and addressing air & soil quality concerns in Gowanus

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Dear District 39 Constituent,
* As a reminder, our new office is located on the Ground Floor of 197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217. To make an appointment, contact our Constituent Services Director Bryan Gross at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Appointments are available from Monday-Thursday 10 AM to 4 PM.
* Our office is sponsoring Camp Friendship’s School Supply Drive! They are accepting donations from now through August 23rd. See details on desired supplies and drop-off locations here ([link removed]) .
* Our office is proud to support the Gowanus Mutual Aid Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program ([link removed]) , a food access program distributing over 300 bags of regional fruits and veggies every other week to local public housing residents. If you have extra Fresh Direct bags you would like to donate please bring them to our District Office at 197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 between 10 AM and 4 PM from Monday - Thursday. If you would like to get involved with the distributions, your help is welcome and you can sign up here ([link removed]) .

The Worker Bill of Rights is in Full Effect!

When my family first arrived in NYC, they were undocumented. They were unaware of the labor protections that existed and certainly unaware that those protections applied to them regardless of their immigration status. Growing up in Kensington, one of the neighborhoods I now represent, I saw that my family’s experience was the norm. Wage theft and other forms of exploitation were simply a part of working life for our immigrant communities.

That’s why upon entering the City Council, I authored legislation that would establish a Worker Bill of Rights, a multilingual and comprehensive guide to rights on the job that protects all workers, including those who are not yet citizens. Last November, with the crucial support of the AFL-CIO’s NYC Central Labor Council, we got this bill passed. Earlier this month, it went into full effect ([link removed]) as law.

As of July 1st, 2024 all employers are now required to distribute and post this notice ([link removed]) which links to this One-Stop-Shop of the worker protections that apply to all workers ([link removed]) , including immigrant workers, across City, State, and Federal law. This includes resources that workers can access if their rights are violated. In order to make sure this information reaches our City’s newest arrivals, the law also requires City agencies to conduct targeted outreach through the shelter system, subways, and ethnic media.

At last week’s Republican National Convention, we saw conservatives proposing a roll back on both workers’ rights and immigrant rights. Now more than ever, it’s critical we strengthen NYC’s legacy as a bastion for the labor and immigrant justice movements. I’m thrilled about this timely victory and excited to share more about my work on these issues soon.

Air and Soil Quality Concerns in Gowanus

My office has received dozens of emails from residents in Gowanus about unpleasant odors and troubling vibrations around the Head End Site ([link removed]) , DEP Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) tank construction ([link removed]) , and the DEC Brownfield Remediation sites ([link removed]) . While the agencies have made efforts to mitigate these issues, residents continue to experience and report these odors.

My team and I have been actively communicating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), State Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC), and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and our partner elected offices about these concerns. In April, I supported a letter ([link removed]) issued by Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon to the agencies urging immediate action and transparency regarding these sites and their operations. Unfortunately, the agencies’ responses have fallen short for both the elected offices and our constituents.

In June, the Gowanus area elected officials and agency representatives met to revisit these concerns. The agencies committed to putting together one-pagers about the construction sites, as well as points of contact for residents to report issues. You can learn more about the DEC remedial sites and points of contact here ([link removed]) . My office will continue to share one-pagers as we receive them from the agencies. We have requested the agencies to meet with residents to discuss these concerns directly and are working with them to prioritize scheduling this for the Fall.

Additionally, parents from PS 32 and PS 372 have reached out to my office about the results of the DEC’s soil vapor intrusion study ([link removed]) . The DEC and Department of Health (DOH) presented the test results to the school communities and shared that no remediation is needed at PS 32, but that remediation is necessary at the PS 372 Annex, which they plan to begin in August. Parents have voiced concerns about impacts on their children’s return to school and questions about the timeline and implementation of the remediation and ongoing monitoring work, and we’re working to ensure that the agencies produce timely responses that are accessible and clear. I’m urging the agencies to conduct follow-up monitoring at these schools and to provide our community with timely and accurate updates. I also plan to attend a walkthrough of the school after remediation.

The health and safety of our neighbors, including the school community, remain my top priorities. My team and I are working closely with the agencies so that constituent voices are heard and the ongoing remediation efforts are completed.

Community Bulletin
* In April, NYS passed the Good Cause Eviction Law, which helps prevent landlords from kicking tenants out of their homes for no reason and prohibits massive rent hikes. Learn more about this new law at the Fifth Avenue Committee’s workshop on Tuesday, 8/13 at 6 PM at the Park Slope Library.
* One World Project has available spots in its preschool program for the upcoming school year. See the application here ([link removed]) and information about financial aid here ([link removed]) .
* Businesses with outdoor dining setups must apply to the new outdoor dining program by 8/3 or remove their setup. Apply now at [link removed].
* G​ trains will not run between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Avenues until 8/12. See details here ([link removed]) .
* See here ([link removed]) for important updates from DOT on road closures in the district – on the BQE Queens-bound between Atlantic Ave and Washington St, BQE Staten Island-bound between Vine St. entrance ramp and Atlantic Ave, Hamilton Ave Bridge, Third St. Bridge, and Ninth St. Bridge over the Gowanus Canal.
* Check out Health Matters ([link removed]) for tips on summer safety, including keeping your skin healthy ([link removed]) and staying safe in poor air quality ([link removed]) and heat ([link removed]) .
* It’s NYC Summer Restaurant Week, now through 8/18! Check out thelist of participating restaurants ([link removed]) .
* The filing period for the FDNY’s Firefighter Open Competitive Exam 4044 is now open. Learn more here ([link removed]) and apply here ([link removed]) .

In community,
Council Member Shahana
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Our mailing address is:
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif
197 Bond Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11217
USA
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