Manhattan Community Board Six

 

It would be impossible to state all the items our committees work on; therefore, the following is a brief description of committee responsibilities.

 

Budget & Governmental Affairs

 a. Prepares the District Capital and Expense budget priorities and District Needs Statement.

b. Reviews and comments on the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget.

c. Prepares questions to be answered by heads of agencies at Borough Consultations.

d. Work with elected officials on budget related issues.

Business Affairs & Street Activities

 a. Sidewalk Cafes – review of new and renewal applications for enclosed and unenclosed sidewalk cafes.

b. Liquor Licenses – reviews new applications; transfers, additional on premise bars and extensions; review of licenses for problematic establishments. 

c. Street Fairs – review of street fair and block party applications.

d. Mediation – mediates community concerns with businesses in the district.

 Housing & Homeless Services

 a. Monitors and reviews the operations and services rendered by the Department of Homeless Services, (DHS) and the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development, (HPD) to this community.

b. Meets monthly with the private and public service providers for homeless families and individuals in our community.  They are: Partnership for the Homeless, the Coalition for the Homeless, Project Renewal/New Providence Women’s Shelter, Grand Central Drop In Center, DHS’ 30^th Street Men’s Shelter, Volunteers of America, The Kenmore/Supportive Housing, BRC Project Rescue Homeless Outreach.

c. Monitors and formulates resolutions on: affordable housing, rent control, rent stabilization, the rent guideline board, federal Section 8 vouchers, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) vacancy decontrol, and Mitchell-Lama housing).

d. Also monitors new construction and demolition of existing units.

 Health, Senior, & Disability Issues

 a. Deals with issues relating to health, senior citizen services; children services; substance abuse clinic services; public services for the physically challenged, the mentally ill, and other disadvantaged population groups.

b. Monitors the functioning of our 6 area hospitals and their programs.

c. Periodic updates from Community Advisory Committees (CAC) (area hospitals and other social service providers).

 Land Use

 Reviews and submits recommendations on:

a. Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP): e.g., designations of zoning districts under the zoning resolution, including conversion from one land use to another; adoption of special permits; acquisition by the city of real property, by purchase, condemnation, exchange or lease including land under water; approval of the plotting of land into streets, avenues or public places; changes in the city map, development or improvement of property as proposed by the City Planning Commission and enacted by the City Council.

b. Board of Standard and Appeals (BSA) – reviews and submits recommendations for variances and special permits.

c. 197-a Plans – proactive community planning, e.g. Stuyvesant Cove Park.  The committee also consults with developers on major building projects.

  Parks, Landmarks, & Cultural Affairs

 a. Advocates the preservation of our parks, recreation, open spaces, and trees.  Support and find opportunities for new open spaces and recreational facilities. Make budget recommendations for capital spending of park and open space dollars, monitors proposed uses and permits in parks.

b. Landmarks – advocates for the preservation of our historic districts; and makes recommendations on buildings and neighborhoods to be designated as New York City landmarks; also makes recommendations on proposed changes to designated buildings.

c. Cultural Affairs – make recommendations on applications for cultural funding.

d. Liaison to: Dept. of Parks & Recreation; Landmarks Preservation Commission; Public Library system; Dept of Cultural Affairs.

 Public Safety

 a. Deals with NYPD, FDNY, EMS issues, Anti-Terrorism, Terrorist Attack Preparedness, and Dept. of Buildings as it relates to building codes, e.g., electric and fire.

b. Environment – deal with DEP, DOS, and monitors various construction projects, e.g. Con Edison.

c. Human Rights – deals with discrimination issues: e.g., civil rights and the American Disabilities Act.

 Transportation   (“On land, on foot, on sea and in the air, this committee deals with all the issues of getting around”).

 a. Pedestrian issues, buses, bicycles, helicopters subways, and ferries; the committee tries to make getting around safer, more convenient, and more accessible.

d. Monitors the impact of traffic on the quality of life, e.g. traffic lights, turning lanes etc. and works on ways to decrease congestion and improve the flow of traffic and encourage safer sidewalks.

c. Works on issues regarding the FDR Drive within our district.

d. Tracks the progress of the Second Avenue Subway Construction project.

 Youth & Education

 Monitor and review youth services, juvenile justice system, summer youth employment programs, early childhood education, school safety, Dept of Education, CUNY, and higher education.  We explore issues that affect young people to the age of 21.