Manhattan Borough Prez Scott Stringer Aims To Revamp Community Boards

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer paid a surprise visit to the Brooklyn  meeting Wednesday night, delivering an impassioned speech on the need to elevate all 59 Boards in the eyes of city government.

"I want to create citywide planning agenda that is community based," said Stringer, noting that New York City Community Boards have not had an increase in budget in all of his tenure. "You are the people that know your streets and what your neighborhood needs, and we must make those needs heard by the city."

commended Community Board 6 for his work on behalf of his neighbors, saying that the Park Slope and Carroll Gardens areas are fortunate to have boardmembers who are well-versed in many of the landmarking, zoning and other issues placed before them.

But not all Boards across the city are created equal. Some of the ideas Stringer shared for strengthening all boards included a merit-based screening process, appointing an urban planner graduate student to each Board, and creating "an inter-agency planning vehicle that looks at city in 3-, 4-, and 5-year gaps."

"Why are we creating new housing that produces new children and then find we don’t have room in our schools for them years later?" Stringer posited, urging members of communities to get involved in local government.

In fact, Community Board 6 is now accepting applications from anyone interested in taking a more active role in neighborhood issues.

Each Board consists of up to 50 unsalaried members appointed by the Borough President, with half nominated by the City Council Members who represent the community district. 

Visit Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz' website to view responsibilities and get details on the application process.  

"Let's look at governmentt and see how neighborhoods can have a better role in what gets built in communities," Stringer said.