Dear John
Before we get into the stuffing, we need to talk about composting.
Since the Mayor announced his draconian cuts to precious City services, our office has received well over 1000 emails from constituents worried about community composting. Rest assured, as your Council Member, I support fully funding this program and will oppose any cuts. Organizations like Big Reuse rely on the funding this Mayor plans to cut to do critical outreach, run composting programs, and help reduce waste in our City. These cuts will devastate grassroots environmental organizations and set our City back years on our environmental goals. Fighting climate change requires a composting strategy that provides curbside and community options. We cannot put a price on the incredible environmental benefits of composting in our City. The Mayor's decision to cut this program is wrong, and I will do all I can to fight it.
Community Bulletin
With overdose deaths on the rise in our City, it’s more important than ever to know how to use Naloxone. The Department of Health (DOH) hosts regular online training to teach you how to use this vital overdose reversal agent. The next is on 11/30 from 2-3 PM, and you can find the full schedule on the DOH website.
Twenty artists from the Park Slope Windsor Terrace collective invite you to view their work during the weekends of 12/2,12/3, 12/9, and 12/10 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Come for the art. Also visit the Red Hook Holiday Market on the second floor. The show will be in a historic warehouse at 481 Van Brunt Street in the lively Red Hook neighborhood, filled with restaurants (BBQ and seafood), microbreweries and a great view of New York Bay and the Statue of Liberty.
Opening on 12/2 is Nature’s Engineers, a new natural science-inspired makerspace opening in the Brooklyn Children's Museum’s lower level! The space will highlight specimens from BCM’s natural science collection, such as fossils and birds nests. Its habitats will feature live animals such as tarantulas that weave intricate webs and colorful isopods and native garter snakes.
The application for Open Streets is now officially open! Check out the application and eligibility requirements here, and be sure to get your application in before 1/31/24.
Our office is looking forward to planning a job and volunteer fair for high school students in March! If you are a local employer that will be looking to fill summer jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities, please fill out our interest form. Contact our office with any questions or if you need support on the application.
Help shape the future of Prospect Park! Share your feedback and be entered for a chance to win $100! Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains the park, wants to hear from you on how the park can better serve the public and can build even greater connections with our community. Take the survey today!
Running a small business is tough, but New York City has your back. Once you find your commercial space, be sure to reach out to the Commercial Lease Assistance (CLA) Program from NYC Small Business Services. It offers free attorneys to review your lease, help negotiate terms, challenge landlords who try to harass or intimidate you and ensure your lease allows your business to thrive. Visit their website or call 888-SBS-4NYC to learn more!
Our friends at the Fire Department want you to know about lithium-ion battery safety. The number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries has risen tremendously over the years, with these devices causing 239 fires and 17 deaths in 2023 alone. So remember these important safety tips.
Keep batteries/devices at room temperature. Do not place it in direct sunlight.
Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or a couch.
If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, leaking, or odd noises from a device discontinue use immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.
In Solidarity,
Shahana
