Applications Open To Join Manhattan Community Boards

Upper East Side NY

13 January, 2021

1:42 PM

Description

NEW YORK, NY — Applications opened this month for Manhattan residents to join one of the borough's 12 community boards, which play a key role in city policy. Community boards are tasked with weighing in on land use and development, deciding whether to issue permits such as liquor licenses, assessing neighborhood needs, and addressing community concerns. The applications are handled by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who encouraged people to apply for one of the 300 available seats. Applications for this year are available until Feb. 1 and can be found here. A PDF version can be printed and mailed to the Borough President's office or dropped off in-person. "Community Boards are the most local form of government, comprised of everyday New Yorkers who care about their community and want a shot at tackling their city's biggest policy questions and how it impacts their neighborhood," Brewer said in a statement. Board members have a say in encouraging affordable housing, ensuring safe streets, furthering racial justice, influencing the future of NYCHA and keeping streets clean, Brewer said. Each year, 300 community board seats open up for two-year appointments, along with one-year vacancies that occur when members leave. The Borough President appoints all members and selects half of each year's members, while the other half is nominated by the City Council members that represent each board district. Click through a citywide map of community boards here, view a list of current members here and apply here. Patch reporter Anna Quinn contributed.