Dear Friend,

  • Brooklyn Community Board 7 will hold a public meeting on the proposed Arrow Linen rezoning on Monday, September 9, from 6:30 PM to 9 PM at Holy Name Church-Shepherd's Hall, 245 Prospect Park West, 11215. The meeting will also be streamed live on Community Board 7's YouTube Channel. The public hearing will continue virtually on Thursday, September 12. Register here to participate.

  • Participatory Budgeting season is right around the corner! Fill out this form if you’re interested in volunteering as a Steering Committee Member to help organize ideas collection events, conduct outreach to schools and libraries, and plan vote week.

  • Our office is located on the Ground Floor of 197 Bond Street, 11217. To make an appointment, contact our Constituent Services Director, Bryan Gross, at [email protected]. Appointments are available from Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM.

School is Back in Session!

It was a pleasure to kick off the school year and welcome back students and the community at PS 118 and the Brooklyn Urban Garden School (BUGS) on the first day of school! I’m thankful for the dedication of parents, teachers, and school staff as we embark on another year of learning and growth across District 39.


This summer, my office distributed nearly 1,500 free backpacks to help families prepare for the new school year. This effort was made possible through our partnerships with the Hispanic Federation, Metro Plus Health, Arab-American Family Support Center, The Singing Winds, and Helping Hands Chittagong. I’m excited to continue supporting schools throughout the district, ensuring our students receive the quality public education they deserve.


As we gear up for the back-to-school season, here are some valuable resources to keep in mind:

  • Education Helpline & Case Assistance: Advocates for Children’s Education Helpline offers support for navigating the Department of Education. Available in multiple languages, they can be reached at (866) 427-6033, Monday to Thursday, from 10 AM to 4 PM.

  • Student OMNY Cards: NYC public school students who are eligible should have received OMNY Cards instead of MetroCards on the first day of school. These cards provide four free rides a day, all day, every day, including weekends and holidays, throughout the entire year.

  • Park Slope Parents: A great resource for community guides and tips for families throughout Brooklyn.

  • For important updates on academic policies, health and safety protocols, and more, visit schools.nyc.gov/bts2024.  

Back To School Rally to End Shelter Evictions & Ensure Stable Housing

During the first week of school, I was proud to co-host a rally in Washington Heights with Council Members Carmen De La Rosa and Alexa Avilés, and Comptroller Brad Lander. We called on Mayor Adams to end the inhumane and counterproductive 60-day shelter eviction policy for newly arrived families, which affects thousands of families and their school-age children. This policy can force students from migrant families to relocate between schools and shelters up to five times in a single academic year.


Children should be able to focus on their studies and making friends, not on the uncertainty of where they will sleep or whether they can stay in their current school. This policy undermines educational outcomes, disrupts family stability, and raises serious concerns about the risk of children experiencing homelessness. My bill, Intro 210, aims to end this policy, but it shouldn’t require legislation; the Mayor could reverse this policy with a simple signature, just as he enacted it. See coverage of the rally from City Limits here.

Meet Sabine, Our New Constituent Services Liaison!

In response to Mayor Adams’ austerity budgets, which have severely cut essential services for New Yorkers and constituents in our district, I’ve expanded my office’s constituent services team to better meet the needs of our residents. I’m thrilled to introduce Sabine A. (she/her), who joined our team last month as our new Constituent Services Liaison, adding a third staff member to our Constituent Services Team!


Sabine is a Park Slope resident with deep Brooklyn roots. Her paternal family immigrated from Lithuania and Poland, settling in the Lower East Side, Midwood, and the Rockaways. Her French Moroccan Catholic mother moved to Park Slope at 19. Sabine’s extensive experience supporting communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy has fueled her commitment to building a more resilient and equitable city. She is proudly raising her daughter in the 39th Council district, instilling in her the values of civic engagement and appreciation for Brooklyn’s public spaces.


A product of local public schools, including PS 321, MS 88, and Midwood High School, Sabine earned her undergraduate degree at Tulane University and her MPA from CUNY Baruch College. Prior to joining our office, she spent over a decade at the Fifth Avenue Committee as the Campaign Manager for the South Brooklyn Accountable Development Initiative. She also serves on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gowanus Superfund Community Advisory Group, the Gowanus Oversight Task Force, and as a Board Member of Friends of Thomas Greene Park.


Feel free to reach out to her at [email protected] with constituent services requests you may have.

Labor Week in the 39th

As Labor Week comes to a close, I want to spotlight 12 inspiring labor movement campaigns happening across our district. I’m excited to continue supporting the workers who keep our city running smoothly. NYC will always be a union town! Check out our office’s government account for more labor highlights.

Community Bulletin

  • Join us at Kensington Plaza next Saturday, September 14, at 7:30 PM for a FREE screening of Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's stunning Bangladeshi fantasy HAWA. The film tells the captivating story of a group of seasoned fishermen who discover a beautiful young woman caught in their net. RSVP for tickets here! Seating is first-come, first-served.

  • Don’t miss our HPD In Your District Event on Tuesday, September 17, from 10 AM to 5 PM outside our District Office at 197 Bond Street, 11217. Learn about applying for affordable housing, filing housing complaints, financing improvements and repairs, addressing violations, and more.

  • The Department of Environmental Conservation will host a Community Availability Session to discuss their soil vapor intrusion study on Thursday, September 19, from 7 PM to 9 PM in the auditorium of PS 372, located at 215 1st Street, 11215.

  • SAVE THE DATE: The 17th Annual Fun Run will be on Saturday, October 20, at 10 AM at the LeFrak Center. Stay tuned for more details on how to participate.

  • If you or someone you know was required to remove a religious head covering for a post-arrest photo between April 16, 2014, and August 23, 2021, you might be eligible for a payment of $7,824 or more. Submit a complaint and learn more here.

  • Follow updates and opportunities for community engagement on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Transformation Project here.


In community,
Council Member Shahana