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Shahana Hanif - Ballotpedia

Shahana is originally from Brooklyn. She earned a bachelor’s degree in women's and gender studies and TV/radio from Brooklyn College. She lives in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Shahana previously worked as director of organizing and community engagement and as a Bangladeshi community liaison for Council Member Brad Lander. Before that, she worked as a public housing tenant organizer with CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities.

Shahana Hanif currently serves as the New York City Council Member for District 39. She was first elected in 2021 and is serving her 2nd term.

Supports unionization and striking workers.

Introduced the Tip Theft Prevention Act to ensure food service workers receive their earned tips.

Advocates ending 24-hour shifts for home care workers.

Supports increasing subsidized artist studios, dedicated artist housing, and the federal Living Wage for Musicians Act.

Supports reducing commercial vacancies, unnecessary fines, and improving multi-lingual services for immigrant-owned establishments.

- Supports unionization and striking workers.
- Introduced the Tip Theft Prevention Act to ensure food service workers receive their earned tips.
- Advocates ending 24-hour shifts for home care workers.
- Supports increasing subsidized artist studios, dedicated artist housing, and the federal Living Wage for Musicians Act.
- Supports reducing commercial vacancies, unnecessary fines, and improving multi-lingual services for immigrant-owned establishments.

Economy

Supports the 1% for Parks campaign, which would allocate more funds to green spaces.

- Supports the 1% for Parks campaign, which would allocate more funds to green spaces.

Public Services

Supports a universal childcare program to provide access to high-quality early education for children from 2 years old to Pre-K.

Supports expanding the "Promise NYC" program, which provides childcare for immigrant families.

Advocated for culturally responsive meal options, including kosher and halal meals, in local schools.

Supports the Green Healthy Schools campaign to make renewable energy upgrades to school buildings.

Supports efforts to combat hate in public schools, including restorative justice programs and curricula that emphasize diversity and inclusion.

- Supports a universal childcare program to provide access to high-quality early education for children from 2 years old to Pre-K.
- Supports expanding the "Promise NYC" program, which provides childcare for immigrant families.
- Advocated for culturally responsive meal options, including kosher and halal meals, in local schools.
- Supports the Green Healthy Schools campaign to make renewable energy upgrades to school buildings.
- Supports efforts to combat hate in public schools, including restorative justice programs and curricula that emphasize diversity and inclusion.

Education

Advocates for preserving affordable housing and combating deed theft to protect residents from displacement.

Plans to ensure future development prioritizes climate justice by creating green spaces, improving sewage systems, and building resilient infrastructure.

Established the Gowanus Rezoning Oversight Taskforce to hold developers and the administration accountable.

As a city council member, supported the Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign, which secured $2 billion for housing preservation and development.

- Advocates for preserving affordable housing and combating deed theft to protect residents from displacement.
- Plans to ensure future development prioritizes climate justice by creating green spaces, improving sewage systems, and building resilient infrastructure.
- Established the Gowanus Rezoning Oversight Taskforce to hold developers and the administration accountable.
- As a city council member, supported the Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign, which secured $2 billion for housing preservation and development.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports police reform and accountability, including passing the How Many Stops Act to address discriminatory practices, opposing biased surveillance, and speaking out against corruption.

Supports improving safety for detained people and corrections staff by increasing access to Narcan in jails.

Supports major reforms for the NYPD, including disbanding units like the Strategic Response Group and the Vice Squad.

- Supports police reform and accountability, including passing the How Many Stops Act to address discriminatory practices, opposing biased surveillance, and speaking out against corruption.
- Supports improving safety for detained people and corrections staff by increasing access to Narcan in jails.
- Supports major reforms for the NYPD, including disbanding units like the Strategic Response Group and the Vice Squad.

Public Safety

Supports congestion pricing, believing it will enhance street safety and support vital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) investments.

- Supports congestion pricing, believing it will enhance street safety and support vital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) investments.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to introduce the Affirm Act to protect the safety of patients and staff at healthcare facilities that provide gender-affirming care.

Supports a single-payer insurance system and endorses Medicare for All at the federal level and the New York Health Act at the state level.

- Supports abortion access.
- Plans to introduce the Affirm Act to protect the safety of patients and staff at healthcare facilities that provide gender-affirming care.
- Supports a single-payer insurance system and endorses Medicare for All at the federal level and the New York Health Act at the state level.

Healthcare

As a city council member, introduced and passed legislation instituting New York City’s first Citywide Curbside Composting program.

Launched the City’s first climate justice-focused Participatory Budgeting cycle, investing $1.5 million into resiliency projects in District 39, developed through grassroots input.

As a city council member, pushed for the full and timely implementation of Local Law 97, which mandates emissions reductions for large buildings, and sponsored Int. 1180 to eliminate loopholes in the law.

Worked with the Department of Environmental Protection to hold community town halls on flood mitigation and adaptation strategies, and collaborated with local groups to prevent flooding.

Oversaw the completion of the BED 798 sewer main construction in northern Park Slope, reducing flood risks and supporting green infrastructure initiatives.

Advocates for expanding infrastructure to handle storm surges and increased water runoff.

Exploring legislation to create more green spaces, expand resiliency projects, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and lower urban heat islands.

- As a city council member, introduced and passed legislation instituting New York City’s first Citywide Curbside Composting program.
- Launched the City’s first climate justice-focused Participatory Budgeting cycle, investing $1.5 million into resiliency projects in District 39, developed through grassroots input.
- As a city council member, pushed for the full and timely implementation of Local Law 97, which mandates emissions reductions for large buildings, and sponsored Int. 1180 to eliminate loopholes in the law.
- Worked with the Department of Environmental Protection to hold community town halls on flood mitigation and adaptation strategies, and collaborated with local groups to prevent flooding.
- Oversaw the completion of the BED 798 sewer main construction in northern Park Slope, reducing flood risks and supporting green infrastructure initiatives.
- Advocates for expanding infrastructure to handle storm surges and increased water runoff.
- Exploring legislation to create more green spaces, expand resiliency projects, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and lower urban heat islands.

Energy & the Environment

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Shahana Hanif

As a council member, partnered with the labor movement to author and pass the City'
 s multilingual Workers'
 Bill of Rights law.

As a council member, negotiated the creation of thousands of affordable housing units, making District 39 one of the top ten Council districts for housing development in the city.

As chair of the Progressive Caucus, led efforts to protect public education funding, securing restorations for early childhood programs, K-12 schools, City University of New York (CUNY), and libraries.

Plans to strengthen tenant protections and address the shortage of affordable housing.

Plans to work with local precincts, businesses, community members, and grassroots organizations to address safety concerns and ensure policing changes meet community needs.

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

Passes laws and regulations for your city