View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]

⚠️ Winter Weather Watch ⚠️

Office Notice: Our office will be operating remotely on Monday, January 26 due to inclement weather. You can reach us at [email protected] or (718) 499 - 1090 for any constituent concerns.

With snow falling and temperatures well below freezing, please take steps to keep yourself, your neighbors, and your home safe.

Code Blue is in effect between 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM when temperatures drop below freezing. During Code Blue, no one seeking shelter will be denied. If you see someone who may need shelter, call 311 to request homeless outreach assistance, or 911 if they are in medical distress.

Snow removal reminder: After snowfall ends, property owners are required to clear a safe path on sidewalks in front of their homes. Failure to do so may result in a $250 fine.

You can find DSNY guidance on snow-removal timelines and requirements online ([link removed]) . If sidewalks in your neighborhood are hazardous, report snow or ice conditions to 311 ([link removed]) . Please also let our office know if you observe unshoveled or icy sidewalks.

Call 311 to report heating or hot water issues.

Emergency Snow Shoveler Program:

After major winter storms, the City hires paid emergency snow shovelers to clear snow and ice from bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and pedestrian areas.
* Must be 18 or older
* Pay starts at $19.14/hour, increasing to $28.71/hour after 40 hours/week
* Workers are assigned to the sanitation garage closest to where they live

Currently, there are only 8 registered shovelers in Community Board 6, 12 in Community Board 7, and 20 in Community Board 12. Sign up to become an Emergency Snow Shoveler ([link removed]) and help keep our neighborhoods safe.

Finally, as temperatures continue to drop, please take steps to prevent pipes from freezing. The Department of Environmental Protection has guidance available to help protect your home ([link removed]) .


Dear John,

This month, New York State marks its first-ever Muslim Heritage Month—a long-overdue recognition of the more than one million Muslim New Yorkers who call this city and state home, and of the deep contributions our communities make every day to New York’s cultural, civic, and economic life.

Growing up in New York City in the years after 9/11, I experienced firsthand what it meant to be Muslim in a moment defined by fear, suspicion, and discrimination. I never imagined that I would one day become the first Muslim woman elected to the New York City Council—or that our city would elect a Muslim South Asian mayor. This moment is a testament to how far we have come, and to the generations of organizers, workers, faith leaders, and families who made that progress possible.

I do not take this recognition lightly—especially at a time when Muslims are too often scapegoated or targeted by public officials and pundits seeking to stoke fear for political gain. Muslim Heritage Month is not just a celebration; it is an affirmation that we belong here, that our lives and contributions matter, and that our safety and dignity must be defended.

Over my last four years on the City Council, I have seen how deeply representation matters. One of the most meaningful parts of this role is visiting schools and seeing young Bangladeshi and Muslim students light up when they recognize me—knowing that someone who looks like them, who shares their story, has a seat at City Hall. Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in public life.

This week, I returned to PS 179, an elementary school just three blocks from where I grew up in Kensington, to speak at Career Day about my journey to becoming a Council Member. Students asked thoughtful and difficult questions––about racism, hate, and how I navigate those realities. I told them the truth: prejudice still exists, but so do resilience, community, and the power of standing proudly in who you are.

Muslim New Yorkers have long helped shape this city, often without recognition. A 2018 report by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding documented the profound impact of Muslim contributions across eight sectors, from medicine and STEM to small business ownership and philanthropy. The study found that Muslim New Yorkers own more than 95,000 small businesses and play an outsized role in caring for our city as doctors, nurses, engineers, educators, and organizers. The report also highlights leaders I am proud to call mentors and allies, including Dr. Debbie Almontaser and Faiza Ali. I encourage anyone interested to read it and learn more about the breadth of Muslim civic life in New York ([link removed]) .

We can also see the impact of Muslim New Yorkers in the everyday fabric of city life. Street food has always been central to New York City—pretzels, hot dogs, knishes, and tacos reflecting the waves of immigrants who have built this place. Today, halal carts are a defining part of that tradition. More than 57% of New York City’s street food vendors are Muslim, feeding millions of New Yorkers affordable meals while supporting working-class families. This beautiful 2015 article from Eater tells the story of NYC’s long street food tradition and the history of the NYC Halal Cart ([link removed]) .

Behind every cart is a worker navigating long hours, harsh weather, and an often punitive regulatory system. Through organizing with groups like the Street Vendor Project ([link removed]) , halal vendors have won real protections for all street vendors—including expanded access to permits, relief from excessive fines, stronger due process, and recognition of vending as legitimate work rather than a crime. The fact that the cost of halal food surfaced in our most recent mayoral race speaks to just how central these workers are to our city’s economic and cultural life.

Muslim Heritage Month reminds us that Muslim New Yorkers are not new to this city—we are woven into its past, present, and future. From new immigrant families to multi-generation New Yorkers, from faith leaders to food vendors, from students to elected officials, our communities help shape the soul of New York City. As your Council Member, I remain committed to fighting Islamophobia, defending immigrant and working-class communities, and building a city where everyone can live with safety, dignity, and opportunity.

Constituent Corner

A Bond Street resident reached out to our office for help when her 9-year-old son, who is autistic, was experiencing repeated delays of up to two hours for his school bus. The unreliable service caused him to miss school and forced his mother to miss work so she could take him herself.

Our constituent services liaison, Jacqui, worked closely with the Department of Education, the school’s principal, and the Office of Pupil Transportation to address the issue. As a result, the student’s bus now arrives on time—ensuring he can get to school consistently and his mother can get to work without disruption.

Local Land Use Updates and Community Meetings

Prospect Farm ULURP Acquisition — City Council Call-Up Hearing

Prospect Farm is a community-built garden in Windsor Terrace that has transformed a former dumping site into a shared green space for over 15 years. Following City Planning Commission approval in December 2025, the ULURP application has been called up for a City Council hearing to address outstanding coordination issues between Parks, DOT, and the farm community before final acquisition.

This call-up also seeks clear commitments to community engagement during the upcoming Seeley Street Bridge and ADA ramp design process, to ensure Prospect Farm is protected and neighbors have meaningful input.

The Landmarks Subcommittee will hear the application on Tuesday, January 27 at 11:00 AM, at 250 Broadway, 8th Floor, Hearing Room 1. Community members are encouraged to attend and submit testimony.

Community Bulletin
* Applications for FY27 discretionary funding from the Council are still open to nonprofits ([link removed]) —until Wednesday, February 18 at 6:00 PM. Reminder that the Council’s finance staff is hosting a virtual FY27 Nonprofit Budget Workshop on Wednesday, January 28 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The session will cover capital requests and guidelines, the FY27 expense discretionary application, and an overview of the Council’s discretionary budget and contracting process. Register here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

* NYC Restaurant week is in full swing, through February 12. Support our vital local restaurants and explore our neighborhoods’ culinary scene. Search participating restaurants—and you can search by neighborhood—here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]
* Applications are now open for the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which provides paid summer jobs for NYC youth ages 14 – 24. Participants are placed in a wide range of roles across nonprofits, small businesses, government agencies, and cultural institutions, gaining work experience, career exposure, and job readiness skills. Placements are made through a lottery system, not first-come, first-served. Applications are due February 27. Learn more and apply here ([link removed]) .
* The Gowanus Canal Conservancy is also accepting applications for the 2026 Gowanus Green Team, a paid summer apprenticeship for youth ages 16–19. Running from July 6 through August 14, participants will earn $17/hour for 25 hours per week while learning about green infrastructure, urban forestry, horticulture, and environmental careers through hands-on work. Applications are due February 27, 2026. Apply through SYEP here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]
* The IRS opens for tax e-filing this Monday, January 26. Several free, professional tax preparation options are available for low and middle income New York individuals and families. DCWP offers tax prep to families with an income of $93,000 or less, and individuals with an income of $65,000 or less, and VITA offers tax prep to filers with 2025 income of $97,000 or less with qualifying children or $68,000 or less without qualifying children. Learn more about these resources here ([link removed]) .
* Prospect Park Alliance is hiring for the 2026 Woodlands Youth Crew, a paid program where NYC youth restore trails, plant native trees, and remove invasive species. Positions start at $17/hour; applications due February 12. Learn more and apply here ([link removed]) .
* If you are enrolled in Medicaid and you or your family are looking for support with food, transportation, or housing, there may be help available to you. Please reach out to the Brooklyn Social Care Network, WholeYouNYC by filling out a brief questionnaire here ([link removed]) .
* Open Hearts Initiative is hosting a Free Store on Sunday, February 21, offering free clothing, hygiene supplies, and essentials to neighbors in need. Community members can support by donating gently used or new items on Sundays at the Park Slope drop-off. Volunteers are also needed to help staff the event. Learn more about how to donate or get involved here ([link removed]) .
* Every Thursday from 10 AM – 1 PM, through March 26, the Prospect Park Alliance has weekly volunteer winter work sessions. From now through March, you can help out on any Thursday with raking, minor shoveling, litter pick up and other landscaping needs. Learn more and sign up here ([link removed]) .

In solidarity,

Council Member Shahana

[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

Our mailing address is:
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif
197 Bond Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])
[link removed]