Plus, don’t miss an upcoming community safety and self-defense class.

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Dear Friend,
* Join us on Saturday, September 28th, from 3 PM to 5 PM at the Park Slope Armory YMCA (361 15th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215) for a Community Safety and Self-Defense Class that I am hosting in partnership with the Center for Anti-Violence Education. This class is designed in response to the increase in reports of sexual assault and harassment in our district. You’ll gain practical tools and resources to navigate conflict and violence, learning skills that apply to various interpersonal situations. We’ll cover everything from physical techniques to verbal, emotional, and social strategies like assertiveness, de-escalation, and situational awareness. Please wear comfortable shoes, as this will be an active session! RSVP here ([link removed]) .
* The first community engagement visioning session for the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal will take place on Saturday, September 28, from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Miccio Center in Red Hook. Register ([link removed]) now to share your thoughts and contribute to the conversation.
* My office is on the Ground Floor of 197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217. To schedule an appointment, please contact our Constituent Services Director, Bryan Gross, at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Appointments are available from Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM.

Climate Week in the 39th

This week marks Climate Week, set against the backdrop of the hottest summer on record ([link removed]) globally. Our city faced unprecedented heat emergencies ([link removed]) and rising hospitalizations due to heat-related illnesses. The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, from wildfire smoke affecting our air quality to severe flooding in our neighborhoods. Moreover, the indefinite pause on congestion pricing has hindered our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As the climate crisis intensifies, we know that storms will only become stronger and flood risks more frequent. Yet, our City is still trying to manage the effects of 21st-century storms with outdated 20th-century infrastructure. This approach is no longer sufficient, and our city must take more decisive action to curb the effects of climate change. Adapting to the new realities of climate change means building resilient infrastructure, particularly in our flood-prone waterfront neighborhoods.

Since I took office, numerous homes have suffered from severe flooding, water contamination, and prolonged outages, especially after heavy rain. My office is actively collaborating with city agencies, community groups, and residents to develop both short- and long-term solutions to local flooding. We are working with city agencies to ensure they meet their commitments to enhance sewage overflow capacity in the Gowanus area as development progresses. Additionally, we’ve partnered with local organizations to invest in ecologically sound flood mitigation techniques such as rain barrels, rain gardens, permeable asphalt, and small-scale green infrastructure.

Caption: My office’s third annual rain barrel distribution this past June on Kensington Plaza. We distributed 100 rain barrels to our neighbors to help conserve water usage at home.

Join Us for a Flooding Town Hall!

To hear directly from our neighbors about their flooding experiences and the solutions they’d like to see in the district, I’m excited to co-host a conversation with Forth on Fourth Avenue (FOFA), The City Sponge, Gowanus Canal Conservancy, and the Park Slope Civic Council. Join us on Tuesday, October 1st, at 6 PM at the Park Slope Library (431 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215).

We’ll discuss water movement in our district, city-wide flood mitigation efforts, and how residents can prepare for the increasing frequency of flooding, featuring insights from experts at the Department of Environmental Protection and NYC Emergency Management. There are only a few spots left, and seating is limited, so be sure to register here ([link removed]) to join us!

Constituent Services Corner

Last week, I had the chance to meet with constituents on 10th Street in Park Slope who are working together to address the flooding and sewage backup issues we face after each rainfall. It was inspiring to connect with Field Form's ([link removed]) Flood Club ([link removed]) , a local initiative dedicated to flood mitigation. They’re collaborating with residents to implement actionable strategies to reduce flood risk. Check out their flood risk tool ([link removed]) to learn more about the specific flood risks for your block!

Columbia Waterfront Concrete Dust Pollution

On Friday, I sent a letter, co-authored with State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, and Brooklyn Community Board 6, urging the DOT to take immediate action to reduce dust pollution at the Columbia Waterfront Concrete Recycling Facility and improve transparency with local residents. You can read the full letter here ([link removed]) and see coverage from Brooklyn Paper here ([link removed]) .

On the Police Shooting at Sutter Avenue

I am heartbroken by the police shooting at Sutter Avenue last Sunday, which left four people injured. Since we released our statement, the police body camera footage has been made public. In response, the Council’s Progressive Caucus, which I co-chair, has issued the following statement:

“We hope for the full and speedy recovery of everyone injured. No one should ever be shot over a $2.90 subway fare, nor should anyone feel that riding the subway could endanger their life. Officers, whether responding to fare evasion or a mental health crisis, must have the training, restraint, and judgment to avoid using excessive force in crowded subway stations. At the time of the alleged fare evasion, the officers were only aware of the fare evasion itself, not of the individual’s history, and using that history as a justification for excessive force is nothing more than scapegoating.

Yesterday’s shooting represents a serious failure in judgment by the NYPD officers involved, and the Mayor’s praise for their actions is deeply insulting to the millions of subway riders and workers across the five boroughs. There is nothing commendable about recklessly endangering civilians or other officers. The Mayor’s assertion that increasing police presence equates to greater public safety is flawed and jeopardizes lives. New Yorkers deserve a police force that acts with greater responsibility and a Mayor who prioritizes their safety and well-being.

We call for full accountability and the immediate release of body camera footage.”

Community Bulletin
* Kick off Climate Week with the NYC Bird Alliance’s Young Conservationists to learn about fall bird migrants in Prospect Park on Monday, 9/23, at 7:30 AM! Registration ([link removed]) is encouraged. Explore more Climate Week events here ([link removed]) .
* PS 133's Fall Native Plant Sale and Rummage Sale: Don’t miss the sale on Saturday, 9/28, from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Garden of Wonder, located at 389 Butler Street.
* In April, New York State passed the Good Cause Eviction Law ([link removed]) , protecting certain tenants from evictions due to excessive rent increases. Join us on Monday, 9/30, at 6 PM at the Central Library to learn more about these protections.
* Sign up here ([link removed]) to join a Rat Walk starting at Dome Playground in Kensington on Tuesday, 10/8, at 5:30 PM. Discover the connections between the built environment, human behaviors, and rat biology.
* The affordable housing lottery for 420 Carroll Street is now open! To apply, visit the listing on New York City’s Housing Connect website ([link removed]) before the 10/28 deadline.
* We Are All Brooklyn Fellowship Against Hate is now accepting applications! This six-month program equips community leaders to combat hate in their neighborhoods. Fellows will receive seed funding to create initiatives that foster meaningful connections across communities. Apply ([link removed]) by 11/30!

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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