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Shana tovah to our Jewish community and all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah! Wishing you and your loved ones a sweet, peaceful, and joyous new year.

Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, September 14, for our annual team visioning session. We will resume regular office hours on Tuesday, September 15.

Dear John,

As we commemorate twenty-five years since the September 11 terrorist attacks, we remember the thousands of lives taken and the families who have carried that loss for a quarter century.

This week, I published an op-ed in the New York Daily News ([link removed]) reflecting on 25 years since 9/11 and what it has meant to grow up as a Muslim New Yorker in its aftermath.

Twenty-five years ago, I was 10 years old, sitting in a fifth-grade classroom at that same school.

I was growing up in a Bangladeshi immigrant family, speaking more Bangla than English. I wore shalwar kameez and, at the time, hijab to school. Being Muslim meant explaining Ramadan, Eid, and why my clothes weren’t found in American department stores.

I knew I was different. After September 11, 2001, I began to understand that others could see that difference as dangerous.

My parents picked us up early from school. In the days that followed, debris and burned pieces of paper from the Twin Towers landed in our backyard and neighborhood streets. Like our neighbors, we raised an American flag in solidarity.

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…New York belongs to all of us. Our differences should never determine whose grief matters, whose rights are protected or who gets to belong.

Twenty-five years later, our responsibility is not simply to remember what divided us, but to choose what binds us together.

Read the full piece in the Daily News ([link removed]) .
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I also joined the Children of Abraham Peace Walk, an annual tradition that brings together faith leaders and New Yorkers from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in a shared commitment to peace. I was grateful to join Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Sister Debbie Almontaser, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and New Yorkers across faiths in reflection and remembrance. My full remarks from the event are available on Instagram ([link removed]) .

Generative AI Moratorium in Schools

Happy back-to-school season! In case you missed it, NYC has enacted the nation’s broadest moratorium on generative AI in schools.

What does that mean?
* No student-facing generative AI for children in 2K through 8th grade
* Twice-yearly AI critical-thinking modules for high school students
* Limited AI pilots for a small number of high school classrooms
* Age-appropriate screen time restrictions

I’m grateful to the administration and Department of Education for taking a proactive approach that prioritizes the hands-on, person-to-person education our students need. I’ll continue monitoring implementation closely to ensure that, as we protect students from the risks of AI, we’re also preparing them to understand and responsibly navigate the technology shaping their futures.

Learn more about New York City Public Schools’ 2026-2027 AI Policy ([link removed]) .

Carroll Gardens Library Update

The Carroll Gardens Library is now expected to reopen in late fall/early winter 2026. I know how frustrating these delays have been. My office shares that frustration and has been consistently pushing for this project to move forward, with regular check-ins with Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) throughout closure.

Renovating an older building brought unexpected challenges that slowed the schedule, but major construction milestones are now complete and the project has entered its final phase.

The first phase, managed by DDC, included a brand-new teen space on the mezzanine level, a new heating and cooling system, new lighting throughout the main floor, and upgrades to fire alarm and safety systems. After significant delays, DDC completed this work in the spring of 2026 and turned the project over to BPL.

What’s happening now? BPL is completing the final work needed to reopen, including:
* Replacing the elevator
* Renovating public restrooms
* Installing a new water fountain
* Adding new furniture and shelving
* Completing IT cabling, flooring, painting, and millwork

The next major milestone is installation of the elevator, which is currently being fabricated and, absent manufacturing delays, is expected to be completed in October 2026.

My office will continue our monthly check-ins with BPL through completion, pushing to keep the remaining work on schedule and prevent further delays. We’ll continue sharing updates with neighbors as we receive them .

We also know how consequential it is for a community to go this long without its neighborhood library. That’s why my office funded the Carroll Gardens Library Pop-up at 250 Baltic Street, where neighbors can continue borrowing and returning books and accessing library services. The pop-up will remain open one month before the library reopens, when staff will begin moving materials back into the renovated library.

Pop-Up Library Hours at 250 Baltic Street:

Monday: 1–5 PM

Tuesday: 1–5 PM

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 3–7 PM

Friday: 10 AM–2 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

Local Land Use

South of Prospect Neighborhood Plan: In-Person Workshop: Tuesday, September 15
The first public workshop for the South of Prospect Neighborhood Plan will take place Tuesday, September 15 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at PS 889, 21 Hinckley Place. Learn more about the planning process, hear preliminary findings from the community survey, and share your priorities and vision for the neighborhood. Register for the Insights & Visioning Workshop ([link removed]) .

Can't make the in-person workshop? There will also be a Virtual Workshop held Wednesday, September 23 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM via Zoom. Register for the virtual workshop ([link removed]) .
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Gowanus Oversight Task Force Quarterly Meeting: Wednesday, September 16
The next GOTF quarterly public meeting will take place Wednesday, September 16 at PS 133, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. The meeting will focus on NYCHA's Comprehensive Modernization work at Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens, with an opportunity for residents to hear updates and raise questions about the work and implementation of commitments made through the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan.

Pacific Library Renovation Unveiling: Thursday, September 17, 6 – 8 PM
Join Brooklyn Public Library at MoCADA, 10 Lafayette Avenue, 2nd Floor, to meet Safdie Architects and AYON Studio and see the plans for Pacific Library's fully accessible future. The renovation was shaped by community input and is funded in part through the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan and my office. The event is fully accessible and free food will be provided.[link removed] for the Pacific Library Renovation Unveiling ([link removed]) .
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Atlantic Yards / Pacific Park Phase II: Public Scoping Meeting ([link removed]) , Thursday, September 24
Environmental review for the proposed Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Phase II redevelopment is underway. A virtual public scoping meeting will take place Thursday, September 24, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, providing an opportunity for the public to comment on the Draft Scope of Work. Site 5 is in District 39 and Community Board 6. Our office continues to follow the process closely, particularly around affordability, infrastructure, and enforceable community commitments.

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Apply to Join the Gowanus Oversight Task Force: Deadline October 11
The Gowanus Oversight Task Force is accepting applications for its 2027–2028 term. GOTF brings together residents and community stakeholders to help oversee implementation of the City's commitments associated with the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan. Applications are due October 11. Apply for the 2027–2028 Gowanus Oversight Task Force ([link removed]) .

Community Bulletin

Is there a District 39 high schooler in your life? Make sure they know about the District 39 Youth Leadership Committee! The 2026 District 39 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is an eight-month fellowship for young people ages 14–18 who live in or attend school in New York City's 39th Council District.

YLC members will gain an inside look at local government by working alongside our office, and help staff community events, lead participatory budgeting initiatives, and contribute to projects that make a real impact in District 39. Throughout the fellowship, participants will also hear from city officials and leaders from civic and community organizations. YLC empowers the next generation of civic leaders by fostering leadership skills, encouraging community engagement, and increasing youth participation in local government. Applications are due by September 28, 2026 and reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply to YLC now ([link removed]) !
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Join the FOFA Trash Group for a neighborhood cleanup along 4th Avenue on Tuesday, September 15, from 5:15–6:45 PM. Meet at 4th Avenue and Baltic Street. Gloves, garbage bags, and trash grabbers will be provided. RSVP for 4th Avenue Cleanup ([link removed]) ! The cleanup is being organized with support from the Gowanus BID formation effort.
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Saturday, October 3: City of Forest Day Tree Care Event in Park Slope: Join our office, Big Reuse, the D39 Tree Care Team, and Park Slope Civic Council for hands-on street tree care. Big Reuse will kick us off with a brief tutorial on tree care essentials and the benefits of compost. Then, we’ll fan out in teams to clean tree beds, weed, cultivate soil, and apply compost on neighboring side streets. All supplies are provided, and all ages are welcome. The event is from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, meet at 515 6th Street, at the corner of 8th Avenue. Sign up for our tree care event ([link removed]) .
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Sign ups are open for the 18th Annual Brooklyn PTA Fun Run! Join families from all over Brooklyn for a 3.3 (5K) mile walk, run, or scoot around Prospect Park with live music and community fun. This event raises money for our local Title 1 public schools or schools that have lost Title 1 funding in the past 3 years. This is one of the only community-wide fundraisers where money is pooled and re-distributed to PTAs that have less capacity to raise their own funds. Last year, the Fun Run raised over $20,000 to support Brooklyn schools.

You can form a school team ([link removed]) , register to do the race yourself or with your school team, or sponsor a student. Sign up for the Fun Run today ([link removed]) ! For more information, email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
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We still (and always) need FreshDirect bags! If you have extra bags at home, please consider donating them. Drop-offs are accepted at our office, 197 Bond Street, Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.

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Support Camp Friendship Brooklyn's youth programs at its First Annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, September 27, from 8:30–11:30 AM at 339 8th Street. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors ([link removed]) . Pancakes, sausage, coffee and orange juice will be served, with raffles and T-shirts available.
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Are you an artist in Gowanus?

Arts Gowanus is accepting applications for subsidized artist studio spaces secured as part of commitments associated with the Gowanus Rezoning. Studios range from 150–350 square feet, are allocated by lottery, and rent for $1.66 per square foot per month, with annual increases capped at 2%. The spaces are for the creation of artwork. Learn more and apply for subsidized studios ([link removed]) .

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The Arts Gowanus Fellowship Program is accepting applications from low-income artists living in Brooklyn, with Gowanus and Red Hook NYCHA residents prioritized. Selected fellows receive a free artist studio in Gowanus for one year, material support for new artwork, career-development workshops and studio visits, and an exhibition at the end of the fellowship. Learn more and apply to the fellowship program ([link removed]) .

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Local artists are also invited to apply for an opportunity to display artwork in the vacant retail windows at the 4th Ave/9th St subway station. Selected artists will receive a $500 stipend, with printing and installation covered. Applications are due September 21. Apply for the 4th Ave/9th St Open Call ([link removed]) .

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For all local art lovers: Celebrate the 30th Annual Arts Gowanus Open Studios on Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, from noon – 6 PM. Visit artists throughout Gowanus, explore their studios, see their work, and connect with the neighborhood's creative community.

In solidarity,

Council Member Shahana Hanif
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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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