Tackling the Housing Crisis and More

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* Happy belated Purim and Holi! A happy Easter Sunday as well!
* Participatory Budgeting Vote Week is 4/6 - 4/14! See all in-person voting locations and instructions for voting on our website! ([link removed]) We are excited to host a PB Expo to showcase this year’s PB projects on 4/6 from 2-4 PM at Powerhouse Arts in Gowanus. Join us to meet your neighbors, learn about the projects, and vote. There will be a kids ballot and arts and crafts for those under the age of 11, so bring the whole family! RSVP and see our other volunteer opportunities during Vote Week here ([link removed]) .
* Following the tragic stabbing of our neighbor Samyia Spain earlier this month, we are doubling down on our commitment to the safety of women in our streets. Right to Be is offering free training on how to safely stand up to street harassment on 4/2 at 5 PM that you can sign up for here ([link removed]) .
* We are still unable to offer in-person appointments with extremely limited exceptions. If you need help, call us at (718) 499-1090 or send us an email at [email protected].

Progressive Caucus Launches Homes Now, Homes for Generation Campaign

The housing crisis is threatening the ability of so many New Yorkers to remain in the city that they love. From renters being pushed out of their neighborhoods, to asylum seekers being evicted from shelter, to families seeing their dreams of homeownership falling further out of reach—this is affecting all of us.

Here are some staggering statistics about the on-the-ground reality of the situation:
* Evictions nearly tripled in 2023 as compared to 2022, and the number of New Yorkers spending the night in homeless shelters is at an all-time high.
* Working and middle class families are leaving New York at three times the rate of the richest New Yorkers.
* NYC currently finances very little homeownership – less than 1,500 units since 2017.
* Mayor Adams’s FY25 Preliminary Budget proposes an average annual decrease of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Capital Budget of 10% over the 4 years.

In this urgent moment, I’m proud that the Progressive Caucus, which I Co-Chair, is leading the Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign alongside Comptroller Lander, Public Advocate Williams, and our partners from the labor and housing movements. This campaign demands a capital investment of $2 billion over the next four years into housing programs that will fund the construction and preservation of permanently-affordable, community-controlled housing. This investment will provide stability and equity-building opportunities for low-income and working-class New Yorkers. The homes will be accessible, energy-efficient and climate resilient, owned and operated by community-based organizations.

The Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign centers on strengthening two HPD programs that already exist. The first is Neighborhood Pillars ([link removed]) , which helps community organizations acquire and rehabilitate for-profit owned housing. If properly funded, this program would allow community-based organizations with deep ties to the local neighborhood to control housing stock and preserve thousands of homes. This model safeguards rent-stabilized units, ensuring the resilience of our stock of affordable apartments.

The second is Open Door ([link removed]) , which finances the new construction of shared equity co-operatives, whose units are made available at a price affordable for purchase by moderate and middle income New Yorkers. This makes homeownership accessible for working families and helps build wealth across generations and stability in our city.

The heart of New York has always been its diverse working and middle-class communities, but now it seems like only the super wealthy can afford to put down roots here. We have a real chance to change that with this campaign, and the resources needed are just a fraction of the city's budget. The Progressive Caucus is urgently taking decisive action to address the housing crisis at the local level to support middle and working-class families.

For more information on this campaign check out this ([link removed]) briefing paper, this ([link removed]) fun video from Council Member Ossé, and this ([link removed]) op-ed from Council Member Cabán.

Homes Now Launch Rally

Community Supported Agriculture Program in District 39!

One of the biggest ongoing missions of my office has been to combat food insecurity in our district. The New York City Council estimates that 1.2 million (14.6%) New York City residents were food insecure in 2022. ([link removed]) New York City’s residents make up 50% of all food insecure people living in New York State. One of the nation’s leading hunger-relief organizations, Feeding America, reports that 1 in 9 New Yorkers struggle with hunger, approximately 2,265,160 people are facing hunger - and of them 633,790 are children ([link removed]) .

My office is committed to supporting community based organizations and mutual aid efforts addressing hunger on the local level, including Gowanus Mutual Aid’s partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for public housing residents.

Now in its 4th season, the Gowanus Mutual Aid NYCHA CSA program has been a tremendous success feeding an estimated 300 households per week during the season. Produce is sourced through GrowNYC from smaller, largely local farms—the same goods you see at NYC greenmarkets—thereby supporting regional agriculture and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable food system. This program is run by Gowanus Mutual Aid volunteers in collaboration with public housing resident leaders.

We need community support to ensure that we reach those who want to enroll in the program. Our office is organizing two phone banks to support CSA enrollment and we need volunteers for the season! Especially volunteers who speak Spanish and Chinese. Please see the times and sign-up to help with this volunteer form ([link removed]) .

ACE is Keeping Our Plazas Clean!

I want to give our friends at ACE ([link removed]) a big thank you for keeping Kensington streets and plazas clean and safe! ACE is an organization that provides supplemental sanitation services to our neighborhoods, while providing workforce development and career paths to those who have been formerly incarcerated and homeless. If you see them in the neighborhood, thank them!

Community Bulletin
* Forth on Fourth Avenue (FOFA), the local community group that has been advocating for a safer, cleaner, greener, and more vibrant 4th Ave, wants to know what you think of Fourth Avenue – survey here ([link removed]) .
* Do you love biking and want to start a bike club? Ride Leader Academy applications ([link removed]) are now open through 4/7 and will provide you with the training and skills to become a local ride leader in your community. Learn safety protocols, how to pick routes, how to manage a group of cyclists, and more.
* South Brooklyn Sanctuary is offering free legal help for TPS applications and Work Authorization permits. Sign up for their resources in Arabic ([link removed]) , French ([link removed]) , and Spanish ([link removed]) .
* The Climate Reality Project NYC Metro Chapter is hosting leadership training free of charge (and features former VP Al Gore) 4/12 - 4/14 –sign up here ([link removed]) .
* Brooklyn Bridge Parents is hosting day trips to Governors Island this spring - find details here ([link removed]) as well as hosting Purim celebrations for kids – details here ([link removed]) .
* Community Education Council District 15 (CEC15) has a vacant seat and is accepting applications ([link removed]) .
* Don’t wait until 4/15 to file your taxes! NYC Free Tax Prep offers a variety of free tax prep options, including in-person, virtual, and drop-off options. For more information, contact 311 or visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep.

In Solidarity,

Shahana
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