help you find one.

● Join New York Memory Center for the first in a series of Nature Walks for Neighbors with Dementia, a winning project on 2023’s Participatory Budgeting ballot, on Sunday, April 23rd at 11 AM at Greenwood Cemetery!

● The MyCity Portal is now live! Check out the new one-stop shop for City resources available in one convenient location.

● A quick reminder - residential buildings of any size (single-family and multi-unit) have two options to ensure trash and recycling collection.

○ Place waste out after 6 PM in a container of 55 gallons or less with a secure lid

○ Place waste out after 8 PM, if putting bags directly on the curb

● Applications for SYEP have almost closed! If you’re a qualifying New Yorker, be sure to get your application in before the deadline on 4/14.

● The YA-YA Network Summer Social Justice Institute immerses New York City youth ages in an 8-week leadership development and community organizing program. The application deadline for their stipend program is Saturday, 4/22. Check out their website to learn more!

● Looking for a paid internship this summer? The NYC Department of Environmental Protection offers internships year-round. Learn more about their opportunities on their website.

● Check out Brooklyn Bridge Parent’s Spring Break Guide for recommendations on what to do this break! Brooklyn Bridge Parents also has a Comprehensive Summer Camp Guide for children between ages 2 and 18 for interested parents.

● If you owe over $350 in parking tickets, the Department of Finance will work with you to set up a payment plan to help you pay off your debt over time. Learn more on their website.

● Starting Monday, 4/10, road work on 6th Avenue between St. John’s Place and Lincoln Place will result in no parking on both sides of the street through 4/29. Please reach out if you have questions!

● Looking to work for the City? The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will be holding a hiring fair on Thursday, 4/13, at Washington Heights Academy. Learn more and RSVP here.

In Solidarity,

Shahana