Resources
Brooklyn Heights is home to a wide range of great restaurants and businesses, excellent schools, religious institutions with deep roots in the community, and responsive City services. This section is a great place to start for an overview of what’s here, how and when to reach out to the BHA, how to access City services, and how to reach our elected officials.
Scroll down to learn how to report quality of life issues.
How to Report Quality of Life Issues
1. REPORT ISSUES TO 311
311 is the best way to report non-emergency quality of life issues within the district to the City. When you file a complaint through NYC 311 online or by phone (call or text 3-1-1), your report will be sent to the relevant City agency who will work to address the issue. Sometimes it may seem like these complaints go nowhere... but these issues are tracked and when many people call about the same problem you can get results. The reference number they will provide you will also help us follow up if needed.
COMMON ISSUES:
Graffiti: Including graffiti happening now, past or chronic graffiti, or graffiti in the park and other public amenities
Noise: Including noise from the park, a neighbor, construction, and other sources
Homeless Assistance: Find assistance for a homeless person, report an encampment, or access homeless services
Sidewalk Conditions: Report a dirty, damaged, or blocked sidewalk
Street Conditions: Report dirty, dangerous, or damaged street conditions
Trash: Report improper trash disposal, trash placed for pickup that has not been properly secured, or trash or debris in the street
Rat and pests: Report a pest problem
Street lights: Report a problem with a street light
HOW TO REPORT TO 311
See below for instructions to report online or by phone. Please note that when you report an issue in Brooklyn Heights, be as specific as possible in your description so the inspector can locate the problem. For example, “the southwest corner of Hicks and Clark” If there is no street address, 311 will assign the closest address to the location specified.
Online
Use the search tool to select the kind of report you’d like to file (shortcut links to common issues above)
Fill out the “What,” “Where,” and “Who” sections with all relevant details
If applicable, upload a photo to illustrate the problem
Note the Service Request number in order to track the progress of the report
By Phone
Call 311, or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675)
Listen for instructions to select the relevant 311 complaint or wait on the line to speak with the operator
Provide all relevant details (“What,” “Where,” and “Who”) to the 311 representative
Note the Service Request number in order to track the progress of the report -- and share it with us if you would like us to follow up on your issue.
2. CONNECT WITH NYPD + NCOS
NYPD’s Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) are our community’s local problem solvers.
Detective John Condon email (929) 920-1544
PO Justin Mateo email (917) 242-6873
More info on the 84th precinct.
3. ATTEND PUBLIC SAFETY MEETINGS
Get to know the NYPD Precinct 84 that serves Brooklyn Heights by attending monthly Build the Block and Community Council meetings. These strategy sessions with officers and community members help to identify public safety challenges and potential solutions. Community Council meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. To get notifications of upcoming meetings, send your name and email to Mark Gelbs.
4. PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS
Community Boards advocate and advise on behalf of residents and businesses within their borders. They are comprised of committees that focus on issues of public safety, land use + zoning, transportation, parks, landmarks, and city services. You can report ongoing persistent quality of life issues to your district manager for follow-up. Learn more about Community Board 2 and sign up for their very informative emails.
5. CONTACT ELECTED OFFICIALS
Your first call should be to our Councilmember for the 33rd City District, Lincoln Restler, 718-875-5200 district33@council.nyc.gov
Click here for the contact info of other City, State and Federal elected officials.
6. FOLLOW UP WITH THE BHA
Share the status of your quality of life concerns with the BHA by emailing info@thebha.org or calling 718-858-9193 so that we can follow up with our partners to help to remediate the problem whenever possible. Please be sure to include your 311 complaint reference number as well as details about the time, location, and any previous communication you had about the issue as well as your phone number so that they can contact you to discuss.