John,

Are you interested in staying up to date on what’s going on with the Gowanus Rezoning? Be sure to check out the Oversight Task Force’s website and sign up for their email newsletter.
Last week we shared the top-line numbers from our victories in this year’s budget, but there’s much more in the fine print. Check out our deeper dive below to see what funding we secured this year for District 39.

Budget Wins Part 2

In addition to line items in the over $100 billion budget, our office dolled out over $4 million dollars in funding to local schools and organizations doing important work citywide and in our communities. We funded almost 200 organizations across the City, with the vast majority residing or doing work right here in the 39th District. We know this newsletter can run long, so rather than list out every grant line-by-line, we’ve created an interactive website! This tree chart showcases the vast majority of the funding our office received and gave out, as well as several important line items from the City budget. Pools of money are divided by issue areas, with the most significant chunk of change funding critical upgrades at our local schools. Thanks to funding in our City’s capital budget, we secured millions for playground and bathroom renovations, critical technology upgrades, as well as new funding for STEM infrastructure in the classroom. Knowing from firsthand experience how hard it can be for immigrant-run and immigrant-serving organizations to receive public funding, we also made sure to prioritize these organizations in our funding distribution.

You can click into each issue area to see the organizations we funded as well as the size of each grant. We also have a large miscellaneous pile named “Local” which are groups both from District 39 and across the City that receive important funding to do work in our neighborhoods. While the website service we’re using doesn’t allow us to get more granular into what the money will be used for, I wanted to delve even deeper into three grants I’m especially proud of to show what our public funding is used for.

Our office awarded the Bangladeshi Cricketers Alliance of North America $5,000 to help with leasing grounds from the City, paying staff, and securing sports equipment. Cricket is massively popular in Bangladesh, and I’m so happy we’re able to support this homegrown effort to bring this sport to immigrant youth in our community. Additionally, we allocated the Greater Noakhali Society $5,000 to support immigrant worker safety programs to help train immigrant workers, both in Kensington and across the City, on their rights on the job as well as critical safety tips to stay safe while doing everything from construction to delivery work. Last but not least, we allocated $5,000 to Ezras Nashim, an Orthodox EMS agency that employs Orthodox Jewish women as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in a volunteer ambulance service. This is an important service that many women in our Borough Park community rely on for emergency services, and I’m very proud to ensure they can continue their important work.

These three organizations are just a small sample of the incredible diversity of issues, organizations, and communities I fund. From home-grown sports for youth to worker safety programs and even community-specific volunteer groups, our funding is spread across a wide array of organizations that serve thousands of people across our communities. Be sure to check out the rest of our funding grants on our interactive website!

Community Bulletin

LEAP's Summer Theater Series at will showcase "LEAP Artists LIVE!" - LEAP's performing ensemble! LEAP Artists LIVE provides educational performances of professional theater productions, which foster personal connections to the arts. Rooted in historical significance and accuracy, each performance presents learning opportunities that spark constructive conversation and support social awareness. Performances run from 7/25 to 8/17; get your tickets now!
Due to overwhelming demand, our rain barrel giveaway is now closed for sign-ups! We’ll send out an email soon to let the lucky 50 people know when and where they can pick up their rain barrels on 7/30.
Like me, I’m sure you love the Open Streets on 5th Avenue - but did you know that running an Open Street is expensive? The 5th Avenue BID is looking for help to fund and maintain their incredible work of keeping our streets open to the public and available for local businesses to use. Remember - Open Streets on 5th Avenue run through 10/28!
During these uncertain economic times, many families in our community are struggling. If you, or someone you know, is dealing with food insecurity, you can check out this free resource to find free food options in our City.
Are you caring for a loved one over the age of 60? Heights and Hills offer support groups where family caregivers can connect, learn from each other, and give and receive support. All groups meet over the phone or Zoom, with both evening and daytime groups available. To see an up-to-date listing of current support groups, visit their support group page.
The Department of Environmental Remediation (DER) is working on another Gowanus site. Sign up for their email updates here to get a copy of their draft plan.
Are you an Asian American student attending public high school in NYC? Trinity College Professor Elise Castillo wants to hear from you! Go to this link to sign up for an interview and receive a $25 gift card.
Are you above the age of 60? The Park Slope Center for Successful Aging is a warm, welcoming neighborhood center in Park Slope, offering a variety of classes daily. Exercise, dance, art, there will be something that will interest you! The center also serves lunch daily. Stop in and check it out: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Located at 463 A 7th Street, 11215 (near 7th Avenue). You can call for more information: (718) 832-3726.

In Solidarity,

Shahana