|
|
|
What's Inside:
Dear Neighbors & Friends, Welcome to those of you who just joined Assembly District 52 (AD52)! As you may be aware, the district lines changed in January due to the redistricting that takes place every 10 years after the US Census. Due to the strong population growth in AD52 this past decade, some constituents were moved to other districts in order to keep the districts balanced: we lost some of Gowanus south of 9th Street and some of Park Slope south of 2nd Street (now AD44 or AD 51). We gained the Brooklyn Navy Yard. To see if your Assembly district has changed, click here. We are back in Albany for the new legislative session. This past week, I participated in several rallies and briefings on climate change, public safety reforms, street safety, increasing the minimum wage, increasing funding to support human services workers, and improving economic security for tipped workers by paying them the full minimum wage + tip. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has again entrusted me with the honor of Chairing the Committee on Ethics & Guidance, and the NYS Legislative Ethics Commission. This session, I will be serving on the following Committees: Ways and Means, Codes, Judiciary, Transportation and Higher Education. Codes and Ways & Means are both new assignments for me and I am excited about both of them. I will also continue to work towards the passage of my legislative priorities:
I will also continue to push for a number of bills that are sponsored by my colleagues. This week, Governor Kathy Hochul issued her Executive Budget proposal for FY 2023-24. I am very pleased to see the increase in child care funding, the proposal to prohibit fossil fuels in new buildings, and the attention that’s being given to the urgent need for MTA funding. However, I have deep concerns about the proposed expansion of charter schools which will further dilute funding for public schools, and the lack of fair pay for our home care workers, which is exacerbating a staffing shortage that puts our elderly and vulnerable populations at risk. I also have concerns about the proposal that reflects the judiciary’s fundamental misunderstanding of our criminal justice laws. I will be reviewing the massive budget bills and participating in budget hearings over the next several weeks and I will have more to report on this topic. Looking back at this past year, I’m proud that the State Legislature passed historic reforms on voting rights, gun violence, and abortion access. Last year, we enacted a state budget that boosts our economy and makes record investments in child care, education and the environment. We have much work ahead of us this year, but we are moving in a good direction. It is truly my privilege to serve you. Sincerely,
Jo Anne Simon P.S. Sign up for My Regular Email Alerts - If you’d like to receive my regular email alerts, sent out every two weeks, on policy and community updates, please respond to this email or fill out this brief form.
Save the Date for Java with Jo Anne! Thurs. Feb. 9 at 11am in Park Slope! We will be hosting our next Java with Jo Anne event at Velvette Brew on 5th Ave in Park Slope from 11am-12:30pm. These events are opportunities to chat with me, my staff and your neighbors about community and policy issues. Please RSVP here. We can’t wait to see you! Roe v. Wade. This month, we should have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since the SCOTUS Dobbs decision removed federal abortion protections in 2022, 12 states have banned abortion outright and many have added significant restrictions. But that was just the beginning. Anti-abortion groups have sued the FDA seeking to limit the use of medication abortion. If they succeed, access to the medication would be eliminated in every state in the US, even states like NY where abortion is protected. Abortion bans aren’t only about abortion – they are efforts to control someone else’s body, deeply rooted in systems of racism and oppression. I was proud to pass the Reproductive Health Act in 2019 to protect abortion in NYS. And I’ll never stop fighting to ensure that abortion is available & accessible for everyone, no matter their identity, circumstances, or zip code. Street Safety in Gowanus. Local elected officials and community advocates are working to hold NYC DOT accountable to address street safety after Sarah Schick, a Carroll Gardens resident, was struck by a box truck and killed while riding a Citibike at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 9th Street on January 10. Residents had already complained about this area in the past because the street is narrow, on a truck route, and doesn't have a dedicated bike lane. DOT has confirmed that a leading pedestrian interval adjustment has been made to allow pedestrians and cyclists a head start when crossing that intersection, yet far more must be done. DOT is studying the area and plans to present additional safety measures to Community Board 6 in the near future. I was gratified that many advocates for street safety joined us for a site walk-through and rally on January 20, while saddened and angry that preventable loss of life brought us together. Ninth Street is an important borough roadway that needs to be shared safely by cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles. NYC DOT needs to make this happen. How to Help Local Asylum Seekers. The city has opened 2 emergency shelters in our neighborhood to serve asylum seekers arriving to our city from the southern border. We are working closely with our elected official partners, as well as mutual aid networks and non-profits, to ensure people staying in these shelters have access to the services they need. We have received many inquiries from our community on how people can help. For the most up to date information, please see Council Member Shahana Hanif’s page, as her office is updating their resource page regularly. Ways to help:
The NYC Health and Hospitals and Office of Emergency Management have opened up a new Humanitarian Response and Relief Center (HERCC) in Red Hook to house newly arrived single adult men. This is very close to my district, and I am touring the facility this week and working closely with my colleagues to ensure our newly arriving neighbors have access to the services and care they need. Do you Have a Question for NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)? Visit their office every Tuesday from 4pm-7pm. Homeowners, tenants, small business owners, and building managers can drop by the Brooklyn DOB’s office for their “Buildings After Hours” at 210 Joralemon St, 8th Fl., to ask DOB questions on the following topics:
York Street F Station Town Hall Recap. The MTA recently updated the community about its feasibility studies for another egress into the York Street F Station. While there is a possible route through the complex underpinnings of the Manhattan Bridge and other underground infrastructure issues, constructability issues and challenges are steep, resulting in an estimated cost of between $230M - $260M for an ADA-accessible-only (e.g., elevator) and $420M - $450M for a full additional entrance. This is more than three times the average cost for MTA ADA compliance construction city-wide. Thus, though York Street will be considered in the next Capital Program, it did not score highly on the data-driven prioritization criteria. This is not what we wanted to hear. Along with much of the community, we remain fearful for rider safety and improved accessibility is necessary. The York Street Station is dealing with dangerous, crowded platforms, a daunting, bottle-necked hallway and staircase for its one egress route, and vast increases in station usage and the growth of the areas it serves. We need to keep the pressure on MTA to prioritize station upgrades in its next five-year Capital Plan, which begins in 2025. Brooklyn Bus Redesign: The MTA is hosting community events to gather public input on the Brooklyn Bus Network Redesign Draft Plan, intended as an upgrade to a modern, more reliable and quicker system. I want to thank everyone who has participated thus far and urge people to submit comments to the MTA. Buses are a main accessible source of transit for people with disabilities and people in transportation deserts, so it’s important that we get this right. Many constituents have expressed their desire to see the B71 route restored or a similar route established, and have advocated for maintaining route stops that are convenient for people with disabilities and mobility issues. Many are voicing the need for increased, improved service between Red Hook and the rest of the borough, as well as Manhattan. Although the virtual workshops tailored for CB 2 and 6 have already happened, you can register for any remaining virtual workshops that affect your commute here. You can also view the proposed local and express route changes, submit your comments, and access the draft plan here. Sahadi’s is on the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry! I was thrilled to nominate and welcome Sahadi's “A Brooklyn Tradition” into the inaugural NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry. For decades, Sahadi’s has brought the best flavors, tastes, & scents from across the world to Brooklyn. Legendary among foodies in the know + locals, Brooklyn is blessed and honored to have Sahadi’s right here – for four generations! Congratulations and much continued success! Please read this inspiring write-up in the Brooklyn Paper about the history of Sahadi’s.
2023 Alternate Side Parking Calendar: If you need a 2023 parking calendar, stop by our Carroll Gardens office, 341 Smith Street, to pick one up or download it here. Help Bring Composting to Your Building: Do you live in a 10-50 unit high rise building and want curbside composting service? There is a new pathway to curbside composting service through the Building Compost Volunteer Program! This program is for those interested in becoming a compost volunteer for their building. To learn more, the NYC Dept. of Sanitation is hosting virtual info sessions every other Monday evening 7-8PM; the next one is February 6th. Register here. Redistricting - yes, again! As you may have heard, the court ordered the NY Assembly districts to undergo yet another redistricting to take effect in 2024 because of procedural issues with the 2022 process. Draft maps were issued just before the holidays. Were the draft to take effect, if re-elected in 2024, I would no longer represent much of Carroll Gardens (our district office would be outside the district!) or any of Gowanus, including the canal and brownfields areas. This is disappointing because these neighborhoods have long been a core part of AD 52. However, these are drafts and the Independent Redistricting Commission will hold hearings across the state. Brooklyn’s hearing will be on February 15 at 4pm at Medgar Evers College. Check out the map and hearing schedule online and if you are so inclined, please testify or submit written comments. You can also view the map below to see the current AD52 in green and the proposed AD52 in red.
Free Tech Help at the Adams St Library Tuesdays from 2-3pm. Have a problem or a question with your phone, computer, or other tech? Book a one-on-one appointment with a library staff member to receive personalized attention and instruction. Appointments can be made by calling the library at 718-230-2264, emailing [email protected], or stopping by the reference desk. Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse Act: Look Back Period. One of the things we learned while passing the Child Victims Act a few years ago was the shocking number of adults who suffered from sexual abuse but had not known enough about their rights to pursue them legally in a timely manner. This included numerous instances of physicians who preyed on their patients. In response, the legislature passed the Adult Survivors Act which provides for a one year window to file suit regardless of when the assault occurred. That one year window is now open and closes on Nov. 24, 2023. We encourage anyone who might be protected by this law to look into their newly reinstated right to pursue a civil action for damages: learn more. Free Covid Tests. The Biden administration and U.S. Post Office are partnering again to offer free at-home COVID-19 tests. To request tests, click here. Black History Month. During Black History Month we re-commit to ensuring a more equal future with liberty and justice for all, so we must teach Black history factually. We must honor Black leadership, Black excellence, Black strength & resilience. Honor Black History Month at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. There are several events taking place throughout Brooklyn. You can join Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a week of reflection and future-forward fun, inspired by the national celebration of peoples of the African Diaspora and Black History Month. Adventure into the future with curator Àse Dance Theatre Collective. Enjoy interactive dance performances, a Genea-Djali workshop led by writer and poet Prolific, art-making, and more! Performances take place on Sun. Feb. 19; Mon. Feb. 20; Sat. Feb. 25; & Sun. Feb. 26. Connect with the museum for several other events. BQE Repair Plans & Public Engagement: In the fall of 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and NYC DOT began community engagement to fix the BQE, with the goal of improving the BQE corridor in Brooklyn and reconnecting communities divided by the creation of the highway. NYC DOT is working with communities along the BQE corridor on two initiatives: BQE Central (city-owned) will fix the 1.5 mile section from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street in Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn that includes multiple bridge structures and the 0.4 mile-long triple cantilever. The BQE North and South (state-owned) initiative will identify upgrades for all other segments of the BQE corridor in Brooklyn. BQE South includes Cobble Hill, Columbia Street Waterfront, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Gowanus and then continues south down to Fort Hamilton. New federal funds, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide a unique opportunity to upgrade the BQE for the 21st Century. NYC DOT is aiming to apply for the first round of federal funding for BQE Central by spring of 2023, and then make applications in subsequent years for all sections of the BQE. The City is targeting BQE central first not only because they are responsible for that portion of the roadway, but because the triple cantilever is rapidly deteriorating and reaching the end of its useful lifespan. I am thankful to those of you who have participated in the BQE engagement process so far, and encourage everyone along the BQE corridor to get involved. You can take the DOT’s new BQE South survey, view DOT’s initial design concepts for BQE Central, and learn about 2023 meetings and other updates here. I have concerns about DOT being able to conduct meaningful public engagement in time for the spring 2023 funding application deadline, but my office is actively participating and glad the Mayor is moving the process forward after the years-long delay on tackling this corridor. I also have concerns about the initial round of design concepts that the City released and have shared those concerns with NYC DOT. You can read the statement that I made, along with my colleagues, in response to the initial design concepts. For ongoing updates about the BQE, I strongly encourage you to sign up for my biweekly email alerts by responding to this email or filling out this brief form. District Office: 341 Smith Street | Brooklyn, NY 11231 | 718-246-4889 Albany Office: LOB, Room 435 | Albany, NY 12247 | 518-455-5426 Email: [email protected] | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Insta |
