Constituent Pop Ups Pull Up Across BKLYN’s 37th District

On the corner of Broadway and Chauncey Street, a steady voice called out to passersby about help with housing, sanitation, and navigating city program bureaucracy. It was the voice of Dominique Alexandre, Director of Community Engagement for District 37 Council Member Sandy Nurse, standing with interns behind a light-blue table covering that read “Sandy Nurse,” filled with pamphlets and information for residents.

At first, many people kept walking, treating the setup like a sales pitch or street hustle. Eyes stayed forward, hands went up in quick decline, and some brushed past without taking the literature. But as Dominique and the interns explained that the information was about rental assistance, free legal help, and support with city agencies—not a product to buy—more people stopped, took the flyers, and listened.

Dominique said many residents come to the Constituent Pop Up with housing problems: trying to find apartments, dealing with landlord issues, or just not being able to afford the rent. He explained that neighbors should reach out to their council member, who can connect them to rental assistance, contact agencies like HPD and HRA, and, when needed, link them to free lawyers or provide letters of support if they are already in housing court.

Other neighbors come with quality-of-life issues. Dominique mentioned derelict cars that haven’t moved in months and blocks that have become dumping sites. In those cases, the council office reaches out directly to Sanitation to get those conditions addressed.

Dominique was clear about what the office can and cannot do. They cannot fast-track anyone into an apartment or move them ahead of others waiting. But they can make sure there are no unnecessary delays, that residents don’t “fall through the crack,” and that someone is advocating on their behalf with city agencies.

For him, that is the purpose of the Constituent Pop Up: offering assistance, information, and support so residents are not navigating housing and homelessness alone.