Dear John
I know I have big shoes to fill. Brad Lander wasn’t just a Council Member extraordinaire (I was fortunate enough to have him as my council member for 12 years), he was also my boss, my mentor, and, most importantly, my friend. City government wasn’t the path I saw for myself, but Brad gave me an incredible opportunity to serve my community in a new way and I’m grateful every day that he created space for me to join his team. It is such an honor to be stepping into this seat after 12 years of his thoughtful and dedicated leadership in public service.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Shahana Hanif. I’m the daughter of working-class Bangladeshi immigrants, a Lupus survivor, a lifelong Brooklynite and District 39 resident, and I’m deeply honored to be your City Council Member. I had the privilege of meeting many of you before I ran for office when I served as the Director of Organizing and Community Engagement for Council Member Lander and I look forward to getting to know those I haven’t met yet in the coming months.
Our city and district will need to tackle immense challenges in the coming year, from COVID-19 to climate change, to getting our students back on track, to our housing crisis, but I have hope. This community, where I have lived all my life, is unlike any other in our great city. At every moment of crisis I have seen our community come together. Whether it was to march for Black lives, deliver food through mutual aid, or come together for a vigil when someone in the community passed away, this is a community that lives and breathes solidarity. Our challenges are real, but I know if we work together, our best days are ahead of us.
How To Reach Us
I am honored to get to serve you, and while I’ll be heading into City Hall regularly over the next few weeks, my team (I’ll introduce you to all of them very soon) is here and ready to support you so please call 718-499-1090 or fill out this form if you have a constituent service request. We’ll be keeping the same district office (456 5th Ave & 3rd Floor) and hope to move in over the next few weeks. We’ll be posting updated information on our Council website so keep a lookout!
COVID-19 Testing Resources
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the city and state, please use our office as a resource. As a start, our team compiled a list of city-run testing sites in the district as well as information on homebound testing and rapid testing/mask distribution sites. This list doesn’t include private testing sites, which are only sometimes reimbursed by your insurance, so you can be sure every site on this list is free. You can find additional testing sites using New York State's Test Site Finder here, including private pharmacies.
You may have seen online, but RapidNYC placed a citizenship question on their COVID-19 testing intake form. We quickly brought this to light and got the question removed, but please contact our office if you see questions about citizenship on your COVID-19 testing intake form.
Brooklyn Public Library – Central Branch
10 Grand Army Plaza (Testing entrance on Eastern parkway side between Grand Army Plaza and Mount Prospect Park)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Monday – Thursday, 11 AM – 7 PM
Friday – Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM
Downtown Brooklyn
City Point Vaccine Hub
444 Albee Square W,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Monday – Wednesday, Friday – Sunday, 8 AM – 7 PM
Red Hook Park
Corner of Bay St & Clinton St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Monday – Wednesday, Friday – Sunday, 8 AM – 7 PM
Windsor Terrace: January 7th, 7 AM - 5 PM
Brooklyn Prospect Elementary School
3002 Fort Hamilton Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Downtown Brooklyn: January 7th, 7 AM - 5 PM
Downtown/International Elementary Schools
80 Willoughby Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Getting Tested if You're Homebound
At-home testing for COVID-19 is now available to anyone who is immunocompromised, as well as those 65 and older. Call (929)-298-9400 between 9 AM - 7 PM (7 days a week) to schedule an appointment. More information about at-home testing is available here.
Rapid Test Kit & KN95 Mask Distribution Program for Non-profit and Community Based Organizations
Non-profit, community-based organizations and mutual aid groups have been our city's lifeline during the pandemic. NYC Health + Hospitals, the New York City Department of Health, and NYC Test & Trace are asking organizations that might be interested in distributing KN95 masks and rapid tests to sign up here.
In Solidarity,
Council Member Shahana Hanif
P.S. More information on the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19 and updates on our 11th cycle of Participatory Budgeting are coming very soon!
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