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Get on Board to Learn About Your Community
Once you’ve moved into a new neighborhood—or even before you’ve decided which neighborhood is your favorite—it’s important to find out more about the area: Who lives there? What concerns and issues might you face as a resident? What’s ahead as far as plans for new businesses—a nightclub on your block, for example—or street improvements, and how will they affect your daily life? Community Boards are New York City’s inside track to what’s going on in your community.

There is one Community Board for each of the City’s 59 Community Districts. Each board has as many as 50 voting members, with half of the membership appointed each year.

Community Boards have an important advisory role in addressing things like land use and zoning—they must be consulted on placement of most municipal facilities in the community and on land use issues. They may also initiate their own plans for the growth and well-being of their communities. For City budget allocation, Community Boards assess the needs of their own neighborhoods, meet with City agencies, and make recommendations. Basically if it affects the life of the community—from a traffic problem to deteriorating housing—it’s a concern of a Community Board.

Monthly Board meetings provide a public forum for members to speak up about items of concern to the community. Boards regularly conduct hearings on the City budget, land use matters and other important items. Each Board generally has its own web site where you can find updates on upcoming meetings, news, important votes, activities and even block parties.

From parking rules on your street, new developments and historic preservation in your neighborhood to an upcoming Easter Egg Hunt, check in with the Board to get your questions answered and get involved.

You can find your Community Board at http://www.nyc.gov/html.