Dear John,

Beat the Heat

Brooklyn, it’s hot out there! Stay safe by visiting one of the City’s cooling centers—you can find a full map and operating hours here. You’ll also see a list of spray showers in local parks to help you and your family cool off.

Helping Neighbors Get IDNYC

Our IDNYC mobile enrollment van event this past Friday was a great success! We helped 55 constituents apply for municipal ID cards. Thank you to the Department of Social Services (DSS) for partnering with us to make this possible.

Brooklyn Marine Terminal Vision Plan Vote Postponed, Again

The Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force was scheduled to vote on the proposed Vision Plan last Thursday, July 17—but the vote was once again postponed. Had the vote taken place, I would have voted no.

The vote is now rescheduled for Thursday, July 24, and my position remains unchanged. I will vote no, while remaining fully committed to negotiating a plan that meaningfully addresses the longstanding issues facing the neighborhoods impacted—especially the Columbia Waterfront, which I represent.

Just this month, after sustained community advocacy, the City finally announced the upcoming closure of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Concrete Recycling Facility—an urgent demand from Columbia Waterfront residents since February 2024. Chronic dust, poor air quality, disruptive construction noise, and a lack of government responsiveness have severely eroded community trust in the BMT process.

The BMT Vision Plan aims to modernize the port and repair the pier, funded in part by market-rate housing. Our collective advocacy has already secured a commitment that 40% of the 6,000 new housing units—2,400 units—will be permanently below market-rate. But as a legislator who strongly supports building more housing across the city, I believe we cannot move forward with such an ambitious proposal in an environmental justice community and transit desert without significantly more planning, transparency, and engagement.

I’m eager to get to a yes—and I believe we can get there. But key concerns must be addressed first, including securing the following:

• Robust transportation and climate resiliency planning;

• Strong displacement protections, especially as construction will span the next decade and beyond; and

• A real commitment to preserving Brooklyn’s last large-scale industrial waterfront, including safeguarding and expanding maritime and industrial jobs.

  
  

I urge EDC and the Task Force to take the summer to meaningfully revise this plan and bring it to a vote in the fall. Rushing to meet arbitrary deadlines has only deepened community mistrust. Our neighborhoods deserve a plan rooted in their needs and vision for a more just and sustainable future—and our city deserves a Harbor of the Future that’s truly built to last.

Community Bulletin

Last week, my bill, Local Law 91 of 2025, became law after Mayor Adams allowed it to lapse unsigned.

This law mandates the Department of Correction (DOC) to:

• Provide training to all uniformed staff on using opioid antagonists like Narcan;

• Make that training available to incarcerated individuals;

• Stock opioid reversal kits in housing units and offer them upon release; and

• Report on related data annually.

  
  

The law goes into effect on October 9th.

This will save lives. Since 2022, 41 people have died in or after DOC custody—at least 10 due to overdoses. Just this month, two people died within 24 hours in DOC facilities. These tragedies are preventable. I call on the DOC to act swiftly and implement this law without delay.

Community Bulletin

• Our District Office is serving as a drop-off site for Camp Friendship’s school supply drive! Drop off any backpacks, pencils, pens, erasers, folders, sharpeners, notebooks, binders, paper, rulers, markers, crayons, scissors, and glue sticks at 197 Bond Street between 10 AM and 4 PM from Monday through Thursday from now until August 21st. See more info and other drop-off locations here.

• Looking for affordable childcare? Check out University Settlement’s new tool here to see what seats are available near you.

• Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest is hosting a Minority Health Awareness Month panel on Wednesday, July 30th at 6 PM at the Central Library. Learn more here.

• The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Laborers, Local Union #731, will conduct a recruitment from July 21, 2025, through August 1, 2025, for 50 Skilled Construction Craft Laborer apprentices. Apply here as soon as you’re able—only 300 applications will be issued.

• Our Office will be hosting a backpack giveaway on Friday, August 22 from 11 AM to 3 PM at PS 179 in conjunction with the Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA), Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), and the NYPD’s 66th Precinct. See details here.

  
  

In solidarity,

Council Member Shahana