View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]

Dear John,

Happy Hanukkah! Wishing a joyful and peaceful first night of Hanukkah to all in District 39 and across our city who begin celebrating this evening. As you gather to light the first candle, I hope the season brings warmth, cheer, and moments of connection with loved ones.

Today on the other side of the world, in Bondi Beach, Australia, a jewish community preparing for the first night of Hanukkah was attacked in a horrific violent and antisemitic incident. My heart is with them, and with Jews here in our community who are mourning and feeling unsafe. Our city must remain a place where Jewish community can gather and observe their traditions without fear.

I am grateful to represent a district where our many traditions strengthen our shared community. Chag Sameach to all who celebrate, and may this festival of lights bring hope, resilience, and peace in the days ahead.

On Monday, the New York City Council’s Committee on Immigration held a long-awaited hearing on my bill, the NYC Trust Act (Intro 214). This legislation would finally give immigrant New Yorkers a meaningful way to hold our city agencies accountable when they violate our sanctuary city laws.

The Trust Act creates a private right of action—a legal tool that allows New Yorkers to take the NYPD, Department of Probation, and Department of Correction to court if they unlawfully share information with or cooperate with ICE. In other words, it moves our sanctuary laws from promises on paper to protections that can actually be enforced.

For years, we have known that these violations are not isolated incidents. They are systemic. As Gothamist recently reported ([link removed]) , immigrant New Yorkers continue to face unlawful transfers and information-sharing practices that lead to detention and deportation. The Trust Act is designed to end the impunity that has allowed this harm to continue.

Monday’s hearing was also a powerful reminder that oversight matters. The Council issued formal directives requiring City Hall and agency leadership to testify about compliance with sanctuary laws. Originally, the Council was told that no one from City Hall would appear—effectively leaving New Yorkers without answers about how their own lives are being enforced. This unfortunately has become common practice, and–as in other instances–the Council proceeded with the hearing. Following sustained pressure from the Council, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner, Manuel Castro, ultimately appeared and testified in support of the bill in his personal capacity. While this gesture was notable, it is not what New Yorkers deserve.

How an Idea Becomes Council Legislation

New Yorkers often ask: if the Trust Act is so urgently needed, why did it take this long to receive a hearing? The answer lies in how legislation moves through the City Council.

Here is the basic path a bill must take:

1. Identifying the Problem and Drafting a Bill

A Council Member identifies an issue and works with advocates, community members, and the Council’s Legislative Services to draft legislation.

2. Introduction

The bill is assigned an “Intro” number, which makes it an official piece of City Council legislation, and is formally introduced at a Stated Meeting—the Council’s full, public meeting. At this point, the bill is referred to a committee, the smaller group of Council Members responsible for reviewing it. For example, the Trust Act is Intro 214 and is assigned to the Committee on Immigration.

3. Committee Hearing

The committee holds a public hearing where Council Members question city agencies, legal experts, and advocates, and members of the public can testify. Amendments may be proposed at this stage. A bill cannot move forward unless it receives a committee hearing.

4. Committee Vote

If the committee votes to advance the bill, the decision of whether to bring the legislation from the full Council rests with the Council Speaker, who oversees the Council’s legislative agenda.

5. Full Council Vote

If the Speaker decides to move the bill forward, the full Council votes to pass or reject it.

6. Mayoral Action

Once passed, the bill goes to the Mayor, may sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it. If the Mayor vetoes the bill, the Council can override the veto with a two-thirds vote (out of 51 Council Members).

This process is designed to ensure transparency, public engagement, and a strong legislative record. At the same time, it means that bills can stall if leadership does not prioritize them or if the threat of a mayoral veto looms.

The Trust Act: A Three-Year Journey

The Trust Act was first introduced in April 2022 as Intro 158. It had strong support from immigrant-rights groups and public defenders, but it faced significant obstacles—including political resistance from the Mayor’s Office and an uncertain veto-override landscape.

When bills do not advance before the end of a Council session, they expire. This is what happened with Intro 158. But the urgency behind the bill never disappeared, and I reintroduced it in the current session as Intro 214.

Bill Timeline:

Intro 158 (2022–2023 Session)
* April 14, 2022: Intro 158 introduced and referred to the Committee on Immigration.
* February 15, 2023: Committee hearing held; bill laid over–meaning the committee paused it after the hearing to review, consider amendments, and gather more information. It had not been voted on yet.
* December 31, 2023: Session ends. All unacted bills, including Intro 158, expire.

Reintroduction as Intro 214 (2024–2025 Session)
* Early 2024: Policy is reactivated using the same drafting file (LS 8441).
* February 28, 2024: Intro 214 introduced in the new session and referred to the Immigration Committee.
* July 17, 2024: Proposed Intro 214-A drafted with updates and amendments.
* December 8, 2025: Committee on Immigration holds a hearing on Intro 214. Following testimony and questioning, the bill is amended to become Intro 214-A and laid over for further action.

Monday’s hearing marked the first major public movement of the bill in over a year, reflecting the culmination of advocacy, organizing, legal analysis, and persistent pressure to make New York City’s sanctuary laws meaningful, enforceable, and rooted in community trust.

We did not stand idly by, however. Since the bill's introduction, we have gained additional sponsors among our colleagues, and numerous organizations and unions have lobbied and rallied for its passage. In response to recent attacks from Trump’s agenda and ongoing ICE raids, support has only grown–and it shows that our city has the power to take meaningful action to protect immigrant New Yorkers.

What Comes Next?

We are not stopping. The hearing strengthened our record, widened support, and forced the Adams administration to engage with the substance of the bill. Our work now is to continue organizing, continue educating, and continue building the coalition necessary to secure its passage.

Sanctuary laws only matter if they are enforced. New York City must remain a place where all families are protected, not targeted. I am proud of the progress we have made, and remain fully committed to pushing the Trust Act forward with the urgency it deserves.

Uplifting Language Access: The NYC Community Interpreter Bank Is Now Open

I’m thrilled to share that the NYC Community Interpreter Bank, funded by the New York City Council and an initiative I’ve proudly championed, is now officially open. This program strengthens our city’s commitment to language justice by training and providing professional interpreters to support city agencies, City Council offices, and city-funded organizations.

The Interpreter Bank offers free 40-hour interpreter training, stipends for participants, advanced tracks in legal and medical interpretation, and a hands-on practicum to prepare interpreters for real-world community settings.

Language should never be a barrier to accessing essential services. Interpreters are now available in Spanish, French, and Arabic, with more languages — including Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Urdu, Polish, and Russian — coming soon.

This initiative is a significant step toward ensuring immigrant New Yorkers can access the support they need in the languages they speak. I’m deeply proud of this investment in our communities and excited to see it expand access and opportunity across our city.

For more information on becoming an interpreter, or using interpreter services, check out this flyer ([link removed]) , or the NYIC website ([link removed]) .

Constituent Services Corner: A Win at 566 7th Street

This fall, our office was contacted by a tenant at 566 7th Street who was concerned about mounting safety issues and signs of building neglect. From the moment the inquiry came in, our constituent liaison Iqra stepped in as the lead, gathering every 311 complaint and Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) violation on record.

Conditions worsened—the building lost heat, trash piled up for nearly two weeks, and tenants were left without answers. Acting swiftly, Iqra reached out to TakeRoot Justice to secure legal support and spoke directly with tenants to get a full picture of what was happening. That same morning, after Iqra pushed HPD to intervene, inspectors arrived on-site and issued violations and fines to the landlord.

Iqra then pressed building management for an immediate plan. Following outreach from our office, management committed to action: trash collection resumed that day, hallway cleaning was scheduled, and heat was restored.

The building is now back on track, a reminder that when tenants speak up and our office steps in, we can secure real, timely improvements for our neighbors.

Community Bulletin

* New affordable units have come online through NYC Housing Connect at 556 Baltic Street. Apply for the housing lottery here ([link removed]) .

* The first public meeting of the newly formed Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development Corporation (BMTDC) ([link removed]) will take place on Friday, December 19 at 10:00 AM at Brooklyn Borough Hall and via Zoom. BMTDC will initially review responses to the BMT Port Operations and Maritime Industrial Uses Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEI) and support implementation of the BMT Vision Plan ahead of the BMT General Project Plan (GPP).
My office will continue to closely monitor this work through our role on the BMT Advisory Task Force (BMTATF). I will advocate for transparency, equitable community representation in the BMTDC board selection process, and alignment with the Vision Plan’s guiding principles and commitments. The meeting is open to the public and can be attended in person or via Zoom.
* BrooklynSpeaks is hosting a virtual panel on Monday, December 15th at 7 PM to discuss how public-private development can better deliver on promised public benefits, in light of expected changes to the Atlantic Yards plan. The event will feature experts from government and policy and is co-sponsored by the City Club and Voices of the Waterfront. Register here ([link removed]) .
* Pick up free leaf bags at our office! Stop by 197 Bond Street, Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM, to grab yours.
* Our office is proud to provide monthly legal consultation on immigration and housing matters through CUNY’s Community Legal Resource Network program. Upcoming legal consultations:
+ Immigration Attorney: December 16, 2025, 10 AM - 2 PM
+ Housing Attorney: January 14, 2026, 10 AM - 4:30 PM
To book an appointment, please reach out to us a [email protected]
* Join Prospect Park Alliance on Saturday, December 20 for the 126th annual Family Holiday Bird Count, a beloved community tradition where bird lovers of all ages help count birds and contribute to nationwide conservation research. The event includes several hours of birding followed by a potluck dinner and a live review of sightings. It’s a free, fun way to enjoy nature and support science right here in Prospect Park. Find more information here ([link removed]) .

* Fill out the Atlantic Yards Phase 2 survey to share feedback on the proposed redesign, with Empire State Development to inform their early-2026 Community Engagement Report. You can find the survey here ([link removed]) .

* After sustained community advocacy, the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) scoping comment period for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Project has been extended to March 31st. You can learn more about the proposed project and submit comments here ([link removed]) .

In solidarity,

Council Member Shahana

[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

Our mailing address is:
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif
197 Bond Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])
[link removed]