Meet the Candidate: Shahana Hanif for District 39
By Megan Blissick
Shahana Hanif is a Kensington-born-and-raised daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants and a former P.S. 230 and Brooklyn College graduate. When elected, Shahana will not only be the first woman to represent Brooklyn’s 39th District, but she will also be the first Muslim woman and first South Asian person ever elected to New York City Council.
Most recently Shahana served as the Director of Organizing and Community Engagement under current term-limited Council Member Brad Lander, who is also a Sunrise NYC endorsed candidate running for Comptroller. During her time with Council Member Lander, Shahana worked with constituents across the district. She brought in targeted City services and coordinated and mobilized actions to protect neighbors against ICE and hate crimes. She also ran Participatory Budgeting, a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend public funds. Shahana oversaw more than $4 million spent across the district from public school school yard improvements, to adding solar panels onto library, to a down payment for the 7th Ave (F/G) stop which will make Methodist Hospital accessible, to self-defense classes, and so much more.
At 17, Shahana was diagnosed with Lupus, a devastating autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissue in the skin, joints, and internal organs. After her diagnosis, Shahana was forced to navigate a complex and nebulous healthcare system as she fought for her life. Twelve years later, following total hair loss, endless rounds of chemotherapy, steroids, experimental therapies, two new hips, and one new shoulder, Shahana not only continues to embody the power of a survivor, but has built the care for her community into her platform.
Shahana understands that policy is personal. Every piece of Shahana’s campaign platform is centered on her life experiences; a Kensington and Brooklyn native, a NYC public school student, a woman of color, a first-generation American, and a Lupus survivor.
For example, Shahana understands first hand that healthcare is a human right and how important it is for NYC Health + Hospitals, New York City’s affordable healthcare program, that supports over 50,000 NYC residents, regardless of income or immigration status, is fully funded and expanded.
Hurricane Sandy was a traumatic experience for NYC residents, as over 1.3 million people across NYC lost power and were stranded without the ability to connect, communicate, or find loved ones. As climate change continues to bring stronger storms to our city, Shahana is focused on shielding residents from the impacts and reversing climate damage.
Green roof expansion on community centers will shelter vulnerable communities from the impacts of rising temperatures in their neighborhoods. Development of climate-resilient community WiFi networks will provide District 39 and communities around New York with reliable internet, keeping people safe during emergencies while also closing the digital divide across our city. Finally, focusing on the transition to publicly-owned clean and renewable energy sources will benefit city residents over investor-owned private companies.
Shahana is running to be the first woman to serve District 39 in the City Council and the first Muslim woman and first South Asian person to serve New York City Council. Shahana is proud to be running an openly feminist campaign aiming to build a multiracial democracy in New York City.
Participatory city planning will prove extremely impactful in District 39. Most recently in her district, the Gowanus Rezoning was pushed through without community collaboration, leading to planners placing affordable housing units on a Superfund site. The process excluded NYCHA residents, low-income tenants, and minority families and business owners facing displacement due to the rezoning. District 39 is home to many immigrant-majority neighborhoods, especially Kensington, that are being rapidly targeted for rezoning and heavy development. Our city needs to have the right protections in place to ensure that communities are the key focus and priority for neighborhood planning.
Shahana’s dedication to a climate-centered agenda will uplift our community, and her policies will build the foundation for positive generational impact that will continue far past her time in office. We believe that electing Shahana as our City Council Member in District 39 will drive positive change and impactful policy throughout the entirety of New York City, and for this, we at Sunrise NYC are proud to endorse a powerful, feminist climate champion with a proven track record of developing progressive, community-based policy. To learn more, check out her website at shahanafrombk.com
