End Days for Community Boards?
Brooklyn’s community boards probably won’t be accomplishing much of consequence over the next year, according to an article in today’s Daily News. Our borough’s 19 boards recently submitted requests to the city for things they’d like to see happen in fiscal year 2009, like a new sewer in Prospect Heights and a new police precinct…
Brooklyn’s community boards probably won’t be accomplishing much of consequence over the next year, according to an article in today’s Daily News. Our borough’s 19 boards recently submitted requests to the city for things they’d like to see happen in fiscal year 2009, like a new sewer in Prospect Heights and a new police precinct in Bushwick. The city has told most boards to keep dreaming, and it’s only committing to small measures like getting new printers for Bushwick’s firehouse. The city also plans to slash the already meager budgets community boards have to play with. “They’re basically sounding the death knell for community boards,” said CB1 District Manager Gerald Esposito. Is it true? Could we really be witnessing a slow sunsetting of community boards? And if that turns out to be the case, what’s going to replace their role?
Brooklyn Community Boards Expecting a Lean 2009 [NY Daily News]
CB6 Chief Talks Community Board Budget Cuts [Brownstoner]
Photo by Bryan Bruchman.
Community boards vary in effectiveness. CB14 pioneered local youth service and sanitation planning, as well as 90-min. ASP, blocked Rudy Giuliani’s takeover of parkland for a pro baseball team, protected Flatbush kids from rush-hour vehicle emissions, downsized a shopping mall loading zone, prevented DOT from creating bus-turn traffic hazards, got DCP to rezone Midwood and prospectively, Flatbush, and fought for a new 70 Pct. house. CB14 publishes a useful annual neighborhood resource guide and holds regular public hearings to give people a chance to learn what’s happening and fight it if it doesn’t make sense. CBs aren’t perfect, but we’d be worse off without them.
“Members are appointed to Community Boards by both City Council members and the Borough President for 2 year terms.”
So 12:33 would be correct. The members are appointed (democratic?) not elected by the people who they are supposed to represent.
10:47,
I beg to differ. Most of the improvements within CB14 happened because of activism on behalf of CB14 residents who made their elected officials aware of their priorities. Many neighborhood associations, grassroots organizations, merchant associations and non-profits, particularly in Ditmas Park, have done more for the area recently than CB14.
I’ve seen many Community Boards over the years and each one is different. From what I’ve seen of the Flatbush Board 14, the members, with 1 or 2 exceptions are not cronies and aren’t beholden to anyone. The members are fiercely independant and have voted against the wishes of the Councilmembers who appointed them. This is due to the tone set by the previous District Manager Terri Rhodie who served for many years. I’ve seen other Boards where the members are just hacks who hire an incompetent District Manager sent by politicians, and of couse nothing is accomplished. A well managed board with serious committed members works for the benefit of the community. Don’t lump all boards together.
Thank god! These boards are just local fiefdoms and futile and a waste of precious resources and funds! CB1 just caused the entire down zoning of an area without really consulting anyone who owned the properties to be affected. These Boards do way way more damage then good. I havent seen any of these Boards embrace the 1million Trees program or any other local community driven program initiated by the City.
What would NYC do without CBs? Sure they can be obstructionary, self-satisfied, and do-nothing (I should know – I serve on mine!).
But they are the best venue for a private citizen with a question to go and find answers. They could call 311, or their councilperson, but they would not make any connection with other like-minded citizens that adds to the sense of community. Having a forum where 30 to 50 community activists and advocates (and, yes, budding leaders) get together and discuss issues pertinent to their immediate community – how can that be a bad thing, for the activists/advocates OR the community?
It is incumbent upon the elected representatives to appoint a diverse and representative body to the community board. On my board, I personally would love to see 20 or so seats currently occupied by dead wood – retirees with nothing better to do, political cronies, etc. – exchanged for genuinely involved people. But that’s pretty much my only complaint.
By “needs of the community” 12.33 means “the wishes of the developers”.
To 12:33 Members are appointed to Community Boards by both City Council members and the Borough President for 2 year terms. They spend a minimum of 3 evening a month at meetings and receive no pay. The chairperson and executive members are elected by the 50 members of each Board. Neither the chaiman nor any Board member chooses who is appointed to the Board.
to 11:39AM. They are incompetent and do not represent the desires and needs of the community. They are not democratic and are elected by other board members and not the community. Down with them, I’m happy. They should be called NIMBY boards.