My Board Appointment in CB7-District 38
I was appointed to serve on the board of my district in the summer of 2022 and couldn’t be more excited to share my thoughts on this forum. 2022 has been amazing for so many reasons and my involvement in CB7 is definitely part of that.
Growing up - much like many other families, it was ingrained into me that it was important to give back to your community whenever you could. When I was a kid I would volunteer at the Special Olympics in the summers and I remember helping my mom and grandmother raise funds or doing odd jobs for the charities they support. When I moved to New York many years ago, I started from scratch finding my “people” and over the years (especially during covid) had been getting increasingly involved with profits like In Gods Love We Deliver and Babs-Pac.
I moved to Sunset Park fairly recently and after living in downtown hubs, this was by far the most community-centric area I’ve lived in. Sunset Park is definitely a hidden gem of New York and I found myself feeling very connected to my tree-lined block and wonderful neighbors from all over. I also quickly started noticing things I wanted to change and ways that I could help. With no luck from 311 and working with local representatives, I found myself looking into an open seat on the board. Fast forward to today, it is my honor to be an active board member of CB7 representing the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights, and South Park Slope under Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
So, what is a district board? There are 59 Community Boards citywide, 18 in Brooklyn. We are a local level of City government comprised of board members who are appointed to two-year terms by the Borough President and the local City Councilmembers.
What does a district board do?The Boards allow communities to have a say in local decisions. The Board meets once a month to determine the community's response to citywide issues or make choices on local issues. The public is welcome to attend and participate in these meetings, as well as committee meetings and Public Hearings, which are held to keep the public informed on major community issues and to allow the public a say in land use decisions in our community. The Board also works with local City agencies to direct them to local problem areas, produces an annual report on our neighborhoods' needs and votes to determine our priorities within the City Budget. Our Board also has taken on planning for the redevelopment of our waterfront throughout 197-A Committee and helps to coordinate and improve local services through our District Service Cabinet.
Let’s talk about committees: In addition to monthly board meetings, members are appointed to serve on committee’s that pertain to specific topics. The two committee’s I am currently serving on are as follows:
Economic Development-Waterfront: The Economic Development/Waterfront Committee meets to discuss issues involving our industrial and commercial areas and ways in which we can improve the local economy and job base in the community and along the waterfront
Education/Youth: The Education/Youth Committee meets to discuss issues on school policies, construction/repair of schools, examines issues affecting the youth of the community including recreation, education and employment programs
Other committees: Capital and Expense Budget: The Capital and Expense Budget Committee is responsible for voting on the Board's local budget priorities. The Committee's vote takes place after a Public Hearing which is typically held on the second Wednesday of October. Those priorities are then presented to the entire Board for a vote.
Public Safety: The Public Safety Committee meets to discuss local issues involving police, fire, emergency services and emergency preparedness (in case of natural disasters, terrorism, power outages etc.) and other quality of life concerns.
Community boards play a crucial role in how New York City’s residents and neighborhoods interact with their government. Boards are the first point of interaction between constituents and the city, its agencies and its agenda. The advisory recommendations that Community Boards issues are taken into consideration by all levels of government and shape the development of their neighborhoods in substantial ways. Although at times challenging to be in an advisory role to the city, the most rewarding part about serving on a community board is addressing community concerns in a fair way.
I love the people I’ve met and collaborated with on the board. They dedicate their time and effort (outside of their day jobs) to ensure the highest quality of life for their neighborhoods and as someone just entering the space I am repeatedly humbled by individuals who have dedicated their lives to public service.
I highly recommend getting involved in your local government more and at the risk of sounding condescending I am personally finding it more rewarding than reposting Instagram stories or tweeting about what is wrong with the city.
There are so many great ways to get involved but if you’re considering a local branch of government, consider starting here.
