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Dear John,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving in the company of loved ones.

I’m grateful to share important updates from the City Council on our collective work to strengthen safety, dignity, and justice for survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. At the last Stated Meeting before the holiday, we passed two powerful bills that build on existing legal and social support frameworks that I’ve been proud to champion.

I joined my colleague, Council Member Linda Lee, to co-sponsor Intro 1216 ([link removed]) , which requires the City to provide salons with multilingual posters sharing resources for survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. Survivors often cannot disclose what they are experiencing, and many face isolation, language barriers, or strict control over their daily movements. This is especially true in immigrant and underserved neighborhoods. Salons are trusted neighborhood spaces where people feel comfortable and build real relationships. A poster in this setting can be a critical lifeline, helping someone recognize abuse, understand their options, and reach out for help.

Over 10,000 cosmetology establishments across the city will receive these materials at no cost—bringing life-saving information to thousands of New Yorkers every single day. For more information about the importance of the bill, you can read the op-ed I co-authored here ([link removed]) .

I also proudly co-sponsored another bill that passed on Tuesday, Intro 1297A ([link removed]) , which closes a loophole in the Gender-Motivated Violence Act and ensures that survivors can hold institutions that ignored, enabled, or covered-up abuse liable in civil court. This means that survivors can seek justice, accountability, and reparations from schools, hospitals, and religious institutions that perpetuated their abuse.

These victories build on years of organizing and legislation I’ve championed alongside incredible activists and organizations. Long before I joined the Council, I volunteered with Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, a frontline organization supporting South Asian women escaping and recovering from domestic violence and advancing a survivor-led gender justice movement. As Director of Organizing for former Council Member Brad Lander, I worked closely with groups like Sakhi, Sanctuary for Families, New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, New York Asian Women’s Center, and others—partnerships I’ve continued to strengthen and fund in District 39. I often helped connect women who spoke little or no English with culturally competent, multilingual services, recognizing how immigrant survivors face additional cultural, linguistic, and legal-status barriers. The New York Times highlighted one such District 39 case in 2018, including my role in providing constituent support. You can read
their coverage on this issue within the Muslim immigrant community ([link removed]) .

In March of last year, the Lock Change Law that I authored, Local Law 45 ([link removed]) , was enacted. This law codified the Home+ program ([link removed]) , which helps survivors remain safely in their homes by providing free door and window lock changes. It ensures that no survivor has to face the impossible choice between staying in an unsafe home or risking homelessness. In its first nine months, the program reached 1,182 survivors in need ([link removed]) .

As co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, I also championed and secured additional funding last year to expand Home+ to meet growing demand and ensure no one is priced out of safety. You can learn more about the vital work of Home+ staff in this video from last year’s budget campaign ([link removed]) .

Alongside this legislative work, I have also expanded funding for frontline organizations supporting survivors of gender-based and domestic violence in District 39, including groups serving immigrant women and LGBTQ youth.

Domestic and gender-based violence occurs in our most intimate and secluded spaces. We have a responsibility to support survivors and end violence with strong policy and robust resources—recognizing how abuse is intertwined with economic precarity, immigration status, language access, and homelessness. To build a feminist New York City committed to care, dignity, and safety for all New Yorkers, we must support consistent community-led, city-funded services to ensure the safety and stability of survivors.

For more than a decade, I have worked to help survivors leave abusive situations and to expand the City’s investment in frontline organizations. I will continue to push for City government to utilize every tool available to address domestic and gender-based violence and to protect the New Yorkers most at risk.

Local Land Use Community Meetings

Brooklyn Marine Terminal: Comment Period Extended!


We are proud to share that the Environmental Review scoping comment period has been extended to March 31st, 2026! This comes after sustained advocacy from community members and elected officials. Our office first emphasized this demand in our October 10th letter ([link removed]) to EDC, which resulted in an initial extension to December 11th. We’re happy to see the extension through the end of March finally won, after months of advocacy, and are grateful to the many partners who made this possible.

The next BMT In-Person Draft Scoping Hearing is on Monday, December 1st from 6 PM – 9 PM at Sacred Hearts Church at 125 Summit Street. I encourage you to attend and make your voice heard! Community input helps determine what impacts must be studied, including traffic, air quality, climate resilience, industrial operations, open space, and more. The Draft Scope of Work for an Environmental Impact Statement is viewable here ([link removed]) . You can view a recording of the most recent (November 17th) forum on YouTube ([link removed]) , as well as the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination’s presentation here ([link removed]) . You may deliver up to 3 minutes of public comment. Register using this form ([link removed]) .

Written comments are due on March 31st and may be submitted on the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation website here ([link removed]) .

Atlantic Yards Redevelopment Project Workshop #2

The Atlantic Yards Redevelopment Project Public Workshop #2 is on Monday, December 8th from 6 PM – 8 PM at Design Works High School at 29 6th Avenue. The discussion will focus on (1) Streetscape & Public Realm, (2) Sustainability & Resiliency, and (3) Community Serving Retail & Facilities. To ensure adequate space for all attendees, please register for the workshop using this form ([link removed]) .
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Lastly, we encourage you to share the project survey with your family and neighbors that were not able to attend the first workshop. The survey will remain open until 1/16/26. Fill out the survey here ([link removed]) .

Constituent Services Corner

A recent win—when 328 Smith Street was covered in graffiti, our constituent services team called the Department of Sanitation and got it speedily removed! We will continue to work daily to make District 39 cleaner and safer in ways big and small.

Community Bulletin

* Pick up free leaf bags at our office! Stop by 197 Bond Street, Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM, to grab yours.
* The Old Stone House is hosting a session of Handwriting the Constitution on Monday December 1st, from 6 – 9 PM. Handwriting the Constitution is a social art project that invites people to meet in public spaces and handwrite parts of the US Constitution, or other documents written to protect human rights and freedoms, to familiarize participants with their rights. Spots are free, sign up to reserve one here ([link removed]) .
* Thursday December 4th, from 10 AM – 1 PM is the first of Prospect Park Alliance’s weekly volunteer winter work sessions. From now through March, you can help out on any Thursday with raking, minor shoveling, litter pick up and other landscaping needs. Learn more and sign up here ([link removed]) .
* On Saturday, December 6th, NYC Runs is hosting their annual Cocoa Classic 5K in Prospect Park. The race starts at 9am, and ends with a medal and a cup of hot cocoa! Learn more and register here ([link removed]) .
* And another fun Prospect Park event—FIDO in Prospect Park is hosting their December Howl-a-Day gathering from 8 AM – 10 AM at the Prospect Park Picnic House. Join them with your dog in festive costume, there will be holiday singing, and treats for canines and humans. Full details here ([link removed]) .
* Saturday December 6th is the Old Stone House’s annual Holiday Bazaar, hosted by Brooklyn Popup. Come to Washington Park (at 4th Avenue and 3rd Street) from 10 AM – 4 PM to shop from 50+ local artisans, makers, and small businesses. There will also be free family activities, hot and spiked cider for purchase, and visits from Santa Claus. More information here ([link removed]) .

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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