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Note that our office will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Dear John,

Tomorrow, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and his vision of the Beloved Community, a society rooted in justice, equity, and mutual care. Dr. King reminded us that building this community isn’t just an idea—it’s something we create through action—by caring for our neighbors, fighting for justice and civil rights for all, remaining committed to peace and anti-militarism, and building a society where political power and wealth are more equitably distributed.

Dr. King also understood democracy as something we must actively build and defend. Justice does not arrive on its own––it is demanded, organized for, and sustained through collective action. For him, democracy lived both in the halls of government and in the daily work of caring for one another in our neighborhoods.

The dual responsibility––fighting for justice at City Hall while staying grounded in the needs of our communities––guides my work every day. At the citywide level, it means advancing legislation to protect immigrant New Yorkers from ICE, defend trans communities and reproductive freedom, and ensure workers are treated fairly. It also means fighting for a city budget that truly invests in our schools, health care, housing, and safety, rather than doubling down on a punitive carceral system that entrenches harm.

At the local level, it means partnering with the organizations in our district that do the quiet, essential work of building the Beloved Community—providing food, housing assistance, health care, and mutual aid. Participatory Budgeting is one way we bring this vision to life: a form of micro-democracy that gives District 39 residents a direct role in deciding how our shared resources are used.

This same commitment to justice is why I joined nurses from NYSNA on the picket line at Mount Sinai West on Friday. Dr. King believed deeply in the dignity of labor and in standing with workers––not only for fair treatment, but for the well-being of the communities they serve. Supporting nurses as they fight for safe staffing, quality patient care, and fair health coverage is part of the broader struggle for economic justice that Dr. King called on us to pursue.

In my role as your Council Member, I carry Dr. King’s vision with me: a society rooted not only in equity under the law, but in compassion, economic justice, and shared responsibility. His legacy challenges us to see public service not as a career, but as a calling—to bend the arc toward justice through policy, solidarity, and care for one another, every single day.

I encourage everyone to not only take part in acts of service this week, but to reflect on how we can incorporate acts of service in our daily lives year-round. Your actions, big or small, help make our neighborhoods stronger, more inclusive, and more connected.

Chairing the Committee on Disabilities and Accessibility

At the January 15 Stated Meeting, the first of the year, the City Council finalized committee assignments. I was grateful to welcome my sister and mentor, Dr. Debbie Almontaser, to the Council Chambers to deliver the invocation during Muslim American Heritage Month.

I am honored to chair the newly created Committee on Disabilities and Accessibility. My journey into public service began long before I ran for office. I was diagnosed with Lupus at seventeen, an illness that eventually required both hip replacements and a left shoulder replacement. After being denied Access-A-Ride, I experienced firsthand how difficult it is to navigate our city with an inaccessible subway system and prohibitively expensive car service options.

Disability justice is both a civil rights and an affordability issue. Accessibility must be built into every aspect of city policy, infrastructure, and public services––not treated as an afterthought. A truly just, inclusive, and caring New York City is one where all of us can access what we need to fully participate in public life.

In addition to chairing the Committee of Disabilities and Accessibility, I will serve on the Transportation, Civil and Human Rights, Small Business, Sanitation, Workforce Development, and Technology Committees. I am thankful to Speaker Julie Menin for entrusting me with leading the Committee on Disability and Accessibility and am eager to get to work for all New Yorkers.

Gowanus Model Section 3 Initiative

Section 3 is a critical workforce development program that ensures low-income residents are hired for federally funded projects in their own neighborhoods. On Tuesday, we launched the Gowanus Model Section 3 Initiative in partnership with the National Institute for Section 3 Empowerment (NISE) to ensure that the significant public investment flowing into Gowanus translates into meaningful jobs, training, and contracting opportunities for local residents.

For District 39, this means expanding access to good-paying jobs and long-term career pathways––particularly for NYCHA residents in our district and surrounding neighborhoods––so that public investments directly benefit the people who have long called this community home.

Constituent Corner

MTA Bus Arrival Display Restored (7th Avenue between 10th & 11th Streets – B67/B69)

Following roadwork on Seventh Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets, the electronic bus arrival display at this stop stopped showing real-time arrival information for the B67 and B69 buses traveling downtown.

After a constituent contacted our office, we raised the issue directly with the MTA. The bus arrival display has since been repaired and is now fully operational. The constituent—who relies on this stop to travel to their senior center—confirmed that service has been restored. We will continue advocating for subways and buses to run at least every six minutes, every day—because fast and reliable service should be the standard.

Local Land Use Updates and Community Meetings

Below are a few upcoming opportunities to engage in major land use decisions affecting our district:

Atlantic Yards Public Workshop #3

The third Atlantic Yards Public Workshop will be held virtually on Thursday, January 22, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance for Empire State Development (ESD) and the Development Team. Attendees will also be able to ask questions––both in writing and verbally––during the meeting. Register here ([link removed]) .
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Atlantic Yards Online Survey

The Atlantic Yards Online Survey will remain open until Friday, January 23 at 8:00 PM. Hundreds of residents have already shared their feedback and questions with ESD as part of this process. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to add your voice. Fill out the survey here ([link removed]) .

Prospect Farm ULURP Acquisition – City Council Call-Up Hearing

Prospect Farm has been a community-built garden in Windsor Terrace for more than 15 years, transforming a former dumping site into a shared open space that supports composting, environmental stewardship, and free public programming. Following a public hearing and approval by the City Planning Commission in December for Parks’ acquisition of the core site, I called up the Prospect Farm ULURP application for a City Council hearing to ensure that outstanding interagency issues between Parks, DOT, and the farm community are addressed before final acquisition, particularly given the overlapping land parcels and shared agency responsibilities involved.

With a future Seeley Street Bridge and ADA ramp design process anticipated and distinct from the farm acquisition, this call-up also seeks clear commitments to community engagement during the interim bridge design period, so that this long-standing community garden asset is protected and constituents have meaningful opportunities to engage on design decisions as future bridge and ADA ramp planning advances.

The Landmarks Subcommittee will hear the application on Tuesday, January 27 at 11:00 AM, at 250 Broadway, 8th Floor, Hearing Room 1, and community members are encouraged to submit testimony and attend.

Community Bulletin
* Applications for 3-K and Pre-K are now open. Families can apply online at MySchools.nyc ([link removed]) , by phone at (718) 935-2009, or through a Family Welcome Center, and can list as many program choices as they like. The process is not first-come, first-served—applications submitted by the deadline, February 27, will be treated equally. Offers will be released in May (May 12 for Pre-K and May 19 for 3-K).
* Support our vital local restaurants and explore our neighborhoods’ culinary scene during NYC Restaurant Week, running January 20 through February 12. Search participating restaurants—and you can search by neighborhood—here ([link removed]) .
* Applications for FY27 discretionary funding from the Council are now open to nonprofits ([link removed]) until Wednesday, February 18 at 6:00 PM. To help Brooklyn organizations prepare, the Council’s finance staff is hosting a virtual FY27 Nonprofit Budget Workshop on Wednesday, January 28 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The session will cover capital requests and guidelines, the FY27 expense discretionary application, and an overview of the Council’s discretionary budget and contracting process. Register here ([link removed]) .

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* Learn how to take action in your home and community to support immigrant domestic workers at the BK Sanctuary Homes & Communities Training hosted by Hand in Hand on Wednesday, January 21 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at the Old Stone House. This essential workshop equips employers, allies, and community members with practical tools to protect and stand in solidarity with nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers. Sign up here ([link removed]) .

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* Do you have property violations that need correcting? Join the Get Summonses Corrected (GSC) event on Friday, January 23 from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Flatbush YMCA, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in partnership with the NYC Department of Buildings. Attendees can meet one-on-one with DOB representatives to resolve open issues, and additional city agencies and community groups will be on site offering resources and support. Register and submit necessary information here ([link removed]) .

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* Volunteer to help estimate the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness by joining the NYC Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) overnight survey on Tuesday, January 27 from 10 PM—early morning (backup date February 3 if weather interferes). This essential overnight survey directly informs funding, outreach strategies, and services—your participation helps make sure resources go where they’re most needed. Learn more and register here ([link removed]) .
* The Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) is seeking input from New Yorkers on priority environmental justice concerns and solutions for its first Environmental Justice Plan ([link removed]) . A short questionnaire is available in Spanish, Chinese, Bangla, and Haitian Creole. The questionnaire is available here ([link removed]) .
* The Department of Sanitation and the Sanitation Foundation have brought back Trucks of Art, a paid opportunity for artists to paint a full collection truck with their own work. Priority will be given to proposals celebrating NYC cleanliness, sustainability, and the DSNY workforce. Selected artists will receive a stipend of up to $1,500. Learn more and apply here ([link removed]) .
* Looking forward to your tax rebate? The IRS opens for e-filing on Monday, January 26. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection offers free, professional tax preparation for families with an income of $93,000 or less, and individuals with an income of $65,000 or less. NYC Free Tax Prep includes in-person, drop-off, virtual, and assisted self-prep options. Filers with 2025 income of $97,000 or less with qualifying children or $68,000 or less without qualifying children can also file for free with an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer. Learn more about these resources here ([link removed]) .
* Join New Yorkers for Culture and Arts for the annual Cultural Convening with NYC City Council on Wednesday, January 28 from 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM on Zoom, bringing together cultural organizations, arts workers, and Council Members from across the city (including me!). This essential convening creates direct space to advocate for arts funding and policy, ensuring City Council hears firsthand how culture strengthens our communities and local economies. Learn more and register here ([link removed]) .
* Prospect Park Alliance is hiring for the 2026 Woodlands Youth Crew, a paid program where NYC youth restore trails, plant native trees, and remove invasive species. Positions start at $17/hour; applications due February 12. Learn more and apply here ([link removed]) .
* Happy NYC Scholarship Month! If your child is in kindergarten through fourth grade at NYC public schools, they now have a free NYC Scholarship Account through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program ([link removed]) with money for college and career training, and opportunities to earn more over time. Get started by activating your child’s account online at nyckidsrise.org/activate.

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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