John,

● Tax season is coming to a close! Tax returns this year are due on 4/18, and to help you out, the City offers free tax filing tools to those who make under $72,000.

● Help our office decide how to spend $1.5 million by voting in Participatory Budgeting! Vote from 3/25 until 4/2 online here or check out the in-person voting locations on our Council website. Also be sure to check out the project list!

○ Please help us spread the word about the opportunity to vote with neighbors, friends, classmates, and family in District 39! If you need inspiration, check out our media toolkit for sample texts and emails to share.

It’s PB Vote Season! Time to Spread the Word!

From yesterday until Saturday, 4/2, if you live, work, or go to school in District 39, you can vote on how to spend $1.5 million on projects to improve our community! This year Participatory Budgeting has a unique focus on Climate Justice, with a ballot full of projects to make our communities healthier, greener, and more resilient. These proposals were proposed and have been vetted by community members and now it’s your turn to decide which projects will be funded! Everyone age 11 and up can vote regardless of citizenship or voter registration status.

Participatory Budgeting is our community's special way to envision a just budget created through real community engagement. If you want to get involved in the next cycle please sign-up to volunteer here! Be sure to cast your ballot online with our digital ballot before 4/2 or in-person at one of our many IRL voting locations across the district! You can check out the in-person voting schedule here.

End of the Emergency Declaration

As many of you may already know, on 5/11 the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration will end. This will have major implications for funding of COVID-19 treatment and testing in our City so I want to break down what’s available before the emergency declaration ends. Health & Hospitals (H&H), as well as our office, continues to have a supply of at-home rapid test kits that are available for you to pick up. After 5/11, you will still be able to pick up tests at H&H sites, mobile vans, or libraries but supplies and locations may be more limited in the future. New Yorkers will still be able to receive free tests, COVID-19 treatments, and vacancies at any of the 11 H&H sites and several other hospitals and healthcare centers across the City. Additionally, the City’s 212-COVID19 hotline will remain in operation, directing New Yorkers to resources for Long COVID-19 and other COVID-19 treatment options.

On 3/31, in preparation for the end of the emergency declaration ,the City will be shuttering its testing tents and moving all testings to indoor H&H sites. In our community, we will monitor the availability of free testing and keep in close contact with H&H to redeploy temporary testing tents if there is a need. As we learn more about this change, we will keep the community updated to ensure everyone knows how to stay safe. The emergency declaration may be ending, but COVID-19 is still very much a threat. I’m disheartened to see the federal government shifting its approach to a model where we’re simply supposed to “live with COVID-19” despite the various risks. As always, my office maintains a supply of PPE and COVID-19 and will continue to do so after 5/11 to the best of our ability.

Community Bulletin

● On 3/31, Rat Academy has a special virtual session for Community Gardens to help you learn more about rat behaviors and prevention methods. The event is from 3 - 5 PM and you can RSVP online.

● The 78th Precinct Community Council is having its monthly meeting on 3/28 at 7:30 PM. Join this citizen’s groups as they meet with our local NYPD precinct to discuss happenings and concerns in the neighborhood. RSVP here: ttps://tinyurl.com/2p95cj3y

● The first Gowanus Oversight Task Force (GOTF) Public Update Meeting is on 3/29 from 6-8 PM at P.S. 032 Samuel Mills Sprole School (420 Union St) and via Zoom. Attend to learn more about the GOTF and its work with City agencies to ensure that the Gowanus rezoning commitments are met.

● We are excited to co-sponsor the Kensington Community Iftar hosted by Arts & Democracy! This annual event celebrates Muslim Women Artists and brings community members across Kensington to share a meal together. RSVP here.

● If you or someone you know needs free immigration help for citizenship eligibility or applications, join CUNY Citizenship Now!’s free event on Saturday, April 1st at the Brooklyn College West Quad Gym. Constituents can call us at (646)664-9400 or (212) 652-2071 to register for the event.

● A group of Park Slope & Windsor Terrace artists will be having their first group show of 2023 at Ossam Gallery over two weekends this upcoming April at J-Collabo on 300 7th Street. Mark your calendar for their opening reception on April 15th from 5 - 7 PM.

● The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has announced a new mentorship program called the Brooklyn Entrepreneur Academy (BEA) to support local BIPOC women as they launch and grow small businesses. Applications are due on March 29, 2023. For more information and to apply: https://www.brooklynchamber.com/services/bea/

● Maintenance work on the Staten Island bound BQE will continue into next weekend requiring one single-lane closures from 12:01 AM to 5 AM. For questions or concerns, please reach out to Anita Navalurkar at (347) 647-0876 or [email protected].

● The Domestic Violence Project is hosting a virtual, bilingual (English and Spanish) presentation on Wednesday, March 29 at 10am with NYC Free Clinic to discuss services and eligibility for their free healthcare program for uninsured New Yorkers.

● Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island's (JCCGCI) annual Passover food distribution is fast approaching, and they are seeking volunteers to assist in the process of packing the food bags and distributing them to more than 1,000 low-income Brooklynites on the following dates. Volunteers should please RSVP to JCCGCI Special Assistant Sara Chamama at [email protected] or 718-449-5000 x2220.

○ Monday, 3/27 from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

○ Tuesday, 3/28 from 9:30 AM to 4 PM

○ Wednesday, 3/29 from 9:30 AM to 4 PM

○ Thursday, 3/30 from 9:30 AM to 12 PM

Ramadan Mubarak,

Shahana