Dear John 

  • Our team is currently searching for a new office in our updated district lines! For the time being, we are unable to offer in-person appointments with extremely limited exceptions. If you need help, call us at (718) 499-1090 or send us an email at [email protected].  

  • Our office is hiring! Our team is looking for a dedicated Communications Associate to help execute our office’s communications strategies across digital and traditional platforms. Find the details here, and we’re accepting applications on a rolling basis, so apply today!

  • 3-K and Pre-K applications are now open for fall 2024 and are due 3/1! You can apply in one of three ways, online with MySchools.nyc, over the phone at 718-935-2009 Monday-Friday between 8 AM and 6 PM, or contact a Family Welcome Center. If you have questions about the process or need help applying, please contact our office at [email protected].


Newsletter Survey

We aim for a yearly newsletter survey to understand not just more about our constituents, but help us understand what you all are looking for. This year’s is a quick questionnaire to help us gather more information about what you’re getting from our newsletter and what you’re missing. Fill it out today!


New Council, New Committees  

This week, every Council Member received their new committee assignments for the new term. While the majority of my assignments are staying the same, I won’t be returning to Chair the Immigration Committee. As the daughter of two working-class Bangladeshi immigrants, it has been the honor of my lifetime to chair this committee. From securing funding for Promise NYC, holding the administration accountable to ensuring dignity for asylum seekers, to passing the nation's first Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights, I am proud of all that I’ve done in this role. My team and committee staff have been an incredible support system, always laser-focused on ensuring this committee’s work was of the highest caliber. I am excited to continue to grow as a leader in the City Council.


Co-chair of the Taskforce to Combat Hate

I’m proud to announce that I’ll be co-chairing the first-ever Taskforce to Combat Hate. I was raised in a post-9/11 NYC, and know that my community is still grappling with the trauma of surveillance and the rise in Islamophobia. As an interfaith organizer turned Council Member, I know the rise in hate violence, especially antisemitism, transphobia, and xenophobia, we must bring our communities together to eradicate hate. I'm looking forward to using my power in the Council to bring communities together and address the real divisions that exist in our City. More to come soon!


Committees

  • Immigration

  • Criminal Justice

  • Education

  • Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction

  • Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations

  • Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation

Community Bulletin

  • The State Department of Environment Conversation and Department of Health, alongside the Federal EPA, will be hosting a town hall on 1/25 from 6-8 PM at the Wyckoff Gardens Community Center to give an update on the Gowanus Brownfield remediation efforts. RSVP for more information!

  • The Brooklyn Children's Museum is hosting another class for its Teen Curators Program! This nine-week engagement allows teens to explore the legacies of power embedded in museum histories and to imagine new ways of relating to, engaging with, and telling stories through objects. Teens receive a stipend of $750, and applications for the spring program are open from 1/16 – 2/4!

  • Are you an artist? Are you looking to put your art in the City for all to see? Learn more about the NYC City Canvas program! The Department of Cultural Affairs is offering $1,000 grants to artists to provide work to display on dining sheds and scaffolding across the City. Learn more and submit an application before the deadline on 1/31!

  • Did you know Green-Wood Cemetery sponsors an artist-in-residence every year? The program is in its fourth year now and is accepting applications! The deadline is 1/31. You can read more about the residency and previous artists here.

  • If you were affected by flooding this past September, you can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration. These loans are made available for those whose homes and/or businesses were damaged due to flooding. The filing deadline to submit applications is 2/2 for physical damage and 9/4 for economic injury.

  • NYC Trash Academy is a free online and in-person educational series exploring how waste management affects our environment, society, and economy! Featuring eight virtual lectures and two virtual field trips, the series explores some of the most relevant topics in waste management today, including ‘throwaway culture’, the health of our water system, a focused look at food waste, and much more. Participation is FREE, but space is limited! Apply to join the 2024 Academy by 2/2.

  • The Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums has developed a new series of classes to help co-op and condo board members get access to professional answers to their questions and learn best practices for resolving their issues. The first session will be held on 2/8 at 6 PM on Zoom and is free. RSVP today!

  • Our office is planning a job and volunteer fair for high school students in March! If you are a local employer that will be looking to fill summer jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities, please fill out our interest form. Let us know if you have any questions or if you need support with the application.

  • Don’t wait until 4/15 to file your taxes! NYC Free Tax Prep offers a variety of free tax prep options, including in-person, virtual, and drop-off options. For more information, contact 311 or visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep.


In Solidarity,

Shahana