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Good evening neighbors,

As of the end of March, our office has received well over 500 constituent cases. We remain committed to providing answers and solutions on a whole host of issues ranging from Section 8 recertification, SNAP benefit renewals, and supporting tenants at risk of displacement.

This month we also started offering office hours in Red Hook and Chinatown, serving dozens of additional constituents in those areas who may not otherwise come to the office on 4th Avenue. We’re continuing with office hours in April, with more to be announced soon.

In March, I also introduced my first piece of legislation, passed my first bills as co-sponsor, and the city budget process marches on. A budget is a moral document, and I will fight to ensure that the working class people of our district are not punished by an immoral austerity budget.

Below you will find legislative updates, upcoming events, job opportunities, resources and more.

I wish all those celebrating a happy Ramadan, Passover, and Easter this month. And to everyone else, my best regards! I would also like to honor the memory of Puerto Rican legend and plenero Hector "Tito" Matos, who joined the ancestors earlier this year. 

Standing with excluded workers

The first piece of legislation I introduced was a resolution calling on the state to replenish the Excluded Workers Fund passed in last year’s budget with no less than $3 billion and permanently closing gaps in New York’s safety net. Introducing this as my first bill was deliberate, and informed by what we've been seeing on the ground since we re-opened our district office in January.

Immigration status is a burden and a barrier for many of our neighbors. More residents come to our office looking for immigration help than any other issue. Since the beginning of this year, we have received dozens of constituents who had money fraudulently withdrawn from their benefit cards. Many of those who were defrauded were disregarded by authorities. The fraudulent transactions have not been returned or refunded to the families by Blackhawk, the issuer of the benefit cards. Governor Kathy Hochul must hold Blackhawk accountable for issuing unsecured cards and make sure these families get their money back.

Our office organized a rally in front of City Hall last Thursday March 24. I want to thank my colleagues, advocates and especially the workers who turned out to call on the Governor to replenish the Excluded Workers Fund and address gaps in New York’s safety net. What these workers are fighting for is bigger than themselves. It's about the fundamental right of all people to have stability and dignity in their lives.

Photo: John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit

Developers see opportunities to build last-mile facilities in our district. I see opportunities to regulate, fight back against clustering, and get our fair share as a city out of this growing industry.

The last-mile industry is booming in New York City. What’s “last-mile?” If you’ve noticed more delivery vehicles idling in the street, or you’ve had to answer the doorbell more for your neighbor’s packages, or you live under the shadow of any of the towering new facilities going up across our district and particularly in Red Hook — that’s last-mile. Even the New York Times has noticed, long after district residents first began to sound the alarm. Developers see opportunity in building last-mile facilities across our district, and I see opportunities to put forward a different vision for our city.

That last mile between a click of a button online and the package arriving at doors across Brooklyn and lower Manhattan starts, in many cases, in District 38. With nearby access to the BQE and plenty of industrial land, developers have plans for or have opened seven new facilities in Red Hook alone. Sunset Park is seeing comparable levels of square footage dedicated to last-mile facilities. 

Addressing this issue will be a real challenge. Developers know they can take advantage of industrial-zoned properties to build these facilities “as-of-right” or without petitioning the city. Our staff testified this month on the challenges of regulating this industry at Community Board 7’s last-mile subcommittee. I believe these facilities are distinct from traditional industrial uses as these sites contribute to truck traffic, idling, increased pollution and more dangerous streets for pedestrians in ways that the warehouses and wholesale companies that continue to exist along our working waterfront don't.

We must address the clustering of these facilities in environmental justice communities like Red Hook, Sunset Park, the South Bronx and East New York. To the extent these facilities are here, we need the city to take an active role in defining the rules, standards and practices the industry should adopt in order to be considered a good neighbor. My office is working with advocates to explore solutions, and we hope to share more soon.

Lastly, companies profiting off these facilities should pay their fair share to be here — keep in mind that abusing the city’s zoning code saves them millions. Ecommerce is thriving and driving the demand for short-haul delivery hubs. This isn’t going to be an easy fight, but it’s one I’m determined to take on all the same.

The massive last-mile facility under development at 640 Columbia St in Red Hook. Photo: Jim Tampakis

Participatory budgeting is here, and Council budget hearings continue

Participatory budget vote week is here, from April 2 to April 10! Scroll down to “Upcoming Events” for the full list of voting days, times and locations. 

This year has been a learning process for our team and has helped us take stock of needs across the district within our first several months in office. Many of these issues go back years and will take time to solve. Those ideas will remain archived on the District 38 participatory budget page.

This year, our projects are focused on schools across the district with urgent needs. In addition to asking you how to spend $1 million, we’re asking about your priorities for all $100 billion of the city budget.

Here's a preview of this year's ballot, which will be available online and at our vote week locations April 2—April 10.

 Download and view our District 38 Participatory Budget packet here.

In the months leading up to the adoption of the city budget in June, the Council will continue to hold hearings on the budget and on other urgent issues facing our city. You can find the calendar for upcoming committee hearings here.

Earlier this month at a rally with The People's Plan NYC, I expressed my concerns that Mayor Adams' budget is looking like an austerity budget. That $100 billion budget is our money, and it should be invested in our communities.

Our local budget allocation for improvements to parks, schools, streets and other public amenities won’t be final until the city budget is passed, but if you have any questions, you can visit the Budget page of our website.

My first bills to pass as co-sponsor!

The Council Legistar page archives all legislation introduced in the Council. Four resolutions and one local law that I co-sponsored have now passed. The Council approved and the Mayor has signed off on a law formally extending the rent stabilization law in New York City. In our last session before the state adopts its budget, the Council called on New York state to expand survivors’ rights, pass a New Deal for CUNY, Fair Pay for Home Care, and to strengthen environmental regulations.

Read more about Res 0025-2022, Res 0020-2022, Res 0024-2022, Res 0055-2022 and Int 0070-2022 via the Council Legistar page.

Upcoming events

Participatory budget vote week is here! Voting sites will be located at the following times and places throughout the week, Saturday, April 2 to Sunday, April 10.

Want to help out with tabling during vote week? Sign up to volunteer with our office here, and we'll reach out about helping at an upcoming event.

For a full list of participatory budget vote week sites, check out our flyer or click here for an accessible text-based list. 

Download and view our District 38 Participatory Budget packet here.

Upcoming Chinatown office hours

Parent-Child Relationship
909 58th St
Sunday, April 3 11AM—3pm
Friday, April 15 11AM—3pm

Upcoming Red Hook office hours

Red Hook Library 
7 Wolcott St
Saturday, April 9 11AM—3pm

PS 24 Community Cleanup

Meet at PS 24, 427 38th St
Friday, April 8 at 3PM

Active bystander training with CPC and Commission on Human Rights

Monday, April 11
Chinese Planning Council
4101 8th Ave
2pm–3:30pm

Red Hook mobile health screening van

Friday, April 29 
Red Hook Initiative
767 Hicks St
9:30AM–1:00PM

As we confirm more upcoming events, stay tuned for additional updates!

Jobs and resources

Three weeks left to apply for Summer Youth Employment! 

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experiences each summer.

Who is Eligible?

• Young people age 14 to 24
• Must be a resident of one of the five NYC boroughs
• Legally allowed to work in the US

The deadline to submit applications is April 22, 2022. Learn more at nyc.gov/syep.

AMPHS (Academy of Medical & Public Health Services) is hiring! 

AMPHS is accepting applications and conducting interviews on a rolling basis until 3/31, which is today, but we’ve been confirmed they’re still accepting applications, so apply ASAP!

To learn more, visit the AMPHS website.

Manager of Community Engagement (Chinese or Spanish-speaking preferred)
Manager of Development
Coordinator of AAPI Safety Initiatives (Chinese-speaking preferred)
Community Health Partner (Chinese-speaking)
Educational Case Manager (Spanish/Chinese-speaking)
Mental Health Therapist (Spanish-speaking)
Mental Health Therapist (Chinese-Speaking)
Social Worker (Chinese or Spanish-speaking preferred)
Executive Assistant

School crossing guards

We’re still encouraging community members to apply to be school crossing guards! We’ve seen a great response so far, but can you help us push this out to your neighbors once again this month?

Link to download and share English, Spanish and Chinese graphics here.

All are welcome to come to our office in person at 4417 4th Avenue to apply, and we can print a copy of the application to fill out in-person. 

United Senior Center

The Senior Center is looking for a Part Time Computer instructor (Spanish Bilingual a plus) for their computer lab.

The Senior Center is also looking for a Cantonese speaking Certified Tai Chi instructor familiar with working with senior citizens.

To apply, please call Griselle at (718) 439-8647 or email griselamador@hotmail.com.

CAMBA is now hiring for its 2022 Summer Camp programs.

Those interested are encouraged to visit this link and apply today!

In addition to Summer Camp programs, CAMBA offers many other career opportunities for those candidates who are interested in growing with one of New York City's largest multi-service nonprofit providers. 

If you or someone you know is looking to work for a caring, community-minded organization, please share our jobs link or visit CAMBA.org/careers to learn more about our programs and achievements.

Maritime Job Fair 

You know I’m passionate about our working waterfront and making sure our community benefits from new jobs created in the offshore wind and maritime industries.

This coming Tuesday, April 5, there will be an offshore wind and maritime and freight logistics job fair, 10:00AM–1:00PM at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, 72 Bowne St. RSVP to Gustavo Moran at gmoran@edc.nyc.

Curbside composting is coming back to Brooklyn Community Boards 6 and 7!

I'm pleased to report that our office has received multiple inquiries about composting. Thank you for contacting us! I enthusiastically support expanding this program citywide, but we'll have to fight for it to be in the city budget for that to happen. Now is the time for our city to invest and not cut sanitation services.

Residents of Brooklyn Community Boards 6 & 7 are eligible to resume free composting pick up through the NYC Department of Sanitation. Learn more via DSNY’s curbside composting page here.

Immigration help at our office!

Thanks to CUNY Citizenship Now, we now have an immigration lawyer in our office once per week on Thursdays. 

Visits are by appointment only. To make an appointment, call us at 718-439-9012 for instructions or fill out the online form here. 

I know this update is a little longer than most, and we still couldn’t fit everything there is to share! Visit our social media pages below for more updates.

If you found the information inside helpful, please share with your friends and neighbors the link to our Newsletters page here.

Sincerely,

Council Member Alexa Avilés