Dear John
Bringing Home The (Turkey) Bacon
While we had some wonderful victories at City Hall, we also brought home real wins for our community over these past two years. From direct dollars in the city budget to projects funded by Participatory Budgeting (PB), I’ve made it my priority as your Council Member to ensure we continue bringing capital investments to District 39. In addition to capital investments, my staff has prioritized filling constituent requests from the smallest pothole to the most complex agency problem. Check out some of the highlights!
Over 3,000 Constituents Served
As we recapped in a recent newsletter, half of my team is here to help community members with their needs. From stepping up traffic enforcement to getting a response from a City agency, our team knows how to do it all! Over the past two years, we’ve served nearly 3,000 constituents on various issues! If you need help, call our office at 718-499-1090 or email us at [email protected].
Helping Harper
One of our first real constituent wins came in April of 2022, when our office was contacted by the family of one of our youngest constituents, Harper. Like me, Harper has a disability, which makes it difficult to get around the City and find places that are accessible. Harper’s family reached out in March of 2022, hoping that the Parks Department could assist in getting an ADA-accessible swing installed at a nearby playground for her to enjoy. A few phone calls and weeks later, just in time for her third birthday, the Parks Department unveiled a new ADA-accessible swing at Van Voorhees Playground! This story still brings a smile to my face and is one of the reasons I stay motivated in this work, knowing we can make a true difference in our neighbors’ lives.
Over $3 Million for Our Schools
In the past two budgets, I’ve been proud to bring home over $3 million in capital investments to schools across our communities. This funding will help upgrade bathrooms, build outdoor playgrounds, and bring new technology to help our students learn. If you want to dig deeper into where our school funding went, you can check out our 2023 budget breakdown.
More Than Just a New Library for PS 124
Through the 2023 budget, we also secured over half a million dollars to renovate the library at PS 124! PS 124 has welcomed many students in temporary housing, meaning that the school library is an essential resource. This new library will incorporate a family resource center, providing a common space for family programming and supportive resources to students in need and their families. Libraries are a critical space for learning and community building; we are thrilled District 39 voted for this project on the Participatory Budgeting ballot.
Two Cycles of Participatory Budgeting (PB)
It’s no secret I’ve been a champion of PB even before I took office, and I’ve been proud to see its amazing successes during my first term. With the help of our Participatory Budgeting Director Hannah, and dozens of dedicated volunteers, we’ve directed over $3 million in funding to project ideas developed and voted on by community members! From funding for our local middle school Period Project to expand their organizing to supporting CHiPS with seed funding to set up a mobile food pantry, PB is more than just the winning projects. PB is a way for constituents to practice democracy at the local level through meeting neighbors and developing solutions to our most local problems, creating a pipeline of feedback to city agencies, and piloting new ideas to transform our neighborhoods.
Greening Our Parks
Prospect Park is one of the most important parts of our district, and we need to ensure funding continues to flow its way. Over the past two years, we’ve secured over $6 million to fund upgrades and infrastructure in Brooklyn’s best park (maybe I’m slightly biased). We are working to restore the Bandshell lawn, rebuild the Esdale Bridge, and bring a brand-new skate park!! More exciting upgrades to Brooklyn’s last remaining forest will come in the next term.
Gowanus
While the Gowanus Rezoning Neighborhood Plan passed before I took office, ensuring its success will be a focus for me every year I’m in office. For the past two years, my team has helped kick off the Gowanus Oversight Task Force and brought together our task force facilitator, James Lima Planning + Development, neighbors, businesses, City agencies, and community organizers to shape the future of Gowanus together and ensure the City follows through on its 56 points of agreement to the Gowanus community. This process has been challenging but, above all else, rewarding. No other rezoning in our City has been accompanied by such a deep commitment to accountability and collaborative engagement with City Agencies to deliver for a community, and I’m committed to ensuring a more inclusive and resilient mixed-use Gowanus through this process.
Repair Café
One of our coolest Participatory Budgeting projects (well, at least in my opinion) is the Repair Café put on by our friends at Big Reuse! While consumer culture tells us to throw something away when it’s broken, the Repair Café teaches neighbors how to repair broken electronics and household items to keep them working and out of landfills. This year, we co-sponsored workshops on lamp repairs. Stay tuned for more workshop dates.
9th Street Bike Lane
9th Street has been a dangerous stretch of road for years, and Sarah Schick's tragic death earlier this year was another tragic reminder. I pushed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to complete the redesign they committed to years ago. Thanks to overwhelming pressure from the community and a united front from elected officials, we received firm commitments from DOT about making this road safer. Street safety has been a priority of mine from day one of taking office, and while it shouldn't take a tragedy to catalyze change, I’m happy to see the stretch of 9th Street between 2nd Avenue and Smith Street have a protected bike lane.
Strengthening Food Security
Last but not least, one of my proudest in-district achievements is launching our monthly Kensington food distribution with Muslims Giving Back! Nearly every month for the past two years, thanks to help from staff, volunteers, and Council funding, our office partnered with Muslims Giving Back to host a regular halal food drive. Through nine events in 2023, our team has helped serve almost 2500 bags of food to working-class families. This is a true community effort, and I am thrilled my office is able to help direct real resources to our community.
Community Bulletin
The New York Academy of Sciences is currently accepting applications for its Junior Academy program! Each year, the academy selects an international cohort of passionate high school students (ages 13-17) to become part of The Junior Academy, who join a dynamic global network of like-minded peers and mentors. Each team can work with a STEM professional who serves as a mentor for the duration of the 10-week challenge period. Their mentors are all highly motivated STEM leaders from academia, industry, and research. Applications close on 12/18!
DOT will conduct underdeck shielding maintenance at multiple locations on the BQE between Atlantic Avenue and Sands on the next two Thursdays (12/21 and 12/28). As a result, double-lane closures will take place on the Staten Island-bound BQE from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
The Consortium for Worker Education (CWE) hosts free in-person English classes to help asylum seekers gain basic language skills. Classes will be on Saturdays from 10 AM - 1 PM starting on 1/6 and running through 5/18. Attendees must register in advance and you can do so by calling 212-229-9221 or email [email protected].
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.
If you were affected by flooding this past September, you can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration. These loans are made available for those whose homes and/or businesses were damaged due to flooding. The filing deadline to submit applications is 2/2 for physical damage, and 9/4 for economic injury.
Our office is 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.
CHiPS is in need of Spanish-speaking volunteers to greet guests, help them register for our pantry program, both on-site and at mobile locations, as well as distribute meals. Shifts are three hours long and take place Mon-Sat., starting at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 12 PM. A few hours a week can make a huge difference! If you are interested and speak Spanish, can commit to at least one shift a week, and don’t mind working outside, please get in touch with [email protected].
Although winter is right around the corner, NYC Parks is excited to announce their recruitment drive for lifeguards for our 2024 beach and pool season! Parks is looking for dedicated, mission-driven individuals to play a critical role in keeping a close watch on our pools and beaches, making summer happen for millions of New Yorkers. More information about requirements and how to apply is available on the Parks website.
In Solidarity,
Shahana
