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Happy May! We’re proud to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Lupus Awareness Month, and National Bike Month. We look forward to uplifting and honoring the many communities that make up District 39 throughout the month!

Dear John,

This week, we recognize May Day—International Workers’ Day––and honor the dignity of work and the generations of organizers who have fought for safer conditions, fair wages, and the right to organize. Rooted in the labor movement’s fight for the eight-hour workday, May Day reminds us that many of the rights workers rely on today were won through collective action.

That legacy lives on across District 39. From the industrial history of Gowanus and the working waterfront of Columbia Waterfront, to the small businesses and service and care workers who sustain our neighborhoods, our community has always been shaped by working people.

As your Council Member, I’m proud to support policies and organizing efforts that center workers’ dignity and economic justice. I have:
* Authored and passed the City’s multilingual Workers’ Bill of Rights ([link removed]) , ensuring all workers, regardless of citizenship status, have access to information about their workplace protections.
* Helped secure the City’s first minimum wage for delivery workers ([link removed]) and fought to end unjust delivery app deactivations.
* Advocated for stronger protections for street vendors ([link removed]) , including expanded access to permits and reduced punitive enforcement.
* Stood with unionized workers—including nurses and healthcare staff ([link removed]) —calling for safe staffing ratios and quality care.
* Helped constituents who were victims of wage theft ([link removed]) secure an unprecedented $3 million in penalties.
* Supported my own staff efforts to unionize and bargain ([link removed]) , and to protect their jobs.
* Pushed for city budgets that invest in working families through affordable housing, universal childcare, and expanded public services.
* Reintroduced legislation this session focused on preventing tip theft ([link removed]) and expanding sick leave protections for gig workers ([link removed]) .

May Day is not only about honoring the past—it’s about continuing the work. As New Yorkers face rising costs and economic uncertainty, we must remain committed to building a city where work is valued, workers are protected, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Updates from This Week

Public Housing Committee Hearing

Currently, 122 households at Gowanus Houses are without cooking gas—and NYCHA anticipates repairs can take up to six months. At this week’s Public Housing Committee hearing, I raised the urgent need to transition to electric or induction stoves.

As Gowanus Houses undergoes comprehensive modernization, with each resident set to receive kitchen and bathroom renovations, NYCHA should not continue investing in costly gas repairs. These outages happen far too often, disrupting families who are left months without the ability to cook or heat their own food.

NYCHA representatives committed to sharing a cost estimate, and I will continue pushing for a long-term solution. In the meantime, we are working with elected and community partners to ensure affected families have access to hot meals.

Breaking Ground on a Safer, Faster Flatbush Avenue

This week, I was thrilled to mark the start of construction on the Flatbush Avenue redesign, which will bring center-running bus lanes and critical safety upgrades to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. Right now, the B41 crawls at speeds as low as 4 mph, failing New Yorkers who rely on it every day, especially disabled riders, seniors, and families with young children. This project is about delivering faster, safer, and more reliable transit for our communities.

Construction will continue through the spring, summer, and fall, with the new bus lanes expected to be operational by late fall 2026. During this period, the B69 will be detoured and will not traverse Grand Army Plaza, and the B63 will be permanently rerouted to avoid Flatbush Avenue. Visit the DOT and MTA Flatbush Avenue Bus Priority presentation to learn more about the project, construction timeline, and service changes ([link removed]) .

Local Land Use and Community Meetings

Empire State Development releases final Atlantic Yards Community Engagement Report

ESD released their report ([link removed]) summarizing feedback that will inform the next phase of the project, including Site 5 in our district.

While the report highlights interest in affordable housing and open space, it reflects a participant pool that skews higher-income and does not fully represent the communities most impacted. As I outlined in my comment letter ([link removed]) , this is especially critical for Site 5, where any increase in density must be tied to enforceable commitments, including deeply affordable, family-sized housing and real public benefits.

As the project advances toward a Modified General Project Plan (MGPP) and environmental review, I will continue pushing to ensure the project delivers on long-standing commitments and reflects the needs of our district.

Brooklyn Marine Terminal Draft Scope of Work Comments due Friday

Comments on the BMT Draft Scope of Work (DSOW) are due Friday, May 8 by midnight. Submit comments on the DSOW by emailing Emily Spokowski at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) with the subject line “BMT Draft Scope of Work Comment.”

After this scoping period, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be prepared and released for public comment and review. Following the public review period for the DEIS, a Final EIS will be prepared.

Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development Corporation Board Announced

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced new appointments to the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Development Corporation (BMTDC) Board, naming Michelle de la Uz as chair.

New mayoral appointees include Tonya Gayle and Jessica Yager. Gubernatorial appointees include Gregg Bishop, Frances Brown, Carlo Scissura, Karen Saah, Carolee Fink, and Amanda Nichols. These appointments complete the 23-member board, which includes representatives from city and state government, local stakeholders, and ex-officio agency officials.

Through the Advisory Task Force, where I serve, I pushed for real local representation, transparency, accountability, and enforceable commitments in the Vision Plan ([link removed]) . With the formation of the BMTDC, this Board represents a meaningful step toward ensuring the future Brooklyn Marine Terminal project plan—subject to environmental review and the General Project Plan (GPP) process—continues to be shaped by the communities it will impact.

Expanding CityFHEPS

CityFHEPS (the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement) is an essential rental assistance program ([link removed]) that helps individuals and families leave shelter and secure permanent housing.

In 2023, the City Council passed laws to expand CityFHEPS, so it could not only help New Yorkers already in shelter, but also prevent eviction for those at risk of losing their homes. The Adams administration refused to implement these laws, prompting a lawsuit from the City Council and the Legal Aid Society. In July 2025, an appeals court unanimously ruled that the City must move forward with the expansion.

Despite prior commitments to drop the case, the Mamdani administration is now appealing to the state's highest court, citing cost concerns––estimated $10 billion over five years.

For the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers facing eviction or living in shelter, CityFHEPS is the difference between stable, permanent housing and prolonged housing insecurity. It’s also a fiscally responsible solution: sheltering a family costs the City roughly five times more than helping them secure housing.

This week, I joined advocates, Speaker Julie Menin, Housing Chair Pierina Sanchez, and my colleagues to call on Mayor Mamdani to drop the lawsuit and include CityFHEPS expansion in the FY27 budget. I encourage you to join me in urging Mayor Mamdani to drop the lawsuit and expand CityFHEPS ([link removed]) by contacting the administration by phone or email.

Community Bulletin

Alongside the Park Slope Civic Council, Prospect Park Alliance, Bike New York, and NYC DOT, we are hosting Bike Day in Prospect Park on Saturday, May 30, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the 15th Street and Prospect Park West entrance (rain or shine). This free, family-friendly event will include a helmet giveaway (first come, first served), free minor bike repairs, a children’s bike swap, guided beginner rides (registration required), street safety education, and learn-to-ride programming for kids. To participate, register for guided beginner rides at Bike Day in Prospect Park ([link removed]) .
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On Monday, May 4, 6 PM – 7 PM, the Columbia Street Waterfront Association (CSWA) Family Committee will host a listening session on neighborhood childcare needs, including a discussion about the unopened, fully furnished Pre-K at President Street and Van Brunt Street and steps to open it. Register for the Columbia Street Waterfront Association childcare listening session ([link removed]) !
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Gowanus Canal Conservancy is hosting Gowanus Blooms 2026 on Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 PM at the Grand Hall at Powerhouse Arts, celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary and honoring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and the Gowanus Oversight Task Force. This special event brings together community members for an evening in support of a greener, more resilient Gowanus, and will feature Questlove! Learn more and get tickets ([link removed]) .
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The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s annual Open Stages Festival returns on May 9! With more than 15 stages of free outdoor music across Park Slope, Open Stages transforms the neighborhood into a vibrant tapestry of sound and culture, with melodies and rhythms from around the city and around the world. The festival is free and family-friendly. Learn more about the Open Stages Festival and register to attend ([link removed]) .
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Alongside Hands Off NYC and fellow elected partners, we will host a mass training on ICE preparedness at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Saturday, May 16, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This training will cover Know Your Rights, how to identify ICE activity, and how to organize and mobilize in your community. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with neighbors, form groups, and take action together. Registration is required––please register for the ICE preparedness training at Brooklyn Borough Hall ([link removed]) .
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Have textiles or electronics to recycle? Bring them to Cobble Hill at 236 Kane Street on Sunday, May 17, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Textiles must be clean, dry, and unsoiled, and appliances and batteries will not be accepted.

Be advised that the Fort Hamilton Parkway Bridge over the Gowanus Expressway (I-278) will be fully closed (weather permitting) for repair work on the following dates:
* Thursday, April 30
* Friday, May 1
* Tuesday, May 5
* Wednesday, May 6

Closures will be in effect each day from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. B16 and B70 bus stops may be rerouted during these times. Motorists and cyclists should follow posted detours via 6th Avenue North to access Fort Hamilton Parkway from Bay Ridge Parkway.

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Atlantic Avenue Art Walk returns May 9–17, bringing Brooklyn’s largest free public art exhibition to the neighborhood. This self-guided, 1.5-mile experience stretches from Fourth Avenue to the waterfront and features work from more than 125 artists across 65 local businesses, storefronts, and galleries. Explore art in unexpected places, support local creatives, and experience Atlantic Avenue in a whole new way. Visit the Atlantic Avenue Art Walk website for details and curated tour registration ([link removed]) .
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As part of the Atlantic Avenue Art Walk, Crashscape—an augmented reality walking tour by Why Not Art—will debut on Sunday, May 17, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Hoyt Street Garden (Atlantic Avenue and Hoyt Street). This immersive experience by artist Michael J. Freedman uses augmented reality to visualize real traffic crashes across New York City through powerful digital sculptures and audio storytelling. Space is limited—register for the Crashscape augmented reality walking tour at Hoyt Street Garden ([link removed]) .

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Spring is here, and Gowanus Mutual Aid (GMA) is seeking volunteers for the CSA’s sixth season! GMA partners with local farms to deliver fresh, locally grown produce, free of charge, to public housing residents in Gowanus. Volunteers help unload deliveries and assemble produce bags for distribution. New volunteers will receive training, and an experienced volunteer or tenant leader will always be on hand to provide guidance and answer questions. Sign up to volunteer with the Gowanus Mutual Aid CSA program ([link removed]) !

The CSA program also relies on donated FreshDirect bags. If you have extras, please drop them off at our office at 197 Bond Street, Monday through Thursday, between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

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NYC Parks is hosting a community input meeting ([link removed]) to gather ideas and feedback on the future of the Gowanus Esplanade public open spaces, including the Bond Street street end—part of the Gowanus rezoning commitments to expand waterfront access and create landscaped open space with green infrastructure that better serves the community. The meeting is Tuesday May 19 at 6 PM, at Lowlands Nursery, 25 9th Street. This is an opportunity to directly inform the design of these spaces—community input is a core part of this commitment. Register and learn more. ([link removed])
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The next Brooklyn Half Marathon is Saturday, May 16—be prepared for road closures. View the Brooklyn Half Marathon route and street closure map ([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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