Community Board 8 Wants To Know What Your UES Needs Are

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side isn't perfect.

There's a huge lack of open space, worsening traffic congestion, constant construction, not enough school seats, increasing homelessness, unaffordable rents, and of course crime, which, despite some recent positive trends, still sits at the highest level in over a decade.

Luckily, Community Board 8 wants to hear about what you think the neighborhood's pressing needs are in the annual Community District Needs Statement.

Last week, the Board sent out a survey asking for neighborhood opinions ahead of a virtual meeting on Sept. 7 to discuss the District Needs and Budget Priority.

The statements are collected annually from each community board and are used across the strata of city government to help make informed, local decisions in the budget process, city planning and the delivery of city agency resources.

Each statement allows space for residents to come together and formally tell the city what the community's needs are and even make specific budget requests.

"We encourage all New Yorkers to be involved through their local community board so that your City budget priorities are reflected – and even funded,” said DCP Director Dan Garodnick.

For The Upper East Side, the top three priorities since 2018 have been affordable housing, parks and schools.

Community District Needs Statement have been a part of the budget and planning process in the city since 1979 and has resulted in a good number of projects being funded and completed, including a reconstruction of a library in Greenpoint and the renovation of Pulaski Park in The Bronx — both initiated after being identified as a district need, according to the city.

Several Upper East Side budget requests have been recently completed or are in the planning stages, according to the current needs statement, including a ramp at the Yorkville library, resurfaced bike lanes on Roosevelt Island and more funding for summer youth employment programs.

Statement need to be submitted by the end of October.

You can read the current, and past, District Needs Statements here.