Well, that flew by

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Dear John,

Today’s email is dedicated to everything we did in 2022. But before we get nostalgic, we have one final ask for 2022! PS 94 is collecting winter supplies for students in our community in need, and they’re short on a few specific items. They need 18 medium coats and 12 large coats before the end of the year - donations can be dropped off at 5010 6th Ave!

Now for your recap.

39 Wins For District 39
My first year in office has been a wild ride. I know I say something along those lines every time I reflect on the year, but it’s true. Nothing could have ever prepared me for serving as your elected representative in City Hall. I’ve treasured every small moment, from my swearing-in to the passing of my first bill, and met every challenge from the summer’s budget vote to navigate complex dynamics around affordable housing with an eye on how to learn and grow. For the end of this year, I wanted to recap 39 wins my office has worked so hard to deliver for our incredible community. Compiling this list has been such a journey down memory lane and has made me just that much more excited for next year.

So, let’s get into it.
1. We learned the ropes of City Hall, and the legislative process, introducing 17 bills and signing on as a cosponsor to almost 500 more! ([link removed])
2. We put environmental concerns front and center of our legislative agenda by introducing legislation tohttps://www.thecity.nyc/environment/2022/4/22/23037896/nyc-step-closer-to-universal-compostingmandate universal residential composting ([link removed]) .
3. We ensured workers’ rights weren’t forgotten at City Hall by introducing legislation ([link removed]) to mandate paid sick leave for thousands of gig workers.
4. We didn’t just talk about language justice; we legislated on it. We introduced legislation to create an Office of Translation & Interpretation ([link removed]) to expand our City’s language access capacity.
5. Alex, our legislative director, went above and beyond this year to help us pass SIX bills - the third most of any freshman City Council Member!
6. This includes a historic private right to action ([link removed]) , ensuring that anyone who is denied critical reproductive care has the legal means to fight back.
7. Also, I’m proud our legislative record includes legislation improving safety regulations for space heaters in response to last January’s Twin Parks fire in the Bronx.
8. We secured the largest municipal abortion fund ([link removed]) in the nation! Our Council gave $1 million to the Brigid Alliance ([link removed]) and New York Abortion Access Fund ([link removed]) to cover abortion costs and travel for people in need.
9. Outside of City Hall, we visited nearly a dozen schools across District 39 and have plans to visit all 30 by the end of next year!
10. I hosted our annual PTA Fun Run ([link removed]) , which raised almost $20,000 for Title One schools in our district. Thank you to all the runners, parents, and volunteers who made this a success!
11. Faiza, our incredible constituent services director, worked on almost 2,000 constituent cases on everything from flooding to traffic safety.
12. One of my favorite constituent cases: we helped secure an ADA-accessible swing for one of our youngest constituents, Harper ([link removed]) , at the Van Voorhees Playground!
13. We put our money where our mouth is and prioritized sanitation funding to ensure our constituents had clean streets and a cleaner environment!
14. I took my role as Chair of the Council’s Immigration Committee literally and set up an immigration clinic ([link removed]) right here in District 39! Running out of our Kensington Office, we’ve helped dozens of community members apply for citizenship.
15. Working with CUNY Citizenship Now!, our office helped 50 neighbors apply for naturalization services!
16. When it rains, it pours. But our office is always here to help you stay dry. We hosted over 100 of our neighbors for a town hall on storm surges with the Department of Environmental Protection to learn about how climate change is impacting our community.
17. Met many of you in person at the Park Slope Civic Council’s Town Hall this Summer!
18. We keep traffic flowing and you up-to-date with regular street safety updates, reporting on our monthly check-ins with the DOT and dedicating sections of our newsletter to traffic updates.
19. We made history when we launched the City’s first-ever climate justice-themed Participatory Budgeting cycle ([link removed]) . Climate justice is democracy in action!
20. Through our two cycles of PB, we collected over 350 ideas!
21. From the event expo to our Zoom ideas collections, we hosted seven events throughout the year focused on bringing direct democracy to every neighborhood in District 39.
22. One of my favorite success stories - funding the Period Project! I was proud that our last PB cycle funded youth-led efforts to bring menstrual equity education and organizing to middle schools in District 39.
23. On the topic of funds, we brought much-needed investments to the Greenwood Handball Court! I look forward to learning how to play on the new courts!
24. When I said I was a progressive, I meant it. I was so proud to be elected co-chair ([link removed]) of the Progressive Caucus and launch our 2023 legislative platform, The Progressive Agenda, to put forward a positive, and did I say progressive, vision for our City.
25. As the child of immigrants, I was honored to be selected to chair the Council’s Immigration Committee!
26. As Chair, I’ve made sure our City put the needs of our immigrant communities front and center. Earlier this year, we ensured that asylum seekers were treated with dignity when we shut down the administration’s plan for a tent city at Orchard Beach. ([link removed])
27. We held almost half a dozen other hearings on pressing matters to our immigrant communities, including a massive investigation into ICE abuses at the Orange County detention facility. ([link removed])
28. Together with Council Member Caban and the Comptroller, we fought with immigrant advocates to win $10 million to fund free childcare for undocumented families. The program rolls out next month! ([link removed])
29. The street names they are a'changing! We celebrated the renaming of four streets, including Little Bangladesh ([link removed]) in Kensington and Salvatore ‘Buddy’ Scotto Way in Carroll Gardens!
30. Our team helped lead a community-led process for hiring a facilitator for the Gowanus Rezoning Oversight Task Force ([link removed]) , a key commitment of the Gowanus Rezoning Points of Agreement.
31. We worked with community members to expand two, count them - two, public plazas on 4th Street and Beverley Road to create more open space!
32. Almost there, we hosted a whopping 54 incredible events this year in every corner of our community!
33. We hosted two food distributions with Muslims Giving Back in Kensington.
34. Found some new homes for some furry friends at our adoption event with the Animal Care Center and State Senator Myrie.
35. We brought sanitation services right to your doorstep with our super popular Sanitation Station ([link removed]) .
36. We gathered all the green thumbs we could for this summer’s community garden meet and greet ([link removed]) .
37. I hosted a storytime and read “Samosa Are So Yummy” when I celebrated Eid with some of our youngest constituents at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
38. We gave away exactly 100 rain barrels ([link removed]) at our rain barrel giveaway!
39. Rat’s don’t learn in this City; we do! Last but not least, we helped dozens of our neighbors learn rat prevention strategies and methods through our virtual Rat Academy

See You In 2023,
Shahana

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New York City Council District 39
456 5th Ave Ste 3
Brooklyn, NY 11215-4076
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718-499-1090

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