Dear John,
First things first, we had an unfortunate formatting error in last week’s newsletter. We’re striving to keep these short, so if last week’s seemed long, that’s on us!
- We’ve extended ideas collection on Participatory Budgeting until the end of the month! If you haven’t submitted an idea yet, make sure to get it in before time runs out.
- New COVID-19 variants are causing concern across the globe which is why it’s so important to get your updated booster!
- We’ve heard from many constituents concerned about flooding in their homes after the heavy rain on September 13th. We’re working with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to set up a town hall on the matter soon and will keep you updated when a date is set!
Kensington Update
Earlier this year, we opened up a satellite office in Kensington to better serve the community that raised me right here in Brooklyn. We opened our office in a popular Bangladeshi community space located at 118 Beverley Road in the main Kensington commercial corridor at the intersection of McDonald and Church Avenues. This office has served as a one-stop shop for so many people in Kensington. We’ve seen over 50 constituents out of this office, handling complex and detailed cases on immigration, public benefits, and housing assistance.
For months, we had several staff going back and forth between our offices, but as of this past week, I’m excited that we’ll have a staffer based right out of Kensington to deepen our work. I’m thrilled to welcome Ali Boivab to Team Shahana! Ali started as an intern in my office this summer and quickly became a rising community organizer. As our new Kensington Liaison, he’s ready to build relationships and advocate for Kensington at every opportunity. He has a passion for helping immigrant communities, intimately understands the struggle of accessing economic resources for newly arrived families, and is excited to organize the Bangladeshi community to fight for our shared political goals in City Hall. I’m so excited to have him back on Team Shahana and can’t wait to see what he does in this new role!
One last little Kensington update. Last weekend, I was so proud to unveil the street co-naming of “Little Bangladesh'' at the intersection of McDonald and Church Avenues. Nearly 40 years ago, Shahid Ullah and the late Abul Kashem opened Asian Oriental Grocery in Kensington. This was the then very small but growing Bangladeshi community’s lifeline to halal meat, Bangladeshi vegetables, spices, and more. This shop made it so that families no longer had to travel to Queens or elsewhere - it made Kensington a neighborhood for Bangladeshi working-class people to build family and community in. This street is now a permanent part of this community for generations to witness our contributions and legacy and our love for Kensington. It signifies our presence and power in this City - we are the fastest-growing Asian community, and we are a visible face that New Yorkers interact with every single day. It is to empower us to continue advocating and organizing for a dignified life - dignified housing, dignified workplaces and wages, dignified education, and more.
Fun Run!
This weekend we ran our 14th PTA Fun Run around the Prospect Park loop. This 5K (technically a 5.3K as the park loop is 3.3 miles) is a yearly tradition started by my predecessor to raise funds for local Brooklyn PTAs. I participated as a staffer, and this year, I was proud to walk/ run, and document my own path around the park as your Council Member. I also want to give a special shout-out to Jim, Tom, and Michael (our very own communications director!) as the top three finishers this year (well on foot, at least). I’d also like to give a huge shout-out to Mia Perez on my team for organizing such an incredible event. It was so wonderful to have over 700 (!!!) community members supporting our schools this weekend, and it’s already got me excited for next year. If you have any inquiries about schools and education policy, please contact Mia at [email protected].
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Our top three finishers!
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Community Bulletin
- Calling all bookworms! The Brooklyn Public Library Kidsmobile will be on the 4th Street Plaza this upcoming week on 10/24. Drop by to check out books, sign up for a library card, or stick around for storytime at 3:30 PM.
- D15 middle schoolers who are passionate about making our schools more inclusive and integrated are all invited to IntegrateNYC’s Community Picnic in the Park this upcoming Tuesday, 10/25, from 4-6 PM by the Picnic House at Prospect Park.
- Parents, teachers, staffers, and students of District 20 Schools can join a Town Hall meeting with Chancellor David Banks on Tuesday, 11/1, at 5:30 PM at P.S.160. Register for the Town Hall here.
- We have some student loan forgiveness options!
- A special US Department of Education program related to the COVID crisis makes government and nonprofit workers eligible to get ALL of their student loans forgiven! Apply by 10/31.
- Individuals who made less than $125,000 in 2021 or 2020 and families that made less than $250,000 in 2021 or 2020 may be eligible for up to $20,000 of student debt relief. Apply in two minutes at this link.
- The next election day is right around the corner! Early voting takes place from Saturday, 10/29, through Sunday, 11/6. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is tomorrow, 10/24; click here to request yours now!
- The Sanitation Department is now hiring emergency snow laborers for winter. Workers are paid $17 an hour to remove snow and ice from bus stops, crosswalks, and fire hydrants. If you work more than 40 hours in a week, pay goes up to $25-50 an hour. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and vaccinated against COVID. Register for an application appointment at nyc.gov/snow.
- Our international neighbors in the Caribbean, specifically Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, suffered major losses this month as Fiona, a tropical storm, became a Hurricane. If you’re looking to donate to recovery efforts, please visit www.charitiesNYS.com – the New York State Attorney General’s one-stop resource for charitable organizations, fundraisers, grant makers, and members of the public.
In solidarity,
Shahana
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