Dear  John,

Reader Note: This past weekend, we encountered some technical difficulties with Mailchimp that stopped us from sending the newsletter at our usual time (Sunday at 5 PM). We expect to return to our regular schedule this Sunday!

March is Women’s History Month—a time to honor the trailblazing women who have led the fight for gender equity. Unfortunately, trans women have often been excluded from this recognition. As we celebrate, we must also confront the increasing threats to bodily autonomy and trans rights, both nationally and right here in New York City.

Trump’s harmful trans-erasure agenda has revived efforts to strip away fundamental rights, empower transphobes, and infiltrate our institutions. Just last month, NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and other healthcare providers began denying gender-affirming care, directly harming trans youth in New York—some of whom are my constituents. I was proud to join a chorus of elected officials in denouncing this blatant medical discrimination under New York State law. We reaffirmed our commitment to being a beacon of queer resilience, ensuring that District 39—home to Brooklyn Pride, the Lesbian History Archives, and a vibrant LGBTQ+ community— will always stand with our trans siblings.

In these challenging times, we’re using every tool at our disposal to protect New York City as a place of safety and dignity. My team and I have been organizing, legislating, and fortifying our city against these threats. Last month, we hosted Light the Way BK, a community town hall that united neighbors to oppose the extreme policies and political intimidation of the federal administration.

The AFFIRM Act

At the last City Council Stated meeting, I co-introduced a package of seven bills with my colleagues in the LGBTQIA+ Caucus aimed at defending and expanding support for TGNCNBI New Yorkers. This comprehensive package includes measures to strengthen outreach and legal resources for TGNCNBI individuals, assist TGNCNBI migrants, and establish a health agenda for TGNCNBI individuals. It also includes four resolutions urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the New York Health Information Privacy Act, calling on the State Health Department to enforce the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care 8, and pushing for legislation to prevent out-of-state access to New York’s prescription monitoring program for abortion medicine, hormone therapy, or puberty blockers.

My bill, Intro 1201, the AFFIRM Act, was crafted in partnership with LGBTQIA+ advocates. The AFFIRM Act would extend legal protections granted to reproductive health clinics to gender-affirming care facilities. In the 1990s and 2000s, the City Council passed the Clinic Access Law in response to violent protests at reproductive health clinics. This law has been a vital tool in protecting patients and providers from harassment and obstruction. The AFFIRM Act aims to provide similar protections to gender-affirming care facilities by making it illegal to:

• Physically block a person from entering a facility providing gender-affirming care

• Follow or harass a person within 15 feet of the entrance of a facility

• Damage or disrupt the operation of a gender-affirming care facility

Additionally, the AFFIRM Act will amend Local Law 76 of 2022, which I passed, ensuring that individuals wrongfully denied access to gender-affirming care—whether physically or through lawsuits—have a private right of action under New York City law.

The bill was heard in the Women and Gender Equity Committee at the end of February, where dozens of community-based organizations and several District 39 constituents testified in support. You can check out my opening statement and some of my questions from the hearing. My team and I are now collaborating with experts and trans-led organizations to strengthen the bill before it progresses through the legislative process.

The recent actions of the Trump Administration and the shameful compliance of certain healthcare providers are unconscionable. Trans healthcare is not just important—it’s essential. I am proud to join my colleagues in the fight to ensure that New York City remains a safe place for our trans siblings to access life-saving medical services.

Last week, the City Council began its preliminary budget hearings. As we move further into the FY26 budget cycle, I will be advocating for prioritized and increased funding for trans-led advocacy groups that provide life-saving support to our community.

Caption: Council Member Shahana and Chair Farah Louis at the Women and Gender Equity Committee Hearing on Friday, 2/28/2025.

Attend the Gender Expansive Families Propaganda Party in District 39!

I’m excited to highlight a wonderful opportunity to organize around transgender rights in our district. On Sunday, March 23rd, from 12 PM to 5 PM, Parents of Gender Expansive Kids (POGEK) at PS 39, in collaboration with the Interference Archive, the PS 39 Parent Association, and Brooklyn, Inc., will host the Gender Expansive Families Propaganda Party. This event will be a collaborative effort to show support and solidarity by creating art—such as posters, buttons, t-shirts, zines, and more—specifically for Trans Day of Visibility events.

The Tip Theft Prevention Act

Last month, I was also proud to introduce Intro 1182, the Tip Theft Prevention Act, which would require employers to provide workers with daily reports detailing the tips customers have issued. This essential transparency measure ensures that workers receive every penny they’ve earned. This legislation was born out of concerns raised by workers at a local establishment in our district, who reported that their employer was stealing tips made via credit and debit cards. As my Constituent Services team investigated, we discovered that this wasn’t an isolated incident but part of a growing, industry-wide exacerbated by the rise of digital payments and tipping platforms. In response, we partnered with One Fair Wage, Workers United, and other labor organizations to craft this legislative solution.

The Tip Theft Prevention Act also addresses illegal union-busting tactics recently used by Starbucks in New York City. In an effort to discourage workers from organizing, Starbucks introduced card tipping at all non-union stores nationwide, while simultaneously removing the option to tip by card at unionized stores. This move deliberately harmed the take-home pay of unionized baristas. After facing pressure from Starbucks Workers United, Starbucks rescinded the policy. The Tip Theft Prevention Act would outlaw this tactic by requiring that any business employing tipped workers and accepting card payments for food and drink must also accept tips via card. This legislation is a crucial step toward combating wage theft, illegal union-busting practices, and workplace exploitation. I’m looking forward to seeing the bill heard in committee soon.

We have more exciting legislative updates coming, so be sure to stay tuned for next week’s newsletter to learn more about how we’re advocating for transformative change in our city.

Community Bulletin

• My office, in partnership with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, is hosting a virtual presentation on Monday, 3/10, at 6 PM on how to access NYC’s Free Tax Prep options. RSVP and Zoom details will be shared in next week’s newsletter.

• As we approach Participatory Budgeting Vote Week at the end of this month, we need volunteers to help us get the vote out. Fill out this form to volunteer at a poll site.

• The NYC Health Department is now issuing Green Cart permits in Brooklyn, allowing vendors to sell fresh produce, bottled water, and plain nuts. To apply, vendors must hold a valid Mobile Food Vending License and submit the Green Cart Waiting List Application at nyc.gov/greencarts. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

• Join FluturaEffect, Kensington's Teen Climate Action team) for their next cleanup at Kensington Plaza on Sunday, 3/16, from 2 PM to 4 PM! Supplies and snacks are provided, so just bring yourself and a friend. Email [email protected] with any questions!

• Construction on the handball courts and a portion of the multipurpose play area at Greenwood Playground will begin the week of 3/17 and take roughly one year to complete. Learn more about the construction design and the proposed timeline here.

In Solidarity,

Council Member Shahana