BMT Plan, Community Events, & Policy Updates

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well and that you are taking some time to enjoy the summer!

Last night’s tragic mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan claimed the lives of four New Yorkers, including an off-duty uniformed Police Officer, Didarul Islam, and left another seriously injured. While authorities continue to investigate, the fact that a gunman was able to enter an office building obviously armed with an assault weapon, and carry out such violence is extremely disturbing. I am deeply grateful to the first responders who rushed to the scene and acted swiftly. My heart is with the victims, their families, and all those affected.

There was also a fire in a Brooklyn Heights office building yesterday. I want to thank the FDNY and emergency responders for their quick response. Thanks to their efforts, the fire was quickly brought under control with only minor injuries.

In addition to the devastating events at home, I have been deeply heartbroken by the humanitarian catastrophe that has been unfolding in Gaza. The scale of suffering, especially the mass starvation and continued obstruction of aid, is unconscionable. That’s why I joined a coalition of state leaders in signing onto a letter led by Attorney General Tish James calling for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian assistance.

As the letter states, “[w]e know that this conflict is complex. But compassion is not. The suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, the fear in Israel, and the grief in families across the region all speak to a common truth: every life is sacred. Every child deserves a future. And we, as people of conscience, have a duty to act.”

As a state legislator, I have little influence on foreign policy. Those decisions are made at the federal level. I encourage you to contact your federal representatives to demand urgent action.

As you may be aware, my office in Carroll Gardens is currently closed due to construction in the building. Staff are temporarily working in the district at a local site and we are still able to assist you by phone or by email: 718-246-4889, [email protected]. We hope to be back in the office soon and will keep you posted.

You can still meet with us in person at our upcoming constituent service events. Come by and chat with my team at walk-in office hours in libraries across the district. We can help you navigate benefits, connect with various government agencies, or help you with questions about local issues. Please stop by and say hello!

Update on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT). New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has been working on a redevelopment plan for the BMT for nearly a year now. I am one of 25 voting members of the BMT Task Force, established to help EDC develop a proposal that various stakeholders could agree on. Unfortunately, consensus on a plan has yet to happen. Last week, the Task Force Leadership postponed the vote on the BMT proposal. The vote has been postponed 5 times for a variety of reasons, mostly at the behest of the EDC. However, I believe that this postponement was different.

It is clear that the Task Force could not come to an agreement on EDC’s current proposal and that a vote would have failed. Right now, there is no meeting set for another vote so as to give everyone time to regroup, and for real community engagement to occur while we await critical data necessary to evaluate impacts of various aspects of the current proposal which should help us all revise our vision and plans for the site. I am hopeful that EDC also takes this time to understand that we need a new proposal, a new process, and real community engagement.

Turning the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a “harbor of the future” requires more than a slogan; it requires a real plan. Please read my op-ed in the Brooklyn Eagle, where I discuss my concerns with the current BMT proposed plan. In short, EDC’s current plan lacks meaningful solutions to serious issues—transportation impacts, water and sewer and infrastructure capacity, disruption to existing businesses, and the perils of building on the waterfront in a flood zone. The absence of transportation and sewer studies to assess the proposal's impacts and the lack of data to support the feasibility of the project is alarming. The proposal does not fulfill the salient goal of transforming the BMT into “a harbor of the future” with manufacturing jobs and robust maritime opportunities. The communities deserve better—and I will keep fighting until they get it.

I received several hundred calls and emails asking for a no vote (and a handful of requests to support the plan) so that a better plan can be formulated – one that takes into account the public’s concerns and is based on the realities of the built environment of the BMT. Throughout this entire process, community members attended planning sessions, rallies, and meetings. I want to acknowledge the time you have devoted to this process and your dedication to supporting your community.

I will be reaching out in the near future as we seek to work more closely with the community and figure out our next steps.

Older Adult Resources. I recently hosted my Older Adult Resource Fair, which allowed community members to connect with amazing vendors. If you missed the fair or would like to learn more about the organizations in attendance, please view this document, which lists the organizations, along with a brief description of their services and contact information. Contact us if you would like us to mail you a print-out of the resource document. If you are an older adult, a caretaker, or a neighbor in need of connections to any resources, please reach out to my office and we will assist you.

Older Adult Resource Spotlight: JASA.Throughout the year, I will be highlighting the organizations that participated in my older adult resource fair. JASA is a leading agency serving older adults in New York City. They offer a range of support services and interventions that promote aging with purpose and autonomy. JASA operates 12 affordable housing properties and is a licensed home care agency. Their services include home delivered meals, social programming, training on elder abuse, and peer health support. You can contact them by calling 212-273-5200.

Temporary Library Services Back in Carroll Gardens! The new Carroll Gardens pop-up library is located at 250 Baltic Street and is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1 - 5pm, Thursdays from 3 - 7pm, and Fridays from 10am - 2pm. You can sign up for a library card, browse and checkout books, place holds, and return materials.

Over 100 people visited the pop-up library the first day it opened - in the dead of summer - reflecting just how much the community loves our libraries!

I'm proud to partner with the Brooklyn Public Library, Friends of Carroll Gardens Library, DCAS, Community Board 6, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Council Member Shahana Hanif to bring the pop-up library to this site while the permanent Carroll Gardens Library undergoes needed renovations. I was able to secure $10,000 in state funds for the temporary library, along with financial support from my colleagues.

Recognizing Disability Pride Month. I had a wonderful time last week celebrating Brooklyn Disability Pride, a time for the community to come together. Thank you to the organizer Disability Unite for always spreading strength, resilience, and joy. Thank you to Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for hosting! As we mark the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we must also recognize that disability rights are under threat. The current administration is taking away the fundamental rights of people with disabilities, and we must mobilize and speak out, now more than ever.

The Concrete Facility in Columbia Street Waterfront is closing! After over a year of community advocacy, I’m relieved that the City is finally acting on the promised relocation of the Columbia Street Waterfront concrete recycling facility to an alternative non-residential site. This will bring long overdue relief to neighbors who have endured toxic dust, excessive noise, and truck traffic. This should have never happened in the first place – and it certainly shouldn’t have taken this long to move the facility.

It was disappointing that the Mayor noted that the closure “...comes in response to ongoing concerns raised during the public engagement around the redevelopment plans for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal,” because I had joined the community and local electeds to make the Mayor and City DOT aware of these issues long before the BMT redevelopment started.

Thank you to the community for never letting up and for their relentless organizing, and to my fellow elected officials for working together to make this change a reality.

Cadman Towers in Brooklyn Heights: Apply by Sept. 22. This is an HDFC co-op providing middle-income New Yorkers and their families with quality, affordable homeownership. They currently have a housing lottery available for 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units. Estimated sales prices vary, with 1-bedroom units available for as low as $169,000. Eligible buyers must have 10% of the purchase price available for down payment. See the Cadman Towers website for details and apply for the lottery through the City’s Housing Connect website here.

88 Schermerhorn Street in Downtown Brooklyn: Apply by August 8. This is a 20-story mixed-use building with one-bedroom units available for households with incomes ranging from $125,520 to $189,540. The rent for these units would be $3,661/month. Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. See details here.

150 Lawrence Street in Downtown Brooklyn: Apply by August 25. This includes housing options ranging from Studio apartments to two-bedroom units for people earning an annual salary between $73,749 and $140k. See details here.

Atlantic Yards: BrooklynSpeaks, the coalition of community organizations that I was a founding member of, which was created to hold the City and State accountable for the promises made during the Atlantic Yards redevelopment, has put out a petition for the public to call on Governor Hochul to uphold the state’s commitment to liquidated damages for missing the Atlantic Yards affordable housing deadline. Along with a group of local electeds, I sent a letter to the governor calling for just that a month ago. You can sign on here.

DEC Meeting on Gowanus Citizens MGP Site, Tues, July 29, 7pm. NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites you to a public meeting to discuss the proposed cleanup plan for the Citizens MGP site, on Tuesday, July 29, at 7 PM, at P.S. 372 Recreation Center, 219 1st Street, Brooklyn. This is a highly polluted site with affordable housing and a school slated to go right next to it, so it’s important that we get this right.

DEC has issued a Brownfield Cleanup public comment notice for this site (459 Smith Street, Site ID #C224012B). The deadline to submit comments is August 19. For more details about the site, visit this website.

Gowanus Oversight Task Force Meeting, July 31. The Task Force will be meeting for its ninth quarterly public update meeting this Thursday, July 31st, at 6pm at P.S. 133 (610 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY). During the meeting, you will receive updates on the progress of all 56 City Commitments and priorities moving forward. More details here.

Summer EBT Food Benefits. This is a federal program that provides income eligible families with grocery money during the summer when kids might not have access to school meals. Each eligible child will receive $120 via a one-time payment on an EBT card. Children who receive SNAP and/or TANF cash benefits, or are directly certified for free meals through Medicaid will automatically receive Summer EBT benefits. Students who attend schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and have household incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty level will qualify for Summer EBT benefits.

Free Museum Membership: New Yorkers who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are now eligible to receive a complimentary Discoverer Membership to the American Museum of Natural History. You can sign up for a free membership by presenting your EBT card at the Museum Member Desk between 10:00 am and 4:30 pm. A representative will assist you in enrolling, and you will receive a digital membership card.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, created in honor of mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, who championed mental health equity for communities of color. Campbell understood that mental health isn’t just about individuals but about creating a culture of care. But in many marginalized communities, mental health challenges have long been silenced by stigma and lack of access.

Let’s break the silence, reduce stigma, and ensure every community has access to support. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available: Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

Organizations like NAMI New York State, NAMI-NYC and Mental Health America are working to change the conversation by tailoring mental health education and programs that reflect the experiences of communities often left out of traditional mental health care:

On Wednesday, July 30th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, I will be joining the Treatment Court Expansion Act coalition, NAMI, and the NAACP for a panel titled ‘Shadows on the System.’ This panel will commemorate Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and will focus on the history of stigma and racism in our mental healthcare system and how it has led to the criminalization of Black and Brown New Yorkers. RSVP to attend either in person at the Brooklyn Public Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza.

The MELT Act (A8908): I was glad to join Assemblymember Tony Simone and other elected officials to announce the introduction of the MELT Act, which would ban ICE from wearing face coverings to conceal their identities. ICE is hiding behind masks while terrorizing our communities, and no law enforcement officer should be allowed to act with impunity. This bill will ensure that ICE and all those who have the power to enforce our laws are held accountable to the people.

Legislative Updates: I have several bills that will need to be signed by the Governor by the end of the year in order for them to become law. I will be working to ensure her office knows the significance of these legislative initiatives.

LICH Hospital Closure Act: I am delighted that we once again passed my Local Input in Community Healthcare (LICH) Act in both houses. This significant piece of legislation requires public notice and public engagement when a hospital or vital unit seeks to close and would strengthen the state's review of proposed closings. Governor Hochul vetoed the bill last year, and I’m hopeful she will sign it this year given the major federal cuts to health care and the continuing increase in closures.

According to the Community Service Society of NY, from 1997 to 2024, 53 short-term acute care hospitals out of over 200 in New York State closed, including 20 in New York City alone, costing the state approximately 8,000 hospital beds or 16% of all hospital beds. When accounting for the downsizing and closures of specialized hospitals, the number of beds lost between 2000 and 2020 rises to 20,000. Several psychiatric beds that were closed early in the Covid-19 pandemic have not been restored. We need this bill now more than ever.

Protecting Essential Pollinators: I also passed a bill to ensure that the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation preserves the habitats of monarch butterflies, whose population has sharply declined. They are essential pollinators and help ecosystems thrive. In addition, I passed a bill - already signed by the Governor and enacted into law - that makes it legal to accept water and snacks while waiting in line at poll sites.

100 ft-rule to Save New Yorkers Money on Utility Bills. I am also thrilled to announce the passage of my bill that repeals the expensive, outdated 100-foot rule subsidy, which requires utility companies to raise New Yorkers’ energy bills to pay for the expansion of fracked gas infrastructure. Repealing the 100-foot rule subsidy removes the mandate that utility customers pay for the cost of new hookups to the gas system. The bill is the most significant legislation passed this year to address New York’s energy affordability crisis and will save New Yorkers nearly $200 million every year. Thankfully, the Senate and Assembly delivered on it and now, the Governor can finish the job by signing the bill into law.

As you may be aware, one of my major initiatives this year was a bill to reduce your utility bills, the NY HEAT Act (NY Home Energy Assistance Transition Act). Even after making several compromises and drafting a new bill based on feedback and discussions within the Assembly Democratic Conference, the bill did not make it to the Assembly floor for a vote. The fracking industry was relentless in their opposition and spent large sums of money to spread misinformation about both the NY HEAT Act and the new bill.

With the Trump administration’s recent budget bill repealing most of Biden’s clean energy tax credits for solar, wind, and electric vehicles, New York and every other state are expected to see an increase in energy costs. This is on top of rate increases that we’ve already been experiencing. I recently testified before the NYS Department of Public Service to oppose Con Edison's current massive 11-13% proposed rate hike. This hike will deepen the affordability crisis, burden working families and keep NY tied to costly, polluting fossil fuels. If you would like to provide comments on the proposed rate changes you can do so until November 21st, learn more here.

G Train Summer Work. The MTA is continuing their signal modernization on the G Line. This will require some weekday overnight and weekend outages through August 18th. Free shuttle buses will run during these outages. There will be no G service between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs. A fare free shuttle bus service will operate between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs making all local stops, running every 3-4 minutes. G service will continue to operate between Church Ave and Bedford-Nostrand Avs. Please see dates here.

Bus Lane Automated Camera Enforcement is now in effect. This is a bus-mounted camera system that issues violations to vehicles occupying bus lanes, to vehicles parked illegally along bus routes, and to vehicles blocking bus stops. The program is administered in partnership between the MTA, the NYC Department of Finance, and the NYC Department of Transportation. Learn more here.

High Street Station Elevator Construction: Crews have started to install a water pipe along Cadman Plaza West as part of the High Street Station escalator replacement work. Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A 20-foot staging area will be set up along the sidewalk and part of the right lane, with two lanes of traffic remaining open. At least five feet of pedestrian access and a 50-foot clearance for the bus stop will be maintained. The staging area will be in place through the fourth quarter of 2025.

NYC Ferry: Is collecting feedback to shape the future of ferry service. They are looking to make your ride faster, better connected, and to create a more operationally efficient service. They have released preliminary route ideas and are seeking your input to shape them into a network that truly meets your needs. You have until August 1st to complete the survey.

Beat the Heat: NYC Cooling Centers. New York City opens cooling centers when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory with a forecasted heat index of 95 degrees or higher for two or more days, or 100 degrees for any period of time. You should use a cooling center during a heat wave if you have no access to a cool environment, especially if you are at risk for heat-related illness. You can locate a nearby cooling center by calling 311 or by looking through NYC’s Cool Options Map.

Summer Reading Challenge for Students. I’m sponsoring a summer reading challenge to encourage kids to read regularly during the summer break. Those who fulfill a pledge to read for at least 15 minutes a day for 20 days in August earn a New York State Assembly Excellence in Reading certificate. A great place to start your summer challenge is the public library! Download the printable summer reading challenge here or let me know if you would like to receive one in the mail (email [email protected]).