| |  | Dear Friend, The 78th Precinct is actively investigating multiple reports of sexual harassment and assault in Park Slope. I urge any victims or witnesses to file a report with the precinct and, if they feel comfortable, to reach out to my office. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our community. I will be meeting with the Precinct’s Commanding Officer in the coming days to further assess the situation. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! I’m grateful for the workers who keep our city running and for the labor movement that has championed social and economic justice around the world. All government offices, including ours, will be closed on Monday, 9/2. There will be no trash, recycling, or compost collection that day. Residents who usually have Monday collection should place their materials at the curb on Monday evening for pickup starting Tuesday, 9/3. Alternate Side Parking rules and mail delivery will also be suspended. More details can be found here.
If you know of an intersection in District 39 that could benefit from daylighting, please share your suggestions using this form. We will forward your recommendations to the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and advocate for daylighting measures where feasible. |
| | Summer is Coming to an End, and School is Starting Up Again This Labor Day weekend, I am especially grateful for the dedicated early childhood educators, public school teachers, guidance counselors, and school staff who are preparing for the new school year. The drastic FY 25 budget cuts proposed by Mayor Adams have severely impacted schools in our district, leading to excessed teachers and larger class sizes. Retaining teachers is crucial to ensuring our schools can take the necessary steps to reduce class sizes and comply with the State Class Size Reduction Law. As the school year begins, I remain committed to fighting for the resources our schools need to help our students thrive.
Check out these resources to help you prepare for the upcoming school year: NYC DOE’s Back to School Checklist: Available in multiple languages to help you get ready for a successful school year. Health and Immunization Requirements: With flu season approaching, the CDC recommends a new COVID-19 vaccine for everyone six months and older to protect against the latest variants. Get involved with the Community and Citywide Education Council (CEC): A group of elected volunteer parents dedicated to shaping policies and priorities for public schools. Apply or nominate someone for the Chancellor’s Multilingual NYC Advisory Council: this council, consisting of students, alumni, parents, and advocates, works to develop recommendations to support multilingual and immigrant learners and their families. Advocates for Children Back to School Hub: Find resource guides, FAQs, and tip sheets, available in multiple languages, to help you understand your rights and navigate the DOE.
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| | Highlights from the 2023-2024 School Year I’ve begun visiting the 16 new schools added to District 39 following redistricting earlier this year and look forward to visiting the remaining schools throughout the upcoming school year. Since becoming a Council Member, I’ve toured all 30 public schools in the previous district boundaries, along with several childcare centers and early education programs, charter schools, Catholic schools, private schools, and parent-teacher associations. These visits are one of my favorite aspects of my role, as they allow me to connect with some of my youngest constituents and understand specific school needs. They are also essential for shaping my office’s education priorities. Below are a few highlights from the past school year. |
| The Brooklyn Collaborative Studies Robotics Team, known as the RoboSharks, won their participatory budgeting project to support their entry in this year’s FIRST Robotics competition. I’m excited to see what they will achieve in the upcoming school year! |
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|  | Members of the BCS RoboSharks Team held a demonstration for the Friends of Brooklyn Collaborative Studies Parent Teacher Association in June. |
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|  | Council Member Shahana (left) with Principal Mitchell (right), who has led MS 88 for nearly 25 years. |
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| I toured MS 88, now part of the 39th Council District, with District 15 UFT Representative Nancy Aromando. I was particularly impressed by the school community’s dedication to transforming their school culture. |
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| I met with the impressive leadership of PS 10’s Student Council, an 88-member group representing students from kindergarten through 5th grade. They advocated for renovating their school playground. I allocated $500,000 in discretionary funding for this project during the last budget cycle. On my office’s recommendation, the school also secured additional funding from the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office. It was inspiring to see these young advocates in action. |
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|  | Council Member Shahana with members of the PS 10 Student Council. |
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| | Take Me Out to the Ball Game! Last week, my team and I had the pleasure of throwing out the first pitch at a Brooklyn Cyclones game to celebrate Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue being named Coolest Street in New York City by TimeOut New York Magazine! I was also proud to present the Cyclones with a City Council Proclamation, recognizing 23 years of Iconic Brooklyn Excellence. It was fantastic to celebrate this achievement with a performance by Park Slope’s own Champions Martial Arts alongside Sandy the Seagull, the Cyclones’ mascot; King Henry, the Cyclones’ MC; and Peter Endriss, Executive Director of CHiPS. A huge thank you to the Brooklyn Cyclones for dedicating this game to Park Slope! |
|  | Council Member Shahana and her team at the Brooklyn Cyclones game, joined by Peter Endriss, Executive Director of CHiPS. |
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|  | Council Member Shahana presenting the Brooklyn Cyclones with a City Council Proclamation. |
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| | Community Bulletin Recycle your e-waste on 4th Street Plaza on Saturday, 9/7, from 10 AM to 1 PM! Only electronic waste items covered by the NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act will be collected. Check the complete list of eligible items here. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is hosting a Community Availability Session to discuss their soil vapor intrusion study on 9/19 from 7 PM to 9 PM at PS 372, The Children’s School, 215 1st Street. The affordable housing lottery at 420 Carroll Street is now open! To apply, visit the listing on New York City’s Housing Connect website before the 10/28 deadline. Have you seen colorful megaphone-like viewing devices around Gowanus? They’re part of the “With Your Voice” art installation designed to spread awareness on the 56 Points of Agreement of the ongoing Gowanus rezoning. To learn more, join the final public tour of this community art project on Friday, 9/6, at 6 PM. Register here. Brooklyn Community Board 7 will hold a public meeting on the proposed Arrow Linen rezoning on Monday, 9/9, from 6:30 PM to 9 PM at Holy Name Church-Shepherd's Hall, 245 Prospect Park West. Attend in person or virtually. The meeting will also be streamed live on Community Board 7's YouTube Channel.
In community, Council Member Shahana |
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