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