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Dear District 39 Constituent,

• Over the last week, I have received extremely troubling reports of sexual assault and harassment affecting women in Park Slope. My office has been actively engaging with local law enforcement and other elected officials to address these serious concerns. I have made sure that the NYPD’s 78th Precinct is aware of the issue and am working to understand the steps being taken to investigate and address them. As an immediate measure, I am advocating for the Precinct to strengthen patrols in the area, especially during the evening hours when these incidents have been most frequent. If you encounter any such incidents or have concerns, please report them directly to 911. Your reports are crucial for prompt action and ensuring the safety of our community. Thank you for your continued vigilance and support as we work together to ensure a safer neighborhood for everyone.

• We have recently learned that a private company is sending solicitations to homeowners that are deliberately designed to look like official notices from the Department of Buildings. Please be aware that legitimate notices will resemble the document shown here. If you receive a suspicious mailer or have any doubts about its authenticity, please contact our office immediately. You can learn more about the new parapet inspection rules here and find answers to frequently asked questions here.

• Our office is sponsoring Camp Friendship’s School Supply Drive! They are accepting donations from now through 8/23. See details on desired supplies and drop-off locations here.

• As a reminder, our 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]. Appointments are available from Monday-Thursday 10 AM to 4 PM.

Constituent Service Successes!

Our office is dedicated to serving the residents of District 39 with pride and commitment. If you have an issue that needs attention, please contact our Constituent Services Director, Bryan Gross, at [email protected] or by phone at (718) 499-1090.

While the Mayor’s recent budget cuts have led to slower response times from City agencies, our office is often able to step in and help expedite your case. Here are some recent examples of how we’ve successfully assisted constituents.

Supporting Our Immigrant Workers Through Government Bureaucracy

One evening, Showkat, a constituent from Kensington, was violently attacked while returning home from his food delivery job. He was thrown off his bike, assaulted, and had both his bicycle and cell phone stolen. Although a neighbor called 911, Showkat remained unconscious on the ground until the next morning. When he woke, he discovered he had a broken leg and would be unable to work for the next three months. Without family support in the U.S. and without his bike, Showkat struggled to cover his basic living expenses.

Our office stepped in to assist Showkat during this challenging time. Ali Boivab, our Kensington Liaison, worked closely with him to navigate the application process for the Victim Compensation Fund through the NYS Office of Victim Services. Communicating in Bangla, Showkat’s preferred language, Ali made sure he understood each step of the claims process.

Thanks to Ali’s efforts and our office’s support, Showkat received $2,500 in compensation. This assistance allowed him to purchase a new bike, return to his delivery job, and start rebuilding his livelihood. Ali is available to help constituents in Kensington every Friday at our Kensington Office, located at 118 Beverly Road between 10 AM and 4 PM.

Ali (left) and Showkat (right), who has made a recovery, pictured in front of our weekly Immigration Clinic with CUNY Citizenship Now! in Kensington

Resolving Electricity Issues on East 4th Street

Amelia, a constituent on East 4th Street, reached out to our office about ongoing voltage issues affecting her block. For nearly five years, residents struggled with problems such as flickering lights and difficulties using basic appliances like air conditioners, toasters, and washing machines. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue with Con Edison, no permanent solution was found.

Our office intervened and worked closely with Con Edison to identify and address the problem. We are pleased to report that full power has now been restored to the block!

Amelia recently shared her relief: “We are all thrilled to have stable lights now. In the past two weeks alone, two people stopped me on the street to comment on how incredible it is that our lights are no longer flickering. One person mentioned they can finally do their laundry even in the heat without worrying about electricity draining or dimming. And I can make toast without feeling like we’re living in candlelight.”

Another resident expressed their gratitude, saying, "I just wanted to say that this is the first time in probably five years that we’ve had fully functioning lights throughout July. Thank you!"

Installing an Accessible Pedestrian Signal

A constituent reached out to our office with a request for an Accessible Pedestrian Signal at the intersection of Prospect Park Southwest and Greenwood Avenue. We elevated this request to the Department of Transportation (DOT), and we are pleased to announce that the signal has now been installed!

The new Accessible Pedestrian Signal!

Resolving 35-Year-Old Sidewalk Violations

A constituent reached out for help with two outdated sidewalk lien violations on their property, dating back 35 years. Although the City had repaired the sidewalk two years after the violations were issued, the records still showed the violations. Our office intervened by arranging a sidewalk dismissal inspection, which led to the removal of the outdated violations and saved the constituent $5,000 in closing fees.

Removing an Abandoned Car

A constituent on President Street reported an abandoned car that had been stationary for six months, causing a buildup of trash and blocking a valuable parking spot. Our office coordinated with the NYPD to have the vehicle removed promptly.

Restoring Hot Water

A constituent on Berkeley Place reported that their building had been without hot water for several days, and the landlord was unresponsive. Our office reached out to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), which conducted a site visit, confirmed the issue, and promptly initiated emergency repairs to restore hot water.

Wyckoff Gardens Family Day

I was delighted to participate in the Wyckoff Gardens Family Day last weekend! My team continued our backpack distribution program and we had the pleasure of celebrating some key community leaders. It was a true honor to recognize Resident Association President Valerie Bell for her 20 years of dedicated service, during which she has been a vital partner in holding NYCHA accountable for their Comprehensive Modernization project promises. Additionally, I presented Steven Shooman with a proclamation in appreciation of his 24 years of service tutoring youth and young adults at the Wyckoff Gardens community center.

Council Member Shahana with Valerie Bell and Steven Shooman

Clarifying Noxious Odors in Gowanus

My office has received multiple concerns from Gowanus residents about unpleasant odors related to construction activities at the Head End Site, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) tank construction, and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Brownfield Remediation sites. To address these issues, I have been working closely with fellow Gowanus elected officials to ensure that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the DEC, and the DEP provide timely and accessible information about these sites and their plans to minimize community impacts.

In June, elected officials and agency representatives met to discuss the concerns regarding the remediation sites. The agencies committed to creating informational one-pagers about the construction sites and providing contact points for residents to report issues. We are pleased to share that DEP and the EPA have released a one-pager detailing their remediation efforts at the Head End Site. If you missed the one-pager on DEC’s remediation sites from a previous newsletter, you can access it here.

I will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for clear and timely communication from these agencies to ensure that the community receives the information and responsiveness it deserves.

Help Us Identify Unlicensed Smoke Shops

Recently, there has been a significant increase in smoke shops illegally selling cannabis products in our neighborhoods and throughout the City. This surge in unlicensed shops poses serious risks to public health and undermines the emerging legal market. Proper regulation is essential to ensure safety and compliance.

Recent legislative changes at the State and City levels have granted the New York City Sheriff's Office new authority to swiftly close these illegal establishments. Since July, six stores in our district have been shut down. To support this important enforcement effort, we are asking constituents to complete this form to report other stores that may require investigation by the Sheriff's Office. We will compile your submissions and provide a list for their review.

Please additionally submit complaints directly to the Sheriff’s Office at [email protected]. Thank you for your assistance in helping us maintain a safe and regulated community.

Community Bulletin

• CEC15 currently has a vacant seat on the council and is accepting applications. Please apply to the DOE directly at [email protected]. Applications are available in nine languages and all information about eligibility to CECs can be found here. Please also visit CECd15.org to learn more.

• Do you ride buses on Flatbush Avenue? Take this survey to help us understand the needs of bus riders, and demonstrate how better buses will benefit residents, businesses, schools, and the community. Participants will enter a raffle with several chances to win $150!  

• Help our neighbors in need before the school year starts by volunteering or donating to the Friends of Thomas Greene Park’s Food Pantry distribution on Saturday, September 21. Reach out to [email protected] for more information on how to volunteer.

  
  

In community,
Council Member Shahana