NYC Councilmember Brad Lander
39th District, Brooklyn
Report to the CommunityJanuary, 2011
“As a deep believer in democratic accountability, I believe it is essential to report to the community. One year into my tenure in the City Council, I’m pleased to share this first annual report on some of what we accomplished in 2010, what we learned, and a little of what we’re hoping to do in the year to come.”
Significant Accomplishments and Developments – By Issue Public Education
Affordable Housing and Community Development
Public Safety
Transportation/Livable Streets
Environment/Sustainability
Livable Neighborhoods/Quality of Life
Community Engagement
Social Justice
Budget Process
Constituent Services
Public Education Parent organizing
Convened district-wide parent leaders meeting to launch public schools work
Helped organize PTA 5k run (500+ participants)
Hosted very successful “School Food Rocks” conference (150 participants, 25 schools). Developed resource guide, strengthened advocacy network, helped several schools get salad bars and take next steps to healthier food
Took an active role in push-back against Cathie Black’s nomination
Helped organize rallies against public release of “teacher data reports” & over-reliance on high-stakes testing
Hosted end-of-year parent leader social, with director of DOE’s Office of Family Information and Action
Public Education Individual schools
Secured $35k technology grant for all public schools in D39
Visited (almost) every school in the district
Helped PS 39 maintain use of Camp Friendship for Phys Ed
Allocated funds to complete the PS 29 playground and arranged a “playstreet” plan with the 76th Precinct during construction
Arranged for school crossing guards at 3rd & 4th Ave for MS 51
Began listening process at John Jay middle/high school campus
Helped to save Court Street/AMICO Day Care Center from being closed
Affordable Housing & Community Development Stalled development
Launched www.stalleddevelopment.com
Achieved safety/aesthetic improvements at 4th Ave & 6th Street, 31-35 Church Avenue, 174 Garfield, 824 Friel Place, 23 Caton Place, and 455-459 Smith Street (Abadi Warehouse)
Affordable housing Helped secure $200m+ in long-promised
funding from Battery Park City for affordable housing
Worked with allies to get Section 8 vouchers restored for 2,600 families
Worked with allies to prevent the City from charging rent for homeless shelters
Introduced and advocated for foreclosure legislation
Affordable Housing &Community Development
Culver El Affected changes to Culver El rezoning in
Borough Park to address affordable housing, manufacturing retention; laid groundwork for more open space
Development policy Earlier work led to creation of HireNYC
program that helps low-income NYC residents get jobs on City’s economic development projects.
Leader in (not yet successful) efforts for living wage and paid sick days policy.
Helped modify NYS Loft Law to better preserve manufacturing in 11 of the city’s13 industrial business zones
Helped lay groundwork for NYC Responsible Banking Act
Public Safety Established strong relationships with the 4
precincts the overlap the 39th District (66th, 72nd, 76th, 78th) and NYPD leadership
Worked with 66th Precinct to restore beat cop restored to Church Avenue in Kensington
Organized a press conference to call attention to anti-Semitic flyers found in Park Slope
Organized a rally against an anti-LGBT hate crime in Carroll Gardens
Helped secure NYPD permit for Eid-ul-Fitr celebration in Prospect Park
Worked with Boro Park Shomrim after shooting of 4 of their members (all of whom recovered)
Worked with 66th Precinct to secure increased enforcement at Brizzi Playground in Borough Park
Transportation & Livable Streets
Worked with local residents, other electeds, EDC, the Port Authority, Phoenix Beverage, ASI, and the Teamsters so that Phoenix Beverage trucks would not run down on Columbia Street.
Worked with Columbia Waterfront residents on traffic calming measures for Columbia Street, before and after opening of Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6.
Active participant/supporter of “Fix-the-Ditch” effort, to address the problems created by the BQE in Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront.
Transportation & Livable Streets Played a strong community outreach and
leadership role in support of the Prospect Park West bike lane. Organized a community survey completed by over 3,000 respondents, with extensive feedback on improvements.
Played a strong community outreach and leadership role around the installation of the Fort Hamilton Parkway pedestrian safety islands.
Count-down clocks are installed at 4th Avenue & 9th Street (many more soon).
Was the runner-up for the “Streetsie” award for elected officials (awarded by StreetsBlog for advancing safe and livable streets)
Environment & Sustainability
Began working with EPA, Community Advisory Group, and partners on Gowanus Canal Superfund cleanup investigations.
Launched Reduce-Your-Use Challenge, together with NYSERDA and Con Ed, encouraging community residents to reduce their energy consumption
Organized successful green ports hearing, to explore measures to make the Port of NY more sustainable and neighborly.
Environment & Sustainability Authored and passed green ports
resolution in support of federal legislation for cleaner port trucking, better job quality.
Played strong role in legislation mandating cleaner oil heat in NYC.
Took part in City Council’s hydrofracking town hall meeting and efforts to support a moratorium.
Secured recycling cans for parks in CB 6 (Cobble Hill Park, Carroll Park, Washington Park, Prospect Park).
Livable Neighborhoods &Quality of Life Introduced legislation that would enable neighborhoods meeting
cleanliness standards to opt for 2-day/week alternate-side parking
Urged residents to “shop local” at small businesses in several e-blasts, blog posts, and other communications
Parks Secured funding for DiMattina dog run, Dome Playground and Prospect Park
ballfield renovation
Convened meeting to begin process of improving Brizzi Park
Preserved Kensington Stables and horseback riding in Prospect Park
Supported new Prospect Park wildlife management plan to control geese population without killing, and introduced legislation for citywide wildlife plan
Worked with Parks and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure show-shoveling and other maintenance at the Fort Hamilton F stop and the Prospect Expressway green strips
Specific neighborhood accomplishments listed below
Community Engagement Organizing efforts sponsored by our
office
Habitat for Humanity Build (January 23)
Volunteer fair with Assemblymembers Millman and Brennan (May 13)
School Food Rocks (October 23)
Kensington Worlds Fair (October 24)
Ongoing work with parent leaders and livable streets advocates
Back-to-school backpack drive for needy students
Kensington engagement Hosted Kensington leaders meeting
Kensington Worlds Fair
Organized first Kensington Bangladeshi service workshops
Supporting efforts for Beverly and E. 2nd Street plaza
Community Engagement Interactive online campaigns sponsored by our office
Progressive Caucus budget survey filled out by thousands of people
PPW bike lanes survey filled out by over 3,000 people
Hundreds of residents took online action (save universal school meals, put the Bush-era tax cuts to work for New York)
Interactive websites – bradlander.com and stalleddevelopment.com – promoted substantial feedback from constituents
Honored Heart of Brooklyn and GAP for their cultural education
Public service website launched with district-wide newsletter
Social Justice Helped to organize Progressive Caucus, serve as founding co-chair.
Strong supporter of (unsuccessful) fight for paid sick days legislation.
Organized community vigil after anti-LGBT hate crime in Carroll Gardens. Strong ally of Brooklyn Community Pride Center.
Arrested as part of New York Immigration Coalition civil disobedience for comprehensive immigration reform.
Ally in successful Domestic Workers Bill-of-Rights campaign.
Released report highlighting the City’s failure to meet goals for contracting with minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs).
One of the prime co-sponsors of a City Council resolution in support of New York State legislation to prevent wage theft.
Helping lead the effort for living wage economic development policy.
Through the Progressive Caucus, advocated for fairer taxation, including a New York surcharge to counteract the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.
Budget Process Well-organized and transparent budget process More info on what we funded
Constituent ServiceAssisted over 1,400 constituents 408 transportation issues (stop sign, speed bump and traffic signal requests, PPW bike
lanes) 392 following the December 26 blizzard (mostly street-plowing) 124 housing and building cases (evictions, landlord tenant issues, affordable housing) 50 quality of life complaints (including noise complaints) 43 education issues (admissions, special needs, individual school issues) 43 sanitation cases (trash pickup) 41 public safety cases 40 environmental issues (sewer backups, water bills) 37 parks issues (including trees) 28 finance cases (including tickets) 26 utilities issues 25 general welfare cases (problems with social security, food stamps, etc) 25 health department issues (animal control, public health, etc) 15 land use and zoning issues (parking, landmarks, etc) 13 consumer complaints 8 jobs issues (unemployment, etc) 5 aging issues (SCRIE, etc)
Constituent Service Quotes from satisfied customers
Constituent ServiceNatural Disasters! September 16th Tornado (Park Slope)
Provided real-time information to neighborhood residents on response and clean-up efforts
Connected interested volunteers with area residents who needed help with clean-up
Responded to 37 reports of downed or damaged trees; helped expedite Parks Department replacement of those trees
December 26th Blizzard Responded to 392 complaints about unplowed streets and other snow-related
concerns
Communicated extensively with Sanitation, NYPD, and other agencies about problem areas
Compiled “39th District Blizzard Cleanup Report” on the City’s failures during the storm
Took part in City Council hearing’s on failed snow-removal & MTA response; leading to policy changes in both areas
Significant Accomplishments and Developments – By Neighborhood Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Gowanus/Columbia
Waterfront
Park Slope/Windsor Terrace
Kensington/Boro Park
Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens,Gowanus, and Columbia Waterfront Mediated community discussions, leading to successful
preservation of the Hannah Senesh courtyard (CG)
Secured funding to improve DiMattina dog run (CG)
Helped save Court Street/AMICO Day Care Center from closure (CG)
Organized vigil against anti-LGBT hate crime (CG)
Worked with other electeds, community leaders, and stakeholders to get Phoenix beverage trucks off of Columbia Street (CW)
Worked with Columbia Waterfront leaders on traffic calming measures (CW)
Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens,Gowanus, and Columbia Waterfront Organized successful green ports hearing and passed City Council
Resolution in support of federal green ports legislation (CW) Allocated funds to complete the PS 29 playground and arranged a
“playstreet” plan with the 76th Precinct during construction (CH)
Active participant/supporter of “Fix-the-Ditch” effort (CH, CG, CW)
Secured recycling cans for CB 6 parks (CH, CG)
Began working with EPA, Community Advisory Group, and partners on Gowanus Canal Superfund cleanup investigations (G, CG)
Testified at Brooklyn Bridge Park hearings against new luxury housing in the park, for viable alternatives (CH)
Park Slope and Windsor Terrace Achieved site improvements at 4th Ave & 6th Street (PS)
Helped get the noisy Vue nightclub closed (PS)
Park Slope Historic district expansion advancing smoothly (PS)
Connected residents with tornado damage to relevant agencies (PS)
Vanderbilt Playground open (WT)
Park Slope Armory opened; Brad helped ensure 6 am opening, free walking hour for seniors, turning the lights off at night (PS, WT)
Helped keep PS 39 at Camp Friendship (PS)
Press conference after distribution of anti-Semitic flyers in Park Slope (PS)
Park Slope and Windsor Terrace Helped persuade School Construction Authority to make the fence
in the PS 39 courtyard safer (PS)
Played a strong community outreach, feedback and leadership role in support of the Prospect Park West bike lane (PS, WT)
Count-down clocks are installed at 4th Ave & 9th Street (PS)
Secured recycling cans installed in CB 6 parks (PS)
Raccoon/urban wildlife forum scheduled (WT)
Worked with Parks and DOT to ensure show-shoveling and other maintenance at the Fort Hamilton F stop and the Prospect Expressway green strips (WT)
Kensington and Boro Park Achieved safety/aesthetic
improvements at 824 Friel Place (including identifying a homeless shelter bed for the squatter), 31-35 Church Avenue, and 23 Caton Place
Preserved Kensington Stables & horseback riding in Prospect Park (K)
Worked with 66th Precinct to restore beat cop to Church Ave (K)
Hosted Kensington leaders meeting (K)
One of the hosts of the Kensington Worlds Fair (K)
Kensington and Boro Park Played a strong community outreach and leadership role around
the installation of the Fort Hamilton Parkway pedestrian safety islands.
Initiated Kensington Greenmarket/Youthmarket planning effort (K)
Convened meeting to begin process of improving Brizzi Park (BP)
Ensured changes to Culver El rezoning to address affordable housing, manufacturing retention; laid groundwork for more open space (BP)
Secured funding for Dome Playground, initiated planning process (K, BP)
Disappointments Cancellation of the B23 and B71 bus lines (little we could do to put
pressure on the MTA given larger budget & management issues)
Failure to pass Paid Sick Days legislation
Challenges advancing a fairer tax approach
Cancellation of Priority 7 vouchers for thousands of Brooklyn families
Polarized nature of “safe streets” debate (PPW bike lane, Fort Hamilton Parkway islands)
Potential Projects for 2011 District-wide
Host “share-the-road”/safer streets community roundtables
Expanded web “shop local” efforts (e.g. “my favorite small biz”)
Advocate for a “Age-friendly D39” by working with senior centers and advocates
Sponsor community service events
Public education Advance educational justice, stronger schools, collaboration at John Jay
Develop PTA-support materials, network for best practices & assistance
Public policy/legislation Living wage/prevailing wage legislation
Fair share tax policy
Potential Projects for 2011 Neighborhood specific
Achieve “shore power” at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Kensington Greenmarket
Windsor Terrace dog run
Planning workshops for Dome playground reconstruction
Host workshops presented by CAMBA for Bangladeshi residents
Continue work to make Brizzi Playground safer and cleaner
Host two meeting with the local precincts on “Youth and Crime Prevention”
Suggested modifications to the Prospect Park West bike lane
Continue to advocate for “Fixing-the-Ditch”
Gowanus watershed / green infrastructure efforts with DEP