Council Member Shahana Hanif represents New York City’s 39th Council District, which includes parts of Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront. She is the first Bangladeshi and Muslim woman elected to the New York City Council and the first woman to represent the 39th District.

Born and raised in the 39th District to Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Council Member Hanif has dedicated her career to advocating for working-class families and advancing a city built on care, equity, and safety. Her personal battle with Lupus, diagnosed at age 17, and her experiences with the challenging healthcare system and City services, inspired her commitment to public service. During her first term, she successfully led the passage of a resolution designating May as Lupus Awareness Month in NYC.

Before her election, Council Member Hanif served as the Director of Organizing and Community Engagement in the office of former District 39 Council Member Brad Lander. There, she spearheaded Participatory Budgeting, an initiative that empowers New Yorkers to have a say in how City funds are allocated in their neighborhoods. She continues to champion Participatory Budgeting to enhance civic engagement and strengthen local democracy.

Since her election in 2021, Council Member Hanif has passed significant legislation, including Local Law 85 (2023), which mandates universal residential composting; Local Laws 75 and 76 (2022), which protect and expand abortion rights in NYC; and Local Law 161 (2023), which created a pioneering Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights. She also enacted Local Law 45 (2024), providing survivors of domestic violence with free lock changes, personal safety alarms, and door and window repairs. Her advocacy led to the establishment of 4th Street Plaza in Park Slope, the expansion of Kensington Plaza, and the creation of a protected bike lane on 2nd Avenue and 9th Street in Gowanus. In her second term, she is focusing on advancing Intro. 210, the Stop Shelter Evictions Act, aimed at removing caps on shelter stays for asylum seekers and their school-aged children.

Council Member Hanif serves as Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, where she has led efforts to end solitary confinement in NYC jails and advance the How Many Stops Act for greater police transparency. Previously, she chaired the Immigration Committee and established Promise NYC, a childcare program for undocumented immigrant families. She also co-chairs the Task Force to Combat Hate.

A vocal advocate for peace, Council Member Hanif was among the first City Council Members to call for an immediate permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza that includes the return of all hostages and political prisoners.

You can follow Council Member Shahana Hanif on X and Instagram at @CMShahanaHanif.