A Look Back at 2024

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Dear John,

As 2024 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the New Year, or simply enjoying the season, I’m sending you warm wishes for peace, joy, and good health.

Looking back on the year, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. From ranking #10 in affordable housing across NYC to having the honor of throwing the opening pitch at a Cyclones game, these milestones wouldn’t have been possible without your valuable feedback, collaboration, and unwavering support. I’m excited to build on these successes and continue delivering for our community in 2025.

Please Note: My office will be closed for the holidays from Tuesday, December 24th through Wednesday, January 1st. We will reopen for constituent services and appointments on Thursday, January 2nd. We’ll also be pausing our newsletters until 2025. If you have an urgent matter during this time, please reach out to our Chief of Staff, Matt Malloy, at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Now, let’s review 2024! Here are just 39 of the many highlights:
1. Over 900 Cases Opened: My dedicated constituent services team opened more than 900 cases this year, addressing issues ranging from flooding to street safety. We’ve successfully closed 70% of these cases so far! Despite the slower response times caused by Mayor Adams’ budget cuts, my team continues to step in, helping to expedite resolutions.
2. Expanded Team: We’ve grown our constituent services team to better meet the needs of our district, ensuring we can provide the support our community deserves.
3. 55 Events Hosted: From our IDNYC Enrollment Event to Fair Fares Registration, we hosted 55 events throughout the year, enrolling many neighbors in these vital programs.
4. Rain Barrel Giveaway: We distributed 100 rain barrels to help neighbors save money on their water bills and protect local waterways! This small effort has a big impact on both our community’s pocketbooks and the environment.
5. Community Flooding Forum: In collaboration with Forth on Fourth Avenue, The City Sponge, Gowanus Canal Conservancy, and the Park Slope Civic Council, we co-hosted a community discussion on flooding and mitigation efforts, engaging homeowners and renters and strengthening our district’s flood resilience.
6. Restored B61 Bus Stop: After hearing concerns from constituents, we successfully advocated for a temporary bus stop at 5th Avenue and 9th Street. The stop had been removed due to the construction of the DII Department Store. Once construction is complete, the original stop will be reinstated.
7. Food Distribution Efforts: In collaboration with CHiPS, we hosted 10 food distributions on Kensington Plaza, providing food to 1,375 households to help combat food insecurity in our community.
8. Holiday Pie Distribution for Families Facing Gas Shutdowns: Nearly 40 families at Gowanus Houses are facing gas line shutdowns. My team stepped in to secure supplemental food resources with City Meals on Wheels, CHiPS, and People In Need and hosted a special pie giveaway in partnership with the Fifth Avenue Committee and Four & Twenty Blackbirds for affected families this holiday season.
9. Street Safety Advocacy: Prioritizing street safety, we championed universal daylighting and successfully daylighted five intersections ([link removed]) in our district. Additionally, we submitted 170 more intersections to the Department of Transportation for review to prevent traffic crashes and improve pedestrian safety.
10. Back-to-School Support: We distributed nearly 1,500 free backpacks and school supplies to help students gear up for the 2024-2025 school year.
11. Brooklyn PTA Fun Run: Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised over $18,000 (that’s $3,000 more than last year!) at the 16th annual Brooklyn PTA Fun Run. The funds will go to Title I schools, where over 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
12. Coolest Street in NYC: Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue was named the Coolest Street in New York City by TimeOut New York Magazine ([link removed]) . To celebrate, I had the honor of throwing the opening pitch at the Brooklyn Cyclones game before Labor Day.
13. Washington Park Dog Run: After a year of construction, the Washington Park Dog Run at 4th Avenue and 3rd Street is officially complete and open for all of our furry friends!
14. Family Days at NYCHA Developments: My office co-hosted our first Annual Family Days at Wyckoff Gardens, Gowanus Houses, and Warren Street Houses — three public housing developments that were added to our district this year due to redistricting.
15. School Visits: I visited over 25 schools across the district — including many new ones due to redistricting. From class visits and student government meetings to graduation ceremonies, I’m proud to support our schools and the brilliant students and educators in our community.
16. Gowanus Oversight Task Force: We successfully convened the Gowanus Oversight Task Force to monitor the implementation of the Gowanus rezoning. Thanks to a powerful partnership with Speaker Adams, State Senator Gounardes, and Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, we secured a total of $150,000 to keep the Task Force's important work going strong!
17. City of Forest Day: In honor of the third annual City of Forest Day, the Bangladeshi Ladies Club hosted their inaugural Nature Walks ([link removed]) in Prospect Park. Nature Walks is a partnership between my office and the Prospect Park Alliance, designed to bring out our immigrant neighbors together to celebrate and connect with our local green spaces.
18. Youth Leadership Council: In partnership with New York City Service ([link removed]) , my office launched the third cohort of our Youth Fellowship Program. This initiative offers young people who live and attend school in the 39th District an inside look at how city government works, fostering the next generation of civic leaders.
19. Participatory Budgeting Zine: Our Youth Fellows created our first-ever Participatory Budgeting Zine ([link removed]) , showcasing the history and impact of Participatory Budgeting, including past winning projects in our district.
20. Rat Walk with the Rat Czar: I joined Rat Czar Kathy Corrado and Kensington Residents for a Rat Walk to better understand NYC’s rat crisis and explore strategies for rat mitigation.
21. Bike Infrastructure Conversation: I participated in a productive community discussion at the Secret Garden, where we explored bike infrastructure needs in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens with Transportation Alternatives.
22. Lupus Awareness Month: I participated in my first Lupus Day of Action this past May after the passage of my Resolution 550 ([link removed]) in 2023, which designates May as Lupus Awareness Month in NYC.
23. Park Slope Oral Histories: I allocated $5,000 to record and document the oral histories of the Park Slope Old Timers ([link removed]) , preserving the rich history and stories of our community for future generations.
24. Prospect Park Improvements: Thanks to Participatory Budgeting, we funded the new adult fitness area and Harmony Playground improvements in Prospect Park, which officially opened this past summer!
25. Produce Distribution with Gowanus Mutual Aid: In partnership with Gowanus Mutual Aid, we distributed over 30,000 pounds of fresh, locally sourced produce to public housing residents in our district, helping address food insecurity.
26. $13 Million in Capital Investments: I’m proud to have secured over $13 million in capital investments across the district: $3 million for school infrastructure, $4.5 million for community facilities, and $6 million in collaboration with Speaker Adams to fund a 100% affordable housing development in Gowanus.
27. Affordable Housing Milestone: Our district ranked #10 citywide for affordable housing construction out of 51 City Council districts. I’m committed to expanding affordable housing in our city.
28. Affordable Homeownership Advocacy: As Progressive Caucus Chair, I played a key role in securing $140 million for the Homes Now, Homes for Generations ([link removed]) campaign, which supports affordable homeownership and the creation and preservation of affordable housing units.
29. Citywide Housing Expansion: I supported and helped pass the City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity and City for All package ([link removed]) , a landmark piece of legislation aimed at expanding housing production and creating more affordable homes. This plan includes $5 billion in affordable housing and infrastructure investments, paving the way for the construction of 80,000 new housing units over the next 15 years—surpassing the total built by the last two mayoral administrations combined.
30. Co-Chair of Task Force to Combat Hate: I was honored to be named Co-Chair of the Council’s Task Force to Combat Hate, where I hosted student roundtables to better understand how high school students are responding to incidents of bias and discrimination. The insights gathered will help shape FY 2026 legislative proposals and budget recommendations for school programs focused on addressing hate and promoting tolerance.
31. Shelter Eviction Policy Victory: We won a partial rollback of the 60-day shelter eviction policy for migrant families with children in grades K-6 ([link removed]) . This victory helps reduce street homelessness and protects newly arrived New Yorkers, particularly school-aged children.
32. Restoring Budget Cuts: My colleagues and I successfully fought to restore funding in the FY 2025 budget for weekend library services and cultural institutions that were slated for cuts by Mayor Adams.
33. Fighting Solitary Confinement in City Jails: In a major stand for justice, the City Council overrode Mayor Adams’ veto to ban solitary confinement in city jails. While the Mayor blocked the law with an emergency executive order ([link removed]) just before it went into effect, the City Council responded by filing a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of the State of New York to challenge and fight back against this abuse of power.
34. Passage of the How Many Stops Act: The City Council successfully overrode Mayor Adams’ veto of the How Many Stops Act, which officially went into effect in July. This new law increases transparency regarding civilian stops conducted by the NYPD, ensuring greater accountability.
35. Domestic Violence Survivor Support: Local Law 45 ([link removed]) , which I proudly authored, establishes a free lock and window change program for survivors of domestic violence, helping them feel safer and more secure in their homes.
36. Worker Protection Legislation: The City enacted Local Law 161 ([link removed].) , which requires employers to distribute and display a Worker Bill of Rights. This law ensures that all workers are informed about their key labor protections, empowering them to stand up for their rights.
37. Promoting Religious Diversity in Schools: We passed Resolution 95 ([link removed]) , a critical step in creating more inclusive and safe school communities. This resolution champions the incorporation of religious diversity education in public schools, fostering greater understanding and respect across our neighborhoods.
38. Supporting MENA Businesses: I introduced a bill to require NYC to study the representation of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) businesses in city contracts. If these businesses are found to be underrepresented, the bill would make them eligible for the M/WBE (Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises) program, helping to level the playing field for diverse entrepreneurs.
39. Universal Residential Composting: Local Law 85, which I authored and mandates Universal Residential Composting, was officially implemented in all five boroughs as of October 2024.

In Solidarity,

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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