The tournament, organized by FIFA, runs from June 11 to July 19 and marks the first World Cup expanded to 48 teams, making it the largest edition in the event’s history. Matches are being hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Matches begin June 11 with the group stages. The New York/New Jersey region will host five group-stage games at MetLife Stadium — the first being Brazil vs. Morocco on June 13 at 6 p.m. The expanded format means more matches, more national teams and a longer group stage, with the top teams advancing to the knockout rounds that culminate in the final in mid-July.

Whether you're cheering for the United States, Mexico, Brazil, France or your hometown club's biggest stars, Brooklyn offers plenty of bars, restaurants and watch parties for catching every World Cup match. Here are just some of the places across the borough where fans can gather to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Alma, Red Hook

For fans looking for a scenic World Cup viewing experience, Alma is transforming its three-story Red Hook restaurant into a tournament headquarters.

The family-owned Mexican restaurant will show every World Cup match on a massive 100-inch screen, creating excitement expected to peak during Mexico’s matches. The restaurant will offer a variety of specials, including $5 draft beers, $10 margaritas and $26 chicken tacos and house margarita combos.

Zum Schneider, Greenpoint

This summer, German venue Zum Schneider will bring the celebrations to Greenpoint where fans can watch every tournament match on their screens.

The venue will feature multiple viewing areas, rooftop access, food, beer, live music and fan events throughout the tournament. High-demand USA and Germany matches are expected to draw particularly large crowds, so plan accordingly.

Socceria, Greenpoint

Socceria, a new Mexican-inspired venue from the team behind Taqueria Ramirez, is expected to become one of Brooklyn’s liveliest World Cup gathering spots.

The space is planning a festival-like atmosphere for matches, with DJs curated to match the energy on the pitch and celebrations expected to spill onto surrounding streets when Mexico takes the field, including for its group-stage opener against South Africa. The venue is part of a wider wave of anticipation across Mexican communities in Brooklyn and Queens, as fans prepare to celebrate Mexico’s role as a co-host of the tournament for the first time in World Cup history.

Bar Tabac, Cobble Hill

For fans of Les Bleus, few places feel more natural than Bar Tabac on Smith Street. The longtime French bistro has become a gathering place for French expatriates and soccer fans during major international tournaments. Expect packed crowds, plenty of French pride and an atmosphere that feels directly transported from Paris.

The Monro Pub, Park Slope

At one of Brooklynn’s best-known Liverpool bars, fans can expect a crowd that understands soccer culture. The pub has built a reputation as a gathering place for passionate supporters and should be buzzing throughout the World Cup, particularly when England’s national team is in action.

Soccer Tavern, Sunset Park

For fans of Scandinavian soccer, Sunset Park’s Soccer tavern is expected to become a large gathering point. The neighborhood venue offers an alternative to larger crowds, but Soccer Tavern’s charm shines in their unique World Cup drink choices and specials. Look no further than the Penalty, Goalkeeper, Offside and more creative drink options. 

Michelle’s Lounge, Flatbush

For Panamanian supporters Michelle’s Lounge is preparing for a summer full of national pride.

The venue has promoted World Cup watch parties centered around Panama’s matches. However, due to limitations, the bar will only limit 75 attendees per game. Be sure to arrive early to secure a spot at Michelle’s Lounge.

Kent Ale House, Williamsburg

A fixture of Brooklyn soccer culture for years, Kent Ale House continues to be one of Williamsburg’s most reliable destinations for major international tournaments.

The Kent Avenue pub plans to open early for World Cup matches and features a wide variety of large-screen viewing options with their 20+ screens. While the Republic of Ireland won’t be participating in the World Cup, fans should expect high foot-traffic in UK and USA matches.

Selva, Bushwick

Brazil and World Cup soccer have always been synonymous, and Selva plans to embrace that.

The venue has promoted viewing events for Brazil’s matches on June 13, June 19 an June 24. The venue will offer $10 caipirinhas, and will expect peak attendance for these matches.

Brooklyn Fan Zone, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Fans looking for a larger communal experience can also head to the official NYNJ World Cup 26 Brooklyn Fan Zone at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Billed as one of the city's premier tournament destinations, the fan zone will be open daily from noon to 10 p.m. from June 13 through July 19, offering live FIFA World Cup match watch parties, concerts, DJs, a beer garden, pickup games through the Plei app and adiCup 3-on-3 tournament action. The free event aims to bring together soccer fans from across the borough to celebrate the world's biggest sporting event along Brooklyn's waterfront.

For more on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, click here. 

As the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets, the Cyclones have built a reputation for one of the most creative promotional slates in Minor League Baseball. From a Taylor Swift-themed night and Star Wars Night to Seinfeld-inspired giveaways and WWE celebrations, the 2026 calendar features special events aimed at drawing baseball fans and families from across Brooklyn and the Big Apple.

Fans heading to a Cyclones game this summer can also look forward to exclusive bobbleheads, replica jerseys, collectible rings and several installments of the popular Bark in the Park series.

Here’s a complete look at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ 2026 promotional schedule:

June

June 11 – Park Slope Neighborhood Night

• First 1,000 fans receive a Carson Benge jersey

June 12 – Pride Night

• First 2,000 fans receive a Pride cap
• Postgame fireworks

June 13 – Championship Ring Giveaway

• First 2,000 fans receive a 2025 Championship replica ring

June 14 – Soccer Day

• First 1,000 fans receive a soccer-themed jersey

June 23 – Bark in the Park

• Fans can bring their dogs to the ballpark

June 24 – Catholic School Night

• A pregame ceremony honoring valedictorians and salutatorians from 65 Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens

June 25 – 25th Anniversary Celebration

• First 1,000 fans receive a 2001 Championship replica ring
• Postgame fireworks

June 26 – Margaritaville Night

• First 2,000 fans receive a Margaritaville T-shirt
• Postgame fireworks

June 27 – In Our Brooklyn Era Night

• Performance by DJ Swiftie
• First 2,000 fans receive friendship bracelets
• Postgame fireworks

June 28 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Night

• First 2,000 fans receive a TMNT-themed jersey

July

July 7 – Brooklyn Jefes Night

• Bark in the Park

July 9 – Basketball Jersey Giveaway

• First 1,000 fans receive a basketball jersey

July 10 – Italian Night / Frank Sinatra Night

• First 1,000 fans receive a Frank Sinatra bobblehead
• Postgame fireworks

July 11 – Bobblehead Giveaway

• First 2,000 fans receive a special-edition bobblehead (to be announced)

July 12 – Anime Day

• First 1,000 fans receive a Jonah Tong anime-style bobblehead

July 17 – WWE Night

• First 1,000 fans receive a WWE Championship-themed jersey

July 18 – Bob Ross Night

• First 2,000 fans receive a Bob Ross bobblehead
• Postgame fireworks

July 19 – Paw Patrol Day

• Bark in the Park
• First 500 children receive a Paw Patrol jersey

July 28 – Bark in the Park

July 29 – Camp Day

• Discounted $12 tickets and a free Cyclones cap for summer campers

July 30 – Faith and Family Night

• First 1,000 fans receive a corduroy Cyclones cap

July 31 – American Cancer Society Night and Coney Island Neighborhood Night

• First 1,000 fans receive an upside-down Cyclones cap

August

Aug. 1 – Seinfeld Night

• All fans receive a Kramer bobblehead

Aug. 2 – Carson Benge Big League Chew Bobblehead Giveaway

• First 1,000 fans receive a Carson Benge bobblehead

Aug. 12 – Brooklyn Jefes Night

• Bark in the Park

Aug. 13 – Replica Jersey Giveaway

• First 1,000 fans receive a 2001 Road Replica Jersey

Aug. 14 – Irish Night

• First 2,000 fans receive an Irish-themed cap

Aug. 15 – Star Wars Night

• First 2,000 fans receive a short-sleeve hoodie
• Postgame fireworks

Aug. 16 – Country Night

• First 2,000 fans receive a Cowboy Nolan McLean bobblehead

September

Sept. 4

• Postgame fireworks

Sept. 5

• Cheinelle cap giveaway
• Postgame fireworks

Sept. 6

• First 1,000 fans receive a commemorative baseball card

For more information, a full game schedule or to buy tickets, visit mlb.com.

• Free summer programming returns to Domino Park in Williamsburg for 2026
• Daily mix of yoga, fitness classes, workshops, and casual recreation along the waterfront
• Evening lineup includes live music, dance nights, and sunset performances at Domino Square
• Sugar Sugar! returns with experimental dance, theater, puppetry, and music
• Movies in the Square brings open-air films with skyline views on select nights
• Family-friendly activities, creative workshops, and nature-focused programs run throughout the season
• One-off events include themed nights, DJs, and pop-up experiences like roller rink takeovers

What’s Happening at Domino Park This Summer

Domino Park Summer Line-up

• Play in the Square brings interactive family workshops and kids' activities to the park most weekends all summer long, through September 27
• Movies in the Square returns for six evenings of double-feature screenings with the Manhattan skyline as your backdrop. Runs through September 15.
• Summer Fitness Series features rotating classes led by local studios, and you can also sneak in a workout while the kids run around. Through September 5
• Sunrise Yoga runs weekly through September, for anyone who wants a calmer start to the day, and Sunday Yoga runs through August.
• Craft Nights offer hands-on art and DIY family workshops, June 15–September 14

Standout Days at Domino Park

Community Events

Tenants of 1933 Union St. in Brownsville, many of whom moved into the building specifically because it was equipped with a wheelchair lift and elevators, say that the lift has not worked for over a year, and the elevators are frequently out of service — sometimes for weeks at a time.

That leaves them dependent on family members or at the mercy of the building superintendent, who they’ve been instructed to text for help, to carry their wheelchairs, belongings and bodies up flights of stairs.  

Charlene McDuffie, who has severe arthritis and neck and back issues that make it difficult for her to use stairs, has lived in the building for 35 years. Her daily decision of whether to go out is "greatly" impacted by whether the elevators are in working order, or if family or the superintendent is able to help her carry her belongings up the initial steps served by the dysfunctional wheelchair lift.

“To be confined to one place, it puts you in a state of depression. You really can't function the way you normally function,” McDuffie told amNewYork. “You become a prisoner of your own apartment.” 

McDuffie, 55, is suing landlord Claudette Henry, who’s made the city’s list of Top 10 Worst Landlords, and management company SHINDA. Fellow tenants Habibulahi Olowu, 21, and a minor child going by the initials M.V.D. in court papers, both of whom use wheelchairs, signed onto the lawsuit with McDuffy.

In suits filed this week, they accuse the building’s management of violating city, state and federal human rights law in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn; and, in Brooklyn Housing Court, they further allege the building’s lack of cooking gas since late last year is unlawful.

Additionally, water leaks into the apartment when it rains, there’s been cockroach infestations and pipes have burst — all problems they say management has neglected.

Attempts to reach the landlord and management company for comment were unavailing. 

Brooklyn tenants left frustrated by elevator, lift failures

A lack of response from those in charge of the building is an all too familiar experience for the tenants, who say the non-answers they received to their questions of when the cooking gas, wheelchair lift, and elevator would be in working order were what drove them to contact the Legal Aid Society to file suit.

“Whenever we call management, we never could speak to management,” McDuffie said. “We always have to leave a message. They don’t call you back. If they do call you back, they just say, ‘We are working on the problem.’”  

McDuffie said not having cooking gas for roughly eight months has made it difficult for her to eat properly and has forced her to spend money on takeout and purchase various cooking appliances she otherwise wouldn’t have, just to feed herself. Despite this, tenants would never get updates or explanations, regardless of how often they called, she said.

After she was dismissed by management representatives in person earlier this year, she called up Legal Aid to start building her case. 

“Regardless of the fact that we're disabled, we're still human, we still have needs and wants,” McDuffie said. “Maybe we can't do things like we used to … but we do have feelings, and, bottom line, I just don't want to be ignored or just pushed under the table like I'm a nobody.”

Olowu, a CUNY student whose spinal disability requires him to use a wheelchair, echoed McDuffie’s sentiment. Not having a reliable way to leave his second-floor apartment has caused him to miss class and made him feel dependent on others in a way he thought he wouldn’t need to be, since he’s renting an apartment with a wheelchair lift and elevators.  

“It is incredibly frustrating,” said Olowu. “I believed that this was a building that could help me with my independence, but I don’t have a choice but to call the super [for help] … It's a huge problem when it comes to my independence as a disabled person living in that building.”

Olowu isn’t alone in his frustrations with being reliant on the building’s super to lift him and his wheelchair up and down stairs. M.V.D., the child suing the Union Street building’s management via her parents, has also missed school because the super wasn’t available to help her mother carry her 150-pound wheelchair. 

“To have her be dependent on, essentially, some random person, who may or may not be available to lift her up and down really limits her and her family's ability to do what they need to do on a daily basis,” said Madeleine Reichman, the Legal Aid attorney representing the tenants in federal court. “And, on a safety level, it's very dangerous for her to be carried up and down, since she could fall. That could be really devastating for her, based on her medical condition.”

Reichman said suits like this one are important because they are one of the few avenues to force landlords to provide legally required disability accommodations in a tight housing market that can make them feel they don’t need to follow the law.

“Housing is in such low supply that people are really desperate to find a place to live, and if they finally find an apartment, people take what they are able to,” Reichman said. “It's just really unfortunate that landlords don't respect their tenants' rights.”

Taking legal action in situations like this is critical, she said, both to promote the independence of individuals with disabilities and to support the broader movement that pressures landlords to focus on accessibility rather than cheaping out and letting their older buildings fall into disrepair.

“It's a tool to force landlords to invest more in their buildings to make them habitable for people with disabilities,” Reichman said. “It's really important to put pressure on landlords to be thinking about and accommodating tenants with disabilities, and making sure that their voices are heard and that their needs are being met.”

The NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) announced the opening of school swimming pools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx on June 9, totaling more than $55 million in investments to improve aquatic facilities for public school students. 

Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated pool at James Monroe Educational Campus in the Bronx at 1300 Boynton Ave. in Soundview. The event also recognized the new pools at the George Washington Educational Campus in Washington Heights and the Samuel J. Tilden Educational Campus in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

The newly reopened pool at James Monroe underwent a renovation as part of a $10.1 million SCA project. Work included accessibility upgrades and full renovation of the existing pool, allowing the facility to return to active use after construction began in June 2023.

“Swimming pools are essential school amenities that support physical education, recreation, and critical water safety instruction for students across the five boroughs,” Nina Kubota, president and CEO of the SCA, said. “These projects reflect our commitment to ensuring students have access to safe, modern facilities that promote health, wellness, and personal growth.”

At the Tilden campus, the SCA completed a $23.5 million project to deliver a newly upgraded pool facility, with construction beginning in September 2022 and the pool returning to service in 2025.

At George Washington, the SCA completed a $21.7 million project that included the construction of two new swimming pools and upgrades to low-voltage systems. Construction began in July 2022, and the pools are now operational for students.

“Seeing not one, not two, but three incredible new swimming pools open across our school communities is a clear investment in opportunity for our students and families,” Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. “These state-of-the-art facilities will provide access to learning to swim programs, lifeguard training, water sports, and competitive swim meets for years to come.”

NYC has been investing heavily in school and public aquatic facilities through the SCA and the billion-dollar Let’s Swim NYC initiative to improve and build public pools. In June 2024, officials reported seven school-pool upgrades across the city, including two newly completed swimming pools at the Harry S. Truman High School campus in the Bronx.

The transit authority is expanding its Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) program to the B15 in Brooklyn and M31 in Manhattan, the agency said. The routes go from Bedford-Stuyvesant to East New York and between East Harlem and Randall's Island respectively.

The program, which the MTA rolled out in June 2024, will see cameras attached to buses on both routes, issuing fines to drivers caught riding or parking in busways and bus lanes. It is part of the MTA's and the city Department of Transporation's (DOT) broader efforts to speed up the city's sluggish buses, which are among the slowest in the country. 

Under the program, fines for drivers caught using busways or bus lanes, blocking bus stops, or illegally double parked will start at $50 and increase by $50 increments for repeat offenses until reaching a maximum $250. The violations, which are issued every two hours, are civil penalties and do not effect the offenders driving record.

Once it collects video, images, license plate information, location, and time stamp information from drivers, it sends it to DOT and the city Department of Finance for review.

With the two new routes included, the MTA will have ACE cameras on 64 bus lines, the agency said. Over 1,900 buses are now outfitted with ACE cameras, covering 810 miles, and benefitting over one million riders.

DOT counts the addition of ACE cameras to routes toward new protected bus lane miles it is required to produce ach year under the city's Streets Plan. Year after year, the city has fallen far short on number of both bike and bus lanes that it is mandaed to bill each year.

The MTA touts the ACE program as a resounding success.

The agency says that when paried with other improvements, such as bus lanes and street enhancements, ACE cameras have been shown to improve bus speeds. On parts of some routes where ACE has been installed, buses are moving as much as 30% faster.

The MTA earlier this year also reported a 40% drop in instances of drivers blocking bus stops accross ACE routes, 50 at the time, since it launched the program.

Facing a must-win to avoid the dreaded 3-0 hole, the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, 115-111, snapping the Knicks’ 13-game playoff winning streak and cutting their series lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Before tip-off, Brooklynites Jennifer and David — who were among the Knicks fans at a packed watch party at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg — told Brooklyn Paper they were confident the Knicks would sweep the Spurs after taking a 2-0 lead with wins at the Frost Center in San Antonio in Games 1 and 2.

“We're gonna win, and we're gonna win in four. The parade is on Friday,” Jennifer told Brooklyn Paper, with David adding, “Have you not seen what's going on? Look at how they're playing; they got it, and we got Brunson.”

A group of Knicks fans from Rockland County and New Jersey traveled to Brooklyn because they said the atmosphere was calmer than in Manhattan.

“Manhattan is really packed right now. It's just better for us to be out here than being in that madness, and right now, because of Trump, it’s even worse,” Knicks fan Chris said, referring to tightened security around Madison Square Garden with President Trump attending Game 3.

He said he was confident the Knicks would win the NBA Finals 4-0, saying the momentum the team built had energized its fan base.

“They're riding high. Now that they're in New York, it's just like that energy's gonna be amplified, so they're gonna win,” Chris said.

His friend, Rockland County resident Jaden, was the only one in the group to predict the Spurs would win at least one game.

“But we got it at the end of the day, for sure. The Knicks, baby,” Jaden said.

The Spurs led 33-22 after the first quarter, but the Knicks found their footing and led 64-59 at halftime. Fans were still jubilant about the prospect of sweeping the five-time NBA champions from the Alamo City.

Brooklyn resident Knowledge was pleased with the Knicks’ play in the first half.

“Spurs came out with intensity, like they were supposed to. They played desperately, and they jumped to a real quick lead, but they don't have the patience and the experience to maintain the lead, which led the Knicks right back in the game,” Knowledge told Brooklyn Paper, predicting the teams would be more physical in the second half.

“The refs are gonna try to get more control of the game, they're gonna start calling a little bit tight again, but that's gonna work out to the Knicks' favor,” he added.

However, in the second half, fans’ jubilation and hopes for a sweep turned to frustration as the Knicks struggled to keep the Spurs in check. Spurs star forward-center Victor “Wemby” Wembanyama finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while point guard Stephon Castle added 23 points, five assists and five rebounds. Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, and OG Anunoby added 28.

Micah said he was frustrated by some of the referees’ calls, pointing to the Spurs’ 24 free throw attempts in the second half compared with the Knicks’ eight. Still, he remained confident the Knicks would go all the way and win their second NBA title after a 53-year drought.

“I think the Knicks have the better team. I think the Spurs tonight had the better refs,” Micah said. “It seemed like the Spurs were getting all the calls they wanted, and the Knicks were getting none. It just seemed like the refs wanted the Spurs to win; it just seemed very one-sided.”

Held June 6 and 7 at the aquarium on Surf Avenue, the celebration invited visitors to explore more than 4,500 aquatic animals while participating in hands-on activities designed to promote environmental stewardship and awareness of the world’s oceans.

This year’s event introduced several new attractions, including the Spineless Wonders Keeper Chat, where guests could learn about marine invertebrates, and the Natural Treasures sand dig station, which allowed children and families to uncover ocean-themed artifacts. Additional activities included themed face painting, sensory bubble shows and ocean-themed trivia games.

Returning favorites included keeper chats featuring seals, sea lions and penguins live performances at the Aquatheater and Wildlife Theater, the Ocean Shell-a-bration parade, community art projects and crafts.

The event comes as communities along Brooklyn’s shoreline continues to grapple with the impact of litter on local beaches. NYC.gov said the Parks Department removes roughly “120 tons of garbage each summer day” from the beaches. This includes the high-traffic areas of Coney Island and Manhattan Beach.

Organizers of the Ocean Shell-a-bration said that many regular beachgoers have noticed the stark difference between the cleanliness of the beach during the early morning hours and its condition later in the day, when trash left behind by visitors became more visible.

According to a Stephanie Joseph, curator of education at the New York Aquarium, approximately 200 volunteers participated and removed roughly 170 pounds of debris from the shoreline.

“My favorite thing about hosting this event each year is seeing people come together, all ages and backgrounds, to clean our beaches and protect our oceans,” she said. “These projects not only provide a healthy habitat for the species who live here but a happier place for people, too!”

She added that the most commonly collected items included cigarette butts, bottle caps, broken glass and plastic bottles.

As part of its broader conservation efforts, the aquarium partnered with a coaltion of environmental and community organizations for the cleanup initiative in Coney Island. Partners included Peace Boat U.S., Oceanic Global, Brooklyn FC, NYC Parks, the National Wildlife Foundation and more.

World Oceans Day, observed yearly on June 8, was established by the United Nations in 2008. Its goal is to raise awareness about the importance of healthy oceans and sustainable environmental practices, calling people to “reimagine” our roles as “active guardians” of the ocean’s future.

At a rally on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 4, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and representatives of 20 social service organizations called for urgent action to address the growing crisis of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit theft across New York City, particularly in Brooklyn.

The New York State Office of the State Comptroller reported about 85,000 SNAP skimming cases totaling nearly $40 million in stolen benefits between 2023 and 2024. Since 2023, Brooklyn and the Bronx have accounted for 60% of reimbursement claims.

SNAP benefit theft most often occurs through skimming schemes, in which criminals install illegal devices on ATMs or point-of-sale terminals to capture cardholders' EBT card information and PINs. The stolen data is then used to create counterfeit cards and drain victims' accounts.

Benefits are also stolen through phishing scams via text messages, emails or phone calls, in which criminals impersonate state agency employees and claim there is an emergency with recipients' SNAP benefits to gain access to PINs and personal information. In other cases, thieves exploit numbers assigned to authorized retailers to access payment networks that process SNAP transactions. Once they gain access, they empty recipients' accounts.

At the rally, Reynoso outlined several proposals he detailed in a letter to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the New York City Department of Social Services (DDS), calling for stronger protections for SNAP recipients.

Reynoso is urging the creation of a dedicated "Office of SNAP Fraud" within HRA/DSS to investigate fraud patterns, coordinate enforcement efforts, and centralize reporting and data collection. He also called on state agencies to accelerate the transition from magnetic-stripe EBT cards to more secure chip-enabled cards.

While Gov. Kathy Hochul committed to upgrading New York's EBT cards in her January State of the State address, and OTDA has said New Yorkers would begin using the improved cards by February 2027, Reynoso called for greater transparency about the rollout timeline.

Other proposals include stronger interagency coordination to combat fraud, accessible reporting channels for SNAP theft victims and a multilingual public education campaign on skimming prevention.

The Brooklyn Beep and advocates also called for a dedicated victim reimbursement fund for SNAP theft. After the American Relief Act of 2025 did not extend provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed by Congress in late 2022, which allowed states to use federal funds to replace stolen SNAP benefits, victims, including many families, were left without food assistance and with no way to recover their losses.

"We're in the richest city in the world, and New Yorkers are going hungry every single day. This is a travesty, and that is why it's so important," Reynoso said. "SNAP helped families like mine survive with dignity, and New York has a responsibility to preserve that dignity. But across New York, as SNAP is under attack, families are losing their benefits to scams, skimming in particular, where SNAP data is stolen, while swiping EBT cards is a serious issue plaguing these recipients. Food is being stolen directly from families and working New Yorkers, and Brooklyn is at the heart of this crisis."

Kong Leung Chan spoke on behalf of his son, who was a victim of SNAP benefit theft. His family was "shocked" to learn that criminals had stolen more than $500 in benefits, Leung Chan recalled.

"When benefits are stolen, there is no help, no support. Just more pain and less food," Leung Chan said. "That is why I'm here today for my son and all the families like us. We need action; we need better protection for families."

Rabbi Niederman of the United Jewish Organization said there is already a stigma attached to EBT recipients, who can feel even more humiliated when their cards are declined at the checkout line.

"Let us please understand, we are not talking about theft of money, that's not the issue. We are here for one reason, because our refrigerators, the shelves where we keep [food], our children should have to eat are empty," Niederman said.

Val Xelo, a community organizer for Mixteca, shared the story of a community member who regularly checked her SNAP balance and believed her benefits had been cut because her account showed no funds. It wasn't until she received a recertification letter that she realized she had become a victim of SNAP benefit theft.

"Confused about the situation, she visited the SNAP office for assistance," Xelo said. "Unfortunately, she was told that she would need to wait until next month for the funds to be submitted to her new card. She still does not understand how her account was compromised, and still feels very vulnerable, and that the situation may continue to happen, especially as the funds are being taken directly from her account."

The Council of Peoples Organization provides services to low-income Muslim and South Asian immigrants and connects families with vital programs such as SNAP.

Its founder and executive director, Mohammad Razvi, told Brooklyn Paper it was devastating to see families his organization had helped enroll in SNAP lose their benefits to fraud.

"Especially when there are families with kids. Even individually, it's not fair, but people who have kids have been scammed just because they went to a grocery store and there was a skimmer, and [criminals] took [their benefits]," Razvi said.