Java w/Jo Anne, Flu Shots, & More

Is there a community issue or current event you’re passionate about? Come and talk with me about it! Join me and your neighbors for a cup of coffee at my next "Java with Jo Anne” this Friday, Sept. 20th, from 10am-11:30am at Kos Kaffe in Park Slope (251 5th Ave). Please RSVP online or call my office at 718-246-4889.

Sincerely,

Jo Anne Simon

P.S. Please hand in your summer reading challenge forms! If your child participated in the reading challenge, congratulations! We’d love to give participants a certificate of completion. You can send in your form by email at [email protected], via mail, or stop by my office at 341 Smith Street.

Flu Shot Clinic, Wed. October 2nd, 2024. We are partnering with NYU, along with Senator Andrew Gounardes, to provide free flu shots to the community at the NYU Langone Health Cobble Hill ED (70 Atlantic Ave) on Wednesday, October 2nd. Insurance is not required. You must be 18 years or older. Appointments are required. Please RSVP online or call 718-246-4889.

WIM Updates: Program Expansion & Highlights. I'm delighted that our first-in-the-nation WIM program is finally coming to the Staten Island-bound BQE! Since WIM sensors were installed on the Queens-bound BQE, the program has reduced illegally overweight trucks by a whopping 64%. In order to install the additional sensors, there will be upcoming BQE work. On September 14-16 & September 21-23, traffic will be reduced to one lane on the Staten Island-bound BQE from Adams Street to Washington Street from 1 AM both Saturdays to 5 AM each Monday. During the weekend of September 21-23 only, the Sands Street entrance ramp to SI-bound roadway will be closed.

Advocates for Children Education Helpline & Case Assistance. It’s back to school season! Families can call AFC’s Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline with questions about the NYC school system. Their Helpline is staffed by bilingual education specialists who provide information and resources and, in a limited number of cases, assign AFC attorneys to represent low-income families. They can speak with families in their language. The phone number is 866-427-6033 (toll free), and it is open from Monday to Thursday, 10:00AM to 4:00PM.

NYSED Task Force on Dyslexia and Dysgraphia to Hold Public Hearings. The goal of this new task force is to prepare a comprehensive report of findings and recommendations, which are due December 22, 2024. These hearings will focus on screening methods, reading interventions, and educational supports. Make your voice heard and register here for the in person NYC hearing on Tuesday, October 1. There is also a virtual meeting on Monday, September 23 and we are awaiting a viewing link from SED.

New Covid-19 Booster & Mpox Vaccine. The FDA recently approved a new seasonal Covid-19 booster that is designed to target the strains currently circulating and offer protection against severe illness during the fall and winter seasons. You can use the city’s Vaccine Finder to find an appointment near you. The vaccine is free under most insurance policies, including Medicare and Medicaid.

As we see the rise of a new Mpox strain in other countries, consider starting your vaccine series today. Mpox can spread to anyone through close, personal, skin-to-skin contact. Learn more and book an appointment to get the vaccine at no cost here.

Food Pantry Donations Needed by 9/21. Friends of Thomas Greene Park is hosting a Pantry Day, in coordination with others, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10am until supplies last, DeGraw Street (Third Ave between DeGraw & Douglass). Join us as friends helping friends, in securing food access and combating food insecurities. All are welcome to participate by donating food or partaking of the pantry. If you would like to donate food please email [email protected] and if you would like to volunteer please reach out to [email protected].

Upcoming E-Waste & SAFE Disposal Events. There will be three E-waste events held throughout the district in the upcoming months. (SAFE events collect additional waste).

E-waste Event, Wed. September 25: 10am-2pm at DUMBO Pearl Street Triangle (w/LES Ecology Center, CM Restler, DUMBO BID). Recycle your TVs, printers & computers, keyboards, mice, phones, video games, VCRs & more. More details.
SAFE Event, Sun. September 29th: 10am-4pm cars line up at 63rd Street and 2nd Avenue (follow blue signs to ferry parking) at Brooklyn Army Terminal, Pier 4 Parking Lot to dispose of your e-waste. SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) events collect e-waste and chemical products & medical waste. Organized w/DSNY & NYCEDC. More details.

Prop 1 Anti-Discrimination Provisions & Voter Registration Information. Below is information for the November 5, 2024 General Election. You can visit the Brooklyn Board of Elections (BOE) at 345 Adams Street, 4th Fl, Brooklyn, NY 11201, or call 718-797-8800.

Register to vote by October 26th, 2024. You can register online at https://e-register.vote.nyc or via mail or in person. Applications must be received by BOE no later than October 26, 2024 to be eligible to vote in the General Election.

Request an absentee ballot by October 26, 2024. Submit your request for an early mail ballot or absentee ballot online (https://vote.nyc), by mail, email, or fax.

Vote Early: Sat, Oct. 26, 2024 - Sun, Nov. 3, 2024. Early voting hours vary by day, so check before you go: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/

Military & Overseas Voting Deadlines: See deadlines here: https://elections.ny.gov/military-and-overseas-federal-voting

Ballot Proposition 1 on Abortion Rights, LGBTQ+ Protections & Anti-discrimination Protections. Voters will also have the opportunity to vote on a ballot proposition, so remember to flip your ballot. The text of Proposal Number One from the NYS Board of Elections is as follows:

Adds Certain Protections to the State Bill of Rights.
Adds anti-discrimination provisions to the State Constitution. Covers ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. Also covers reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
A “YES” vote puts these protections against discrimination in the New York State Constitution.
A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.

Please see the ballot proposition text here.

Public Meeting on Gowanus Soil Vapor Testing: 9/19. Join the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) & NYS Health Department (DOH) on Thursday, September 19th at PS 372 (215 1st St) from 7-9 pm for a Community Session on the Gowanus Canal and Soil Vapor Intrusion (SVI) testing. Presentations will focus on SVI test results from the last heating season & plans on the next round of SVI testing.

Gowanus SVI Testing. Another aspect of the cleanup of the area near the Canal is run by the NYS DEC, which is the agency in charge of the Brownfield Cleanup Program. DEC is currently conducting SVI testing, a process typically conducted during the heating season to ensure no contaminated vapors are infiltrating homes, and to help with remediation when it is necessary.

I urge all property owners who have received a testing request from DEC to authorize the agency to do this critically important testing. This step will contribute to a safer and cleaner community.

New Garbage Bins. The NYC Department of Sanitation mandates that all 1-9 unit properties use secure garbage bins with lids by November 12, 2024. If you already use a bin with a secure lid that is 55 gallons or less for trash, you may continue to use it until JUNE 2026. After that, you will need to switch to the official NYC Bin, found here. According to DSNY, the bins are inexpensive, robust, and designed to keep rodents out. Learn more here. Please note that this rule doesn’t cover recycling bins; people can continue to use the bins they have been using.

Ask Your Housing Questions to HPD: September 20 & October 1. Join HPD, cosponsored by my office with Council Member Shahana Hanif and Senator Andrew Gounardes, for an event in the district and learn about housing-related issues. Learn about affordable housing applications, filing complaints, financing repairs, addressing violations, and more! The September 20th event will be held inside Council Member Hanif's office, 10am - 5pm, at 118 Beverly Road. The October 1st event will be located at the outreach van at 197 Bond Street between 10am - 5pm.

Transit Updates.

G train work: The summertime partial suspension of the G train has concluded! There are still some upgrades that are needed to complete the Signal Modernization Project:

There will be no G train service from Bedford-Nostrand Avs to Court Sq on weeknights, Monday-Friday from 9:45PM – 5AM on the following dates: Sept 16th-20th; Sept 30th-Oct 4th; and Oct 7th-11th. During these times G service will run in both directions from Bedford-Nostrand Av to Church Av. Free B94 shuttle buses will make all G train local stops between Bedford-Nostrand and Court Sq, following the same route as during earlier phases of the project.
Starting at 9:45PM on Fridays and through 5AM Mondays, G service will run in two sections: Between Bedford-Nostrand and Court Sq and Between Bedford-Nostrand and Hoyt-Schermerhorn. During this time, customers can take the A/C to Jay St-MetroTech and transfer to the F for continued service to G line stations.
On weekends from 10/4 – 10/21, southbound F service will run express from Bergen St to Ditmas Ave. On the weekends of 10/25-10/28, 11/22-11/25, 11/29-12/2, northbound F service will run express from Ditmas Ave to Bergen St. On weekends from 11/1-11/18, northbound F service will run express from Kings Hwy to Bergen St.

BQE Closures & bridge work: If you are interested in receiving regular updates on BQE and Bridge work, please reach out to DOT Community Liaison Anita Navalurkar at (347) 647-0876 or to [email protected] to be placed on the mailing list.

Community Events & News:

Housing Lottery at 420 Carroll St Open until October 28. These 2 buildings are located in the Gowanus neighborhood and contain studios, one, two, and three bedroom apartments. For more information on eligibility and to apply, visit Housing Connect. To request a paper application, send a self addressed envelope to 420 Carroll St ℅ Housing Line, 109 E 9th St, Ground Fl, Brooklyn, NY 10003.
Carroll Gardens Library Construction Update. The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) reports that the construction is going as planned. The city’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has completed asbestos abatement and will begin working on installing HVAC equipment on the roof. When that phase of work ends in the winter, the BPL will move onto the next phase of work. The BPL expects the library to reopen by the second half of 2025. In the meantime, the bookmobile will still serve the neighborhood along with the nearby Brooklyn Heights Library.
Upcoming Precinct Community Council Meetings: After the summer break, the Police Community Council meetings are back in full swing. The next 84th PCT meeting is Tuesday, September 17th, at 7pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street). The next 78th PCT meeting is Tuesday, September 24th, at 7:30 at 65 5th Ave. To find your precinct, check here.
- 6th Community Affairs: 718.834.3207
- 78th Community Affairs: 718.636.6410
- 84th Community Affairs: 718.875.6850
Brooklyn Book Festival 9/22-9/30. The Brooklyn Book Festival celebrates published literature and creates a literary cultural community through in-person and virtual events in and around Borough Hall. Events run all week, including author talks, panel discussions, and a Children’s Day. Full line-up events here.
Watershed & Flooding Workshop, Tuesday, 10/1, 6PM - 7:30PM. Join a community discussion at the Park Slope Library on the shared watershed of Park Slope and Gowanus. Explore how residents can prepare for the increasing frequency of flooding in the district, with insights from experts from the Department of Environmental Protection and NYC Emergency Management. This event is co-hosted by Forth on Fourth Avenue, Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Park Slope Civic Council, and the City Sponge. Register here.
Local Law 97 Workshop, Monday, 10/28, 6PM - 7:45PM: Have questions about Local Law 97? Join a virtual information session, co-hosted with Council Members Alexa Avilés and Lincoln Restler, the Mayor’s Office for Climate and Environmental Justice, and representatives from Con Edison, National Grid, and NYSERDA. Learn about the NYC Accelerator program, its benefits, and how Local Law 97 affects your building. Register here for webinar details. For additional questions, contact [email protected].
Brooklyn Marine Terminal Public Workshop, 9/28, 11am-2pm at the Miccio Center in Red Hook. The Vision for Brooklyn Marine Terminal is a community-led planning process for the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT). Join the city Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in-person at the first community planning workshop to learn more about the project, the City’s goals, and the opportunities and challenges at the site as we begin to collectively define the community’s vision. The feedback we collect at this workshop will inform the development of opportunity statements and community priorities for the site. Learn more and RSVP.
Grieving & Weaving at Green-Wood Cemetery, 9/23, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Green-Wood, 25th Street and Fifth Avenue. Free to Attend, but registration is required: sign-up here. If you like to knit, crochet, or engage in another kind of crafting, Grieving & Weaving is for you. Green-Wood invites you to share your craft, your projects, and your thoughts with them. All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experts! They’ll lead a tutorial for newcomers in both knitting and crocheting, while those at intermediate and expert levels are encouraged to bring their ongoing projects. You may bring your own yarn, needles, and hooks; some materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.