Dear Neighbors & Friends,
I share my profound sorrow for the victims of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel. Their horrific killing of civilians is inhumane. I joined New Yorkers in this week’s vigil to stand with Israel.
I’m distraught by the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the continued loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives; I pray for peace and for the immediate return of hostages.
Many of the people in Brooklyn and the city have personal ties to those affected by the ongoing violence in the region. Please reach out if we can be of help.
I have been in contact with my colleagues, the NYPD, local religious and community leaders, and Governor Hochul. It’s extremely important that people in the community feel safe and supported. Attorney General James also reported she is in touch with social media outlets about removing hateful posts and misinformation circulating online.
As you may have heard, the NYPD informed us that out of an abundance of caution, they increased patrols and visibility today, but there are currently no credible threats to the City. Report any suspicious activity to this NYPD hotline: 1-800-NYC-SAFE. Report any bias-motivated threats, harassment or discrimination, or violations of Human Rights Law to 1-888-392-3644, or Text "HATE" to 81336, or visit here. If you need to report a crime or fear your safety, call 911.
Sincerely,
Jo Anne Simon
Resources:
My Bill Expanding Early Voting Access is Now Law. I’m pleased that Governor Hochul signed a package of voting rights bills into law, including my bill A1565 to ensure that voters are informed of changes to early polling sites at least five days in advance, and to prevent site changes 48 hours before election day. Other new laws will allow same-day voter registration on the first day of early voting, allow early voting by mail, and require local school boards to promote student registration. This will strengthen democracy and expand access to the ballot box, one of our most fundamental rights.
Java with Jo Anne in Brooklyn Heights, Oct. 26. Is there a community issue or current event you’re passionate about? Come and talk with me about it! Join me and your neighbors for a cup of coffee at my next "Java with Jo Anne.” We will gather at Vineapple, 71 Pineapple St, in Brooklyn Heights. Please RSVP here.
The Path Forward: New Initiative to Transform Literacy Instruction in NYS. New York State has been chosen as the third cohort for the Hunt Institute’s The Path Forward. I am honored to join the steering committee for this groundbreaking initiative! I’m thankful to the Literacy Academy Collective (LAC) who brought together this strong coalition, which includes the NYS Education Department, CUNY, SUNY, NYC Public Schools, and literacy experts. The Path Forward aims to transform teacher training and licensure programs to include the science of reading.
The literacy rate among New York children is at a crisis level, with only 30% of fourth-graders reading proficiently. Imagine what we can accomplish when we give teachers the tools they deserve and all our children are taught to read proficiently! Read more about NY’s new initiative.
Ways to Support Local Asylum Seekers: Halloween Costume & Clothing Drive. If you’re able to help, thank you!
- My office is collecting Halloween costumes for kids, with Gowanus Mutual Aid (GMA). Drop-off next week at our 341 Smith Street office by Thursday Oct. 19th.
- DanceWave and GMA are collecting fall and winter clothes for adults & children. Last day to drop off: Saturday 10/14, 10am-1pm. 182 4th Ave. For a list of items, visit GMA.
Brooklyn Borough Based Jail Design Updates. The current facility will be dismantled this Fall, and final designs for the new jail will be approved by Spring of 2024. You can view the presentation on the proposed designs and provide feedback here. The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) will be presenting their designs to the Community Board 2 Land Use Committee on October 18 (meeting details here). If you have questions about this project, or want to sign up for future meeting notices, contact the community construction liaison, Lucien Allen, at [email protected] or (917) 270-2370.
BQE Repair Work is Starting Late Tonight / Early Tomorrow. We know we’ve sent you a lot about BQE repairs lately, but this is the weekend when there will be significant work and full closure of the Queens-bound BQE, starting in just several hours at 2am. Drivers are strongly encouraged to avoid the BQE during scheduled closures. Details:
- From 2AM on Saturday 10/14 to 4AM on Monday 10/16 there will be FULL Queens-bound BQE closures from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street. In the same area, Staten Island-bound BQE will be partially closed with only 1 lane available; the Vine St/Old Fulton Street ramp will be closed.
- Expect extended travel times. Detours will be heavily signed. Variable Message Signs (VMS) will be posted throughout Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
Additional Travel & Parking Restrictions in the Area:
- Furman Street will be one-way southbound from Old Fulton Street to Atlantic Avenue.
- Parking Impacts to Atlantic Avenue and Clinton Street; parking is also being removed on some local streets to facilitate turns and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Flyers have been posted on those streets.
- Atlantic Avenue eastbound left turn onto Hicks Street banned (except for buses).
- Atlantic Avenue eastbound left turn onto Clinton Street banned (except for buses).
- Bus Stops B61 and B63 at Columbia Street and Atlantic Avenue will be redirected to Atlantic and Henry Street and rerouted via Congress Street and Hicks Street to Atlantic Avenue.
For full ramp closures, and detour maps, visit: http://nyc.gov/bqealert
If you have questions, or want to be notified directly of future NYC DOT repairs to the BQE or community meetings, reach out to DOT Community Liaison, Anita Navalurkar at (347) 647-0876 or [email protected].
Community Outreach at 90 Sands. I helped welcome dozens of volunteers to 90 Sands, the second largest supportive housing development in the city. Breaking Ground, which runs the housing, and Wells Fargo teamed up to provide shelf stable grocery kits to residents of the building. I was thrilled to see so many volunteers turn out to help assemble and distribute the grocery boxes. Our communities grow stronger each time we show up for each other, and I know the residents at 90 Sands are thankful to have the support, especially as food insecurity remains a challenge for many.
Stay Healthy Brooklyn! Special thanks to the incredible staff at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn for hosting a flu shot clinic with us at their new Cobble Hill Emergency Department on 70 Atlantic Avenue. If you haven't already received your flu shot and/or Covid boosters, find appointments here.
New Covid-19 Booster. Covid cases and hospitalizations are up in NYC. Fortunately, the updated Covid Booster is now available. The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months+ receive the booster to protect themselves and others. Use the City’s vaccine finder tool to find a place near you to get a free vaccine.
Pick up a Covid Test Kit! Stop by our office (341 Smith St in Carroll Gardens) from 9am-5pm to pick up a free Covid rapid test kit. The latest CDC update reminds people that our current at-home Covid tests will still work to detect the new Covid variant.
Gowanus CSO Tank Update. The city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) broke ground on the new Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tank in Gowanus in March. In order to meet the mandated deadline from the Federal Superfund Program, after-hours work has begun and will last for approximately 5 months. Work will take place between the hours of 6am and 2am. To mitigate noise and dust, crews will install a sound curtain and will spray the ground with water and foam. If you have any questions about this work, contact the Construction Liaison, Valentina Mascaro, [email protected] or 934-216-0209.
Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse: Look Back Period is Open through Nov. 23, 2023. One of the things we learned while passing the Child Victims Act a few years ago was the shocking number of adults who suffered from sexual violence and abuse but had not known enough about their rights - or were too traumatized - to pursue them legally in a timely manner. This included numerous instances of physicians who preyed on their patients. In response, we passed the Adult Survivors Act which provides for a one year window to file suit regardless of when the assault occurred. That one year window is now open and closes on November 23, 2023. We encourage anyone who might be protected by this law to look into their newly reinstated right to pursue a civil action for damages. Learn more. You can also call the Safe Horizon helpline Mon - Fri, 9am-5pm at 855-234-1042 for more information or to get support.
Curbside Composting Service has Expanded to ALL Brooklyn Residents! No sign-up is needed. Compost will be picked up on your recycling day. DSNY will pick up ALL leaf and yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper. This includes meat, bones, dairy, prepared foods, and greasy uncoated paper plates and pizza boxes. Do not compost trash such as diapers, personal hygiene products, animal waste, wrappers, non-paper packaging, and foam products. Do not compost recyclable materials.
You can order free brown bins using this link until October 13 (today!). DSNY will host a free brown bin giveaway in Carroll Park on October 25; register here. Click Here for more details on how to compost.
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Montague Street Surveys. The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership invites you to fill out its online survey to help them gain a better understanding of perceptions and attitudes about Downtown Brooklyn. The brief survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a raffle prize.
City DOT is distributing a community survey about Montague Street and adjacent blocks to get your input on potential improvements in Brooklyn Heights. Please complete this brief survey!
Annual Open House NY tour of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 10/21, 12-6pm. Step inside the city’s iconic Brooklyn Navy Yard and explore its 220+ year legacy of industry and innovation. Visitors are invited to explore 40+ open studios and factories where they will meet artists, entrepreneurs, craftspeople, and urban manufacturers. While exploring some of its 300+ acre campus, visitors can enjoy music, food and drink, guided tours, and activities. Reserve your spot here.
Subway & Bus News:
- New Hoyt Street 2/3 Station’s ADA Elevator is Here! The Hoyt Street 2/3 Station’s ADA compliant elevator has opened, making the southbound service accessible, thanks to the financial support of Macy’s! Like a lot of improvements that make life accessible for people with disabilities, this helps others as well: older adults, parents with strollers, tired workers at the end of a long day. I’m thankful to the MTA and Macy’s for expanding ADA accessibility; the fight isn’t over until our entire subway is ADA accessible.
- Fair Fares Free Bus Routes are now Operational. The MTA’s new Fare Free Bus Routes are now operating! The pilot program will provide one free bus route in each borough and serve over 43,000 weekday riders. Routes Include Bx18 A/B, B60, M116, Q4 LCL/LTD, and S46/96. This will greatly improve transit equity in disadvantaged communities and will benefit all New Yorkers. I was glad to be part of these advocacy efforts in Albany and I'm thankful to my colleague, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, for spearheading this effort.
- 7th Ave B/Q Renovation. The MTA has completed their renovation of the 7th Ave B/Q Station, bringing much needed aesthetic and functional upgrades like new paint, new lighting, safety repairs, and a deep cleaning for our station. New Yorkers deserve the cleanest and safest subway stations we can provide. These are positive steps to improve the rider experience with this station renovation.
- High Street A/C Station: Cadman Plaza West Entrance Weekend Closure. I’m relieved that the brand new escalators are installed at the A/C High Street Adams Street entrance. This weekend, MTA will begin work on escalator replacements on the Cadman Plaza West entrance of the High Street A/C station. From 10PM on Friday, Oct. 13 until 5AM on Monday, Oct. 16, the Cadman Plaza West entrance of the station will be closed, and access will be limited to the Adams Street entrance. Beginning October 16, when the Cadman Plaza West entrance reopens, there should be one “up” escalator in service at all times. The scheduled completion date for the full escalator replacement is Summer 2024.
