Make A Better Manhattan, Join Your Community Board, Boro Prez Says

MANHATTAN, NY — A new recipe for a better Manhattan involves a snarky ad campaign, local government, and (apologies) not one drop of whiskey.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine shared with Patch this week a newly launched borough-wide campaign dubbed "Get on Board," urging Manhattanites to apply to join their local community boards.

“We need to ensure our 12 Manhattan Community Boards are true representations of the communities they serve," Levine said. "This means reaching out to people who traditionally haven’t been encouraged to take part in the application process.”

The ads will go live online and get shown on sidewalk LinkNYC kiosks, featuring the snark New Yorkers hold near and dear.

"Like talking trash?" A trash bag asks. "Don't just Tweet about it."

Next to a photo sparkling cocktail, the ad promises the opportunity to "Make a better Manhattan."

Two new advertisements air until the application deadline at 5 p.m. on March 17.

Manhattan Community Boards By Neighborhood

• Community Board 1 (Financial District, Battery Park City, Tribeca, Seaport)
• Community Board 2 (Greenwich Village, SoHo, NoHo, Little Italy, Hudson Sq., Chinatown)
• Community Board 3 (Chinatown, Lower East Side)
• Community Board 4 (Chelsea, Clinton, Hell’s Kitchen)
• Community Board 5 (Midtown)
• Community Board 6 (Gramercy, Murray Hill, Turtle Bay, Stuyvesant Town/PCV, Kips Bay)
• Community Board 7 (Upper West Side)
• Community Board 8 (Upper East Side)
• Community Board 9 (West Harlem)
• Community Board 10 (Central Harlem)
• Community Board 11 (East Harlem)
• Community Board 12 (Washington Heights, Inwood)

(You must live within the Community Board district to serve. Those interested in applying can do so HERE.)

Last year, Manhattan community boards received a near record-breaking number of applications, Levine said.

During his first year as borough president in 2022, Levine prioritized a shift of the applications "to better reflect the diverse make-up of the borough during the selection process."

Each of the 12 community boards in Manhattan are made up of 50 volunteers who serve staggered two-year terms with 25 members appointed or reappointed each year.

Last year, 885 applications put forth their names to join one of the 12 boards for the 319 open positions.

Of those 319 accepted applicants, 91 were first-time appointments to boards.

“We want Manhattanites to stop seeing Community Boards as anything separate or exclusive from the communities and neighborhoods they represent," Levine said. "But instead view them as really part of their communities' unique make-up."