Making Our Streets Safer

Daylighting in District 39 [View this email in your browser]( Dear District 39 Constituent, - I am deeply concerned about [reports]( of sexual assault and harassment in Park Slope. If you have experienced or witnessed such incidents, please contact the NYPD’s 78th Precinct by calling 911 if you are comfortable doing so. Additionally, my office would appreciate any details you can share via email at [District39@council.nyc.gov](mailto:D39@council.nyc.gov). Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets, and it is crucial that we address this rise in reports with the seriousness it deserves. - I am pleased to report that over the past three weeks, the Sheriff's Office has issued sealing orders and padlocked six illegal cannabis shops in the district: - Noise NYC (435 5th Avenue) - The Candy Store 100 Inc. (361 Court Street) - Dream Forest Inc. (688 Union Street) - Hoyt Convenience 1 Corp. (222 Hoyt Street) - 7th Ave Quick Stop Inc. (335 7th Avenue) - Brooklyn Beacon LLC (426 4th Avenue) - Please continue to use this [form]( to report any other stores that may need investigation by the Sheriff's Office. We will compile your submissions and forward them for review. Additionally, you can submit complaints directly to the Sheriff’s Office at smokeshopcomplaints@sheriff.nyc.gov. - Brooklyn Community Board 7 will hold a public meeting on the proposed Arrow Linen rezoning on Monday, September 9 from 6:30 PM to 9 PM at 245 Prospect Park West (Holy Name Church-Shepherd's Hall). You can attend in person or register to attend virtually [here](. The meeting will also be streamed live on Brooklyn Community Board 7's YouTube Channel [here](. - As a reminder, our office is located on the Ground Floor of 197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217. To make an appointment, contact our Constituent Services Director Bryan Gross at bgross@council.nyc.gov. Appointments are available from Monday-Thursday 10 AM to 4 PM. Street Safety: Daylighting in District 39 Preventing traffic violence and saving lives is a top priority for my Office. We are working to enhance safety infrastructure at key trouble spots in our District including [Atlantic Avenue]( [Grand Army Plaza]( and [Ninth Street](. I also encourage you to help us identify other locations that need attention. One effective strategy to improve street safety is daylighting, which involves removing the parking spots near intersections to enhance visibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. If you know of an intersection in District 39 that could benefit from daylighting, please share your suggestions using [this form](. We will forward your recommendations to the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and work to implement daylighting measures where possible. In January, I led a [letter]( alongside elected colleagues calling on the DOT to fully daylight all City streets. I have also joined my Brooklyn colleagues in supporting resolutions from [Community Board 6]( and [Community Board 8]( urging the DOT to implement universal daylighting. Addressing this issue with urgency is essential to preventing traffic violence and ensuring our city is as safe as possible. Council Member Shahana advocating for safer street infrastructure on Atlantic Avenue Backpack, Backpack! With the new school year starting in just two weeks, my team and I are dedicated to making sure that families have what they need for a successful start. We’ve already distributed over 600 free backpacks at events including the Gowanus Houses Family Day, Wyckoff Gardens Family Day, and our recent event at Albemarle Playground! Next Friday, August 30th at 12 PM, we will continue our backpack distribution at the Warren Street NYCHA Campus (572 Warren Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217). Please note that backpacks are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and you must have your child present to receive one. Council Member Shahana distributing free backpacks at Albemarle Playground Reaction to the Canceled Discussion with Joshua Leifer and Rabbi Andy Bachman I am deeply disappointed by Powerhouse Bookstore’s last-minute decision to [cancel]( the discussion scheduled with author Joshua Leifer and Rabbi Andy Bachman. New York City has long stood as a beacon of inclusive dialogue, even in the face of discomfort or disagreement. It is crucial that we uphold this tradition, especially now, when there are national efforts to ban books. I have previously spoken out against the exclusion of Muslim and Palestinian speakers from events, and I similarly oppose this act of antisemitic censorship. Such actions only serve to divide us and shift focus away from important community conversations. As Co-Chair of the Council’s Task Force to Combat Hate, I am committed to maintaining open and respectful discourse. I am pleased to report that the event has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Monday, August 26th, at 7 PM at the Union Temple House of Congregation Beth Elohim, located at 17 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11238, just one block outside of District 39. For more details click [here](. Community Bulletin - The first phase of the escalator replacement project at Smith-9th Street is now set to begin around Friday, September 6th. During this phase, one escalator per flight will be closed while work is in progress. The MTA anticipates completing this phase by Q2 2025, though the timeline may adjust as the project progresses. Additionally, there will be street-level crane operations to support the project. - NYCEDC is providing details and dates for upcoming community engagement workshops on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Transformation Project [here](. - Save the date! Our Office is co-hosting two HPD In Your District events in September with Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and State Senator Andrew Gounardes. These events will provide valuable information on applying for affordable housing, understanding your rights and responsibilities, filing a housing complaint, financing improvements and repairs, registering your building, addressing violations, and more. - The first event is Tuesday, September 17th, from 10 AM to 5 PM outside our District Office at 197 Bond Street, 11217. See details [here](. - The second event will be on Friday, September 20th, from 10 AM to 5 PM at our Kensington Satellite Office at 118 Beverly Road, 11218. See details [here](. In community, Council Member Shahana [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Website icon]( 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? 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