By Dion Ashman – Candidate For the 35th City Council District
As a proud native of the 35th City Council District, notably a resident of Crown Heights, I am deeply invested in our community’s well-being, and I have worked hard to advocate for the district as a resident. While we face many issues, several stand out that I would prioritize as your city councilman. Such recent developments as protected bike lanes, bike-docking stations (Citi Bikes), and the surplus of homeless shelters have sparked my concerns. I am unwavering in my commitment to addressing these issues. These matters affect our community as a whole; they are personal to me, as well, as they are to all of us who call this district home.
My deep appreciation for physical fitness comes from my experience as a fitness coach. This expertise gives me a unique perspective on the importance of public fitness facilities in maintaining a healthy community. As a City Council member, I will leverage this expertise to advocate for this cause in the 35th City Council District. However, the proliferation of protected bike lanes is causing me significant personal concern.
My commitment to public health and safety is steadfast, and I am particularly troubled by the proliferation of bike lanes in Brooklyn and the potential dangers they present. I will always prioritize the safety and well-being of our community.
There are many examples of accidents causing bodily harm to the city’s residents. For instance, bike-lane accidents, particularly involving children, have become a prominent issue in Brooklyn, sparking public outcry and debates. An article in the New York Post revealed that “A problem-plagued bike lane in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—where an e-biker slammed a 3-year-old girl over the weekend—has drawn outrage from neighbors as local pols remain short on solutions.”
I want to assure you I will not support adding bike lanes in the 35th district like those proposed for Kingston and Brooklyn Avenues until we have a suitable solution, such as improved safety measures.
We all know parking in New York is a significant problem, and placing Citi Bike-docking stations has exacerbated the situation. This dilemma is discussed in an article in Harlem View titled “Corona City Dock Eliminates Parking, Upsets Residents.” The article states, “A Citi Bike station installed in February 2025 on 111th Street in Corona sparked frustration among residents trying to find parking.” We all face this problem here in the 35th City Council District in Crown Heights. As your councilman, I will not allow stations to be placed in the district without proper consultation with community residents, which will include town hall meetings, surveys, and open discussions to ensure your voices are heard.
The 35th City Council is saturated with homeless shelters. I will work in the City Council to improve the City’s Fair Share Plan so that communities like Crown Heights, Fort Greene, and Clinton Hill do not endure the unequal shelter-sitting burden. As a resident, I fought against the inequitable siting of such public facilities as shelters when I led the opposition to the placement of the homeless shelter on Rogers Avenue: We filed a lawsuit and secured significant concessions; one of our key achievements was ensuring that homeless residents were allowed to transition into affordable housing units within the building with proper resources. As a result, many of these individuals are no longer homeless and have full time jobs.
In an article published on COLlive in 2017, “Neighbors of the Rogers Avenue shelter said this week they are preparing to fight its opening. Dion Ashman, president of the Crown Street Block Association between Bedford and Rogers Avenues, is holding a meeting Wednesday night to discuss “our next course of action,” he said.
He said he felt “totally disrespected” when he first heard about the shelter plan.”
“I felt that we were taken advantage of because somebody had to have known this was going to happen and no one thought to inform the neighborhood,” he said
As a resident, I have fought against efforts that are detrimental to the quality of life of residents of Crown Heights and the 35thCity Council District and advocated for those that increase it. I want our district to achieve and maintain a high standard of living, and as your city council member, I will continue to work to make it happen. I am committed to creating a future where our district is the most livable in New York City, and I would like your vote on June 24, 2025, for the City Council to make this vision a reality.
Later this week, I will have a meet and greet with members of the Crown Heights Jewish community, all are welcome to join, and Lubavitch residents can ask my opinions, take and viewpoint on matters of concern. If you would like to get involved or have any questions, you can email me [email protected]
Dion Ashman is a moderate common-sense Democrat candidate and a lifelong resident of Crown St in Crown Heights, he is running against incumbent councilwoman Crystal Hudson in the 35th City Council district which includes the majority of the Jewish community in Crown Heights.
Like he will actually do things Hudson never did for us.
Guy sounds good.
Finally a candidate running to represent Crown Heights that knows and understands the issues affecting the Jewish community
You got my vote. All the stuff important to CH
In Williamsburg every other day Jewish kids getting off their Yeshiva bus are mowed down by e-bike riders on the new “protected” bike lane. Satmar is very mad.
This same disaster was approved for Crown Heights and our current elected officials are in support of endangering our children.
Dion Ashman wants to stop this, he wants to save our streets and protect our children (and he’s against crime shelters). In 1 article I think he just got the majority of the Jewish communities vote
this is a platform i could get behind!
crystal hudson has failed us and i will support him and i assume all anash will
The NYC Mayor & city hall they listen to what the council members of each district want (or don’t want) if they support homeless shelters etc, well that’s what’s currently happening in Crown Heights. Full of Shelters…
But if a good candidate like Dion Ashman gets elected, he can advocate to NYC (and possibly even to NYS) to stop some of the shelters.
Will it be perfect? No. But he can make life much, much better for CH
What will Ashman do about the flight path to Laguardia? 10,000 planes a month all over district 35….? Crystal Hudson wants to require you replace your windows.
I like everything else he says, but I don’t think removing protected bike lanes works, actually quite the opposite. As a fitness guy, shouldn’t he be pro bike lanes cuz he “works out”