Members of the liberal city council, known for their anti-Israel remarks, poured more than $149,000 in taxpayer money into various Arab immigrant groups linked to their husbands, the Post learned.
Brooklyn Councillor Shahana Hanif (D-39) used discretionary funds to pay for a variety of nonprofits her husband is involved, including the Arab American Association of New York, the Arab American Family Support Center, and the New York Immigration Union.
And, according to public records, pro-Palestinian lawmakers increased or reduced the amount they gave to several groups in response to their husbands' involvement.
Hanif's husband, Abdullah Yunus, joined the Arab-American Family Support Center board of directors in 2024, giving $35,000 to the group. In 2025, she again raised the Antee – giving her $50,000.
In 2022, Honiff gave to the Arab American Association, where then-boyfriend Younus, who was on the board, dropped the funds when he left to join the Family Support Center.
Neither Honiff nor the Arab American Family Support Center revealed conflicts of interest to the New York City Council, according to documents reviewed by the Post.
Christine Doyle, 56, a retired lawyer living in the Hanif district, discovered a questionable spending pattern for councillors after she was dissatisfied with the councillors' attitude towards her community members.
“I don't think there's a group of members that she isn't offended,” Doyle said.
“She had no physical office for over a year and was completely inaccessible, and when her office opened, she was totally rude to her constituents,” she said.
Doyle makes it clear that the mission of the organization receiving the funds is unproblematic, but the seemingly shady nature of the transaction.
“It's like we're married now, and this organization is going to win $50,000,” Doyle said.
“You don't do that, and if so, you tell people doing it. When she was single in Gowanus with her cat, I liked her more,” she said.
Hanif has a history of controversy with her own constituents, as she represents areas with a high Jewish population, such as Park Slope and Kensington.
In 2023, she was arrested at the Gaza Cerez Rally, one of two councillors who voted against protesters chanting anti-Israel slogans and enacting “Jewish Day” in New York.
Hanif's team did not respond to requests for comment.
