John,

Sorry all for the delay - we needed to double-check some news! It has been confirmed that there is no democratic city council primary in the 39th district. Therefore the blackout period for the primary is no longer required. Our newsletter will go back to normal. The blackout period for the general election will begin on 8/9.

Before we get into our traffic update, we need to discuss the recent influx of asylum seekers to our City. With the ending of Title 42, thousands of asylum seekers have been bused to New York City over the past few weeks. On top of this, New York City only received $30 million in aid from the federal government to assist the nearly 40,000 people in our care. The Mayor has asked for recommendations of spaces across the City that could be used as temporary shelters. You can see the qualifications below, and if you know of any places that fit these specifications, please email our team. Additionally, houses of worship across the City are now eligible to be used as a shelter for newly arrived asylum seekers. You can check out more about those eligibility requirements here.

● 10,000 square feet minimum

● Large available open layouts spaces like gyms, recreational centers, or residential centers like dorms.

● Contained within a building

● No known health hazards

● Secure space with 24/7 access

● Running water and preferably showers

Spring Traffic Update

Atlantic Avenue

On 4/16, our community tragically lost Katherine Harris as she was crossing the street on Atlantic Avenue and Clinton Street. This dangerous road has claimed far too many lives over the years. In response, my team and I joined community members and my city, state, and federal colleagues for a walk-through down Atlantic Avenue, calling on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement safety improvements along the corridor. As a Vision Zero priority corridor, addressing safety along Atlantic Avenue is long overdue. I welcome you to read more about our demands and sign on to this community letter to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez demanding the City #FixAtlantic.

4th Avenue

Over the past year, we have sent countless letters to the DOT pushing for continued improvements along 4th Avenue. While the construction of a protected bike lane and traffic calming measures are a welcome win thanks to the years of advocacy from our local community, we have received countless calls and emails from constituents about the need for continued improvements. This past weekend, I joined community advocates and electeds to #Fix4thAve, pushing for greater protections against parking on corner refuge islands and addressing DOT's failure to finish re-marking the street after resurfacing in 2021. We were also excited to honor transit activist Kathy Park Price, with a proclamation for her tireless work for safer streets!

9th St Visioning Session

On 4/26, our office hosted a community visioning session with the DOT to ensure community input on the planned redesign of 9th Street from 3rd Avenue to Smith Street. After the tragic passing of our neighbor, Sarah Schick, earlier this year, we worked with elected leaders, local businesses, and community members to bring DOT to 9th Street for a comprehensive walk-through a few months ago to ensure they understood the full scope of our community’s demands. We have made clear to DOT that fixing this corridor is a top priority, and we are glad that DOT Commissioner Rodriguez has confirmed the redesign will be finished by the end of the year. At the most recent Community Board 6 meeting on 5/17, we were excited to hear that DOT had taken community feedback and will be installing concrete barriers on a new, fully protected bike lane on this corridor. As plans to upgrade 9th Street move forward, we will continue conversations with DOT to ensure this work to upgrade cycling infrastructure goes beyond dangerous corridors and instead focuses on creating a protected bike network throughout our community. Stay tuned for more!

Community Bulletin

● Please note! There will be no parking starting this Monday, 5/22, through Friday, 5/26, on Hicks and Kane Streets due to City infrastructure upgrades.

● Check out Molière in the Park’s production of Tartuffe at the LeFrak Center, a free theater production, available through 5/27.

● Our team is proud to be bringing a mammogram bus to Kensington on Friday, 6/2! The bus will be at the intersection of Beverly Road and Church Avenue. You can make an appointment by calling 718-499-1090 — please do so ahead of time!

○ Note the requirements: Woman and Trans Woman age 40 - 79, currently living in New York City, who have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months

● On 6/3 and 6/4, the Park Slope Windsor Terrace Artists are excited to host their FIRST Open Studios since the pandemic. It’ll include sculpture, ceramics, paintings, collages, and photography by twenty-six artists living and working in Windsor Terrace and Park Slope! In addition to the 13 artists who are opening their studios for the first time since 2020, Ossam Gallery at 300 7th Street will host thirteen artists in their main floor gallery space. To find out more about the Open Studios map and the artists, check out their website.

● Our friends at the Brooklyn Borough President’s office have two open appointments on our local Community Education Council! If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out this application before 6/16.

● Are you above 60? Get fit while having fun at the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging’s Latin Rhythms Dance Class! The Latin Rhythms Dance class includes seated warmups, fundamental steps, and an introduction to different rhythmic styles like tango, salsa, bachata, and cumbia. The class is offered every Wednesday from 11 AM - 12 PM through 6/28.

● The Department of Environmental Protection has begun work on a Gowanus Canal Overflow facility on Nevins and Butler. Construction will be ongoing over the next few months resulting in a loss of street parking and limited roadway access at times. You can follow along here.

● Are you an artist looking to display your work in the community? Our friends at Chashama are looking for a visual artist with 2D and 3D work to display and work out of their storefront at 475 Hicks. Check out their listing for more information!

● In honor of Pride Month, our office is proud to be working with the Center for Anti-Violence Education to host an upstander training on 6/5! Together, we'll learn tools for intervening and de-escalating conflict in order to disrupt homophobic and transphobic violence. RSVP using this link.

● Musicians rehearse for free during New York Music Month! Thanks to support from MOME, musicians have access to 17 studios – each home to a Steinway piano – at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in Park Slope this June. Learn more and sign up by visiting bkcm.org/nymm.

● The Fifth Avenue Open Streets on Saturdays are back through the end of October, with breaks for August and Labor Day Weekend. Check out the Fabulous 5th Avenue Fair for local art, eateries, businesses, and performances!

In Solidarity,

Shahana