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Dear John, I wish all our Jewish neighbors in the district and across the city an easy, reflective, and meaningful fast this Yom Kippur. G'mar chatima tova to everyone celebrating! Please note that our office is closed tomorrow, Monday, 10/14, in observance of Indigenous People’s Day. You can still reach us via phone or email, and we will respond as soon as we return to the office. Additionally, trash, curbside compost, recycling collection, and alternate side parking will be suspended until Tuesday, 10/15. As the weather gets colder and the leaves begin to fall, our office is offering free leaf bags for neighbors who need them! Stop by my District Office at 197 Bond Street from next Tuesday 10/15 through Thursday 10/17, 10 AM to 5 PM, to pick some up. I’m excited to co-host Trick-or-Streets on Kensington Plaza with the Department of Transportation (DOT) next Saturday, 10/19, from 12 PM to 5 PM. Join us for a day filled with Halloween-themed music, performances, comedy, circus acts, and more!
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| | Participatory Budgeting Season is here! Did you know that District 39 was the first City Council district in New York City to launch Participatory Budgeting (PB)? Our district has been a pioneer in this groundbreaking form of direct democracy in the United States! This year marks our office’s 14th cycle of PB. Through this year-long initiative, my office allocates $1.5 million in capital funding and $50,000 in expense funding for community-driven projects and voted on by our residents.
Currently, we are in the ideas collection phase, and you can submit project proposals aimed at addressing essential improvement or the creation and expansion of programs in our community. Share your ideas on our online Ideas Map anytime between now and 11/15 or in person at our PB Open House on Saturday, 10/19, from 12 PM to 4 PM at Powerhouse Arts. This interactive event will provide an opportunity to learn more about PB, explore past winning projects, and connect with fellow community members. |
|  | These ideas are then developed over the winter, with voting kicking off in late March. Anyone aged 11 and older who lives or goes to school in District 39 can vote in this exciting process, regardless of citizenship status.
Participatory Budgeting holds a special place in my heart. I once led this initiative as a staffer at my predecessor's office. PB is not just a budgeting tool; it’s one way our office is elevating community priorities, fostering civic engagement, and building a healthier and safer district.
If you’re interested in getting more involved with PB, consider becoming a PB Delegate by attending our Volunteer Orientation at the Van Alen Institute on Wednesday, 10/24, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Please fill out this form to RSVP and express your interest in volunteering. PB Delegates will help transform ideas into ballot proposals for this cycle. I look forward to connecting with many of you throughout the PB process and seeing what ideas make the ballot this year!
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| | Sammy’s Law Implemented on Prospect Park West This week marks a significant step for street safety in our district! The DOT has begun implementing Sammy’s Law on streets in NYC, starting with the 19-block stretch of Prospect Park West. This law, named after Sammy Cohen-Eckstein, who was tragically killed by a speeding van in 2012, allows the city to reduce speed limits to as low as 20 mph, 15 mph in school zones, and 10 mph in open/shared streets. Since taking office, I have collaborated with Families for Safe Streets, Transportation Alternatives, and numerous other street safety advocates to urgently push for the passage of Sammy's Law. This life-saving measure will help make our streets safer for everyone.
My office has received many concerns about dangerous intersections and reckless truck driving on Prospect Park West. This new speed limit regulation will help prevent further traffic fatalities in our city.
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| | Washington Park Dog Run is Officially Open After a year of construction, the Washington Park Dog Run at 4th Avenue and 3rd Street is complete and officially open! I had the joy of visiting the new space with some four-legged friends and Commissioner Maher. A huge thank you to the Parks Department for making this project a reality. I’m absolutely paws-itively thrilled to see the projects my office prioritized funding come to fruition!
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| | | Constituent Services Corner Since construction began on the DII Department Store at 5th Avenue and 9th Street in January, the Park Slope-bound B61 bus stop and bench have been removed. This is causing inconvenience to many, especially older adults and families with strollers. After hearing from constituents and advocating with the NYC DOT and MTA, we successfully reinstated a temporary bus stop. This temporary stop is now located past the original stop, closer to Rep. Goldman’s district office at 340 9th Street. I’ve spoken with bus riders who provided valuable feedback, which we will share with the DOT. |
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| | Community Bulletin Don’t miss our final neighborhood tree stewardship event of the fall, hosted in collaboration with the Fifth Avenue BID, Old Stone House, and Big Reuse on Saturday, 10/19, from 9 AM to 11 AM. We’ll meet at 4th Street and 5th Avenue to clean, care for, and add mulch to street tree beds. All supplies, tools, and guidance will be provided on-site. Our office’s annual Fun Run is on Saturday, 10/26, at 9 AM! Whether you're a seasoned runner or just enjoy walks in the park, build your team for the 16th Annual Fun Run and register today to support our Brooklyn school communities! If you or someone you know faces financial barriers to participation, please contact Mia Perez, Education Director, at [email protected]. Have questions about Local Law 97? Join our virtual information session on Monday, 10/28, at 6 PM to 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]. Speak with a tenants' rights lawyer and a tenant organizer for free about problems with your apartment and landlord at Tenant Q&A Time at Central Library, Info Commons, Room 5 on Tuesday, 10/15, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. It’s Heat Season! From now until May 31, NYC building owners are legally required to maintain sufficient heat in their homes. When it’s 55° outside, it must be at least 68° indoors between 6 AM and 10 PM and at least 62° from 10 PM to 6 AM, regardless of outdoor temperature. If you have any issues with heat or hot water, you can report them online or by calling 311. Want to get involved with our food distribution efforts? We’re always looking for more volunteers! Fill out this form, and our office will contact you with the next steps.
In Solidarity, Council Member Shahana |
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