Editor’s Note: The following story was first published in our print edition dated Sept. 14, 2023.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson hosted an inaugural swearing-in ceremony for 145 of the Bronx’s newest community board members at Lehman College on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

 

According to the City of New York, community boards are local representative bodies. There are 59 community boards throughout the City, and each one consists of up to 50 unsalaried members, half of whom are nominated by their district’s City Council members. Board members are selected and appointed by the borough presidents of each borough from among active, involved people of each community, who must reside, work, or have some other significant interest in that community.

 

Each community board is led by a district manager who establishes an office, hires staff, and implements procedures to improve the delivery of City services to the district. While the main responsibility of the board office is to receive complaints from community residents, they also maintain other duties, such as processing permits for block parties and street fairs. Many boards choose to provide additional services and manage special projects that cater to specific community needs, including organizing tenants associations, coordinating neighborhood cleanup programs, and more.

 

During the Bronx swearing in ceremony, held in Lehman College’s Music Building’s faculty dining room, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, the borough president highlighted earlier efforts to ensure fairness, equity, and broader participation on the boards, mirroring what she described as the diversity on all 12 Bronx community boards. To this end, this year, the Bronx’s first-ever online community board digital application was made available in English and in Spanish, as previously reported.

 

“I am excited and energized about our new class of community board members who represent the rich diversity and mosaic of our borough,” said Gibson. “From single parents and caregivers to high school students, veterans’, LGBTQIA+ residents, and others who have a vested interest in seeing change in their communities, this entire group is ready and prepared to contribute in their new role to ensure that our neighborhoods run efficiently, with all the resources and tools necessary to thrive.”

 

She continued, “I look forward to this opportunity to work with our new and returning members to advocate for the needs of our residents and families.” After the official swearing in, and the obligatory and collective Bronx “X”sign photo, various members of City government provided training to the members and an overview of how they should conduct themselves as board members to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

 

According to the borough president’s office, out of New York City’s 59 community boards, 12 are located in The Bronx, with each playing what was described as a critical role in advising on Land Use & Zoning, New York City’s budget process, and in service delivery within districts. They said that while the borough president’s office does not directly manage community boards, this year, efforts were made to effectively onboard new members through the scheduling of various courses and seminars made available through the office and city agencies “to ensure the continued effectiveness of each district.”

 

Office officials said that out of a total of 548 online applicants, 145 were appointed by the borough president to serve, with each taking part in the Bronx’s first swearing-in ceremony in decades.

 

A demographic break-down of the new appointees shows 25.1% (35) identify as parents / guardians of a child (Pre-K to 12 grade), 13.6% (19) are immigrants, 8.6% (12) are members of the LGBTQIA+ community, 7.1% (10) are people with disabilities, 5.7% (8) are parents / guardians of a pre-school aged child, 5.7% (8) are caregivers and 5% (7) are veterans or military service members, 4.3% (6) are non-native speakers of English and 2.8% (4) are union members.

 

In terms of age, 25.1% (35) are aged between 30 and 39, 21.5% (30) are aged between 40 and 49, 18.7% (26) are aged between 20 and 29, 17.2% (24) are aged between 50 and 59, 8.6% (12) are aged between 60 and 69, 4.3% (6) are aged 70 and over, 2.1% (3) are aged between 18 and 19, and 1.4% (2) are aged between 16 and 17 years (by April 1).

 

In terms of gender, 60.4% (84) are female, 38.816% (54) are male, 0.7% (1) is gender non-conforming. We spoke to some of the community board members, who are unpaid volunteers, after the event.

 

Second-year board member, Elliot Elias Contreras, said after the swearing-in event, “I think it was very informative, very insightful. It was a great introduction into what to expect and who’s who of the community, and the different organizations that kind of help lead the change that we can bring about into the community.”

 

Acccording to the City of New York, community boards have a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• dealing with land use and zoning issues, meaning CBs have an important advisory role and must be consulted on the placement of most municipal facilities in the community, and applications for a change in, or variance from, the zoning resolution must come before the board for review, and the board’s position is considered in the final determination;
• assessing the needs of their own neighborhoods, and meeting with City agencies to make recommendations in the City’s budget process; and
• addressing other community concerns that may affect part or all of a community, from a traffic problem to deteriorating housing.

 

City officials note that it is important to be aware that while community boards serve as advocates for their neighborhood, they do not have the ability to order any City agency or official to perform any task. Despite this limitation, they say community boards are usually successful in resolving the problems they address.

According to the City of New York, anyone can attend a community board meeting! General board meetings occur once a month and are open to the public. At these meetings, members address items of concern to the community and hear from attendees. Boards regularly conduct additional public hearings – on the City’s budget, land use matters, etc. to give community members the opportunity to express their opinions and concerns.

Meanwhile, board committees do most of the planning and work on the issues that are brought to action at community board meetings. Each community board establishes the committee structure and procedures it feels will best meet the needs of its district. Committees may be functional committees that deal with specific Charter mandates e.g. “Land Use Review” and “Budget” committees, or agency committees that relate to a particular agency e.g. public safety/crime or sanitation committees, among other structures. City officials say non-board members may apply to join or work on board committees, which helps provide additional expertise and manpower.

 

First-time board member with Bronx CB9, “Derek” said he found the event long but said it was meaningful and important. Asked if he felt differently about putting himself forward to become a board member after the presentation, he said, “No, I’m equally excited. I think it’s just really important. It may be long but it’s worthwhile. I’m ready to go.”

 

First-time board member, LaTicia Thompson, who lives in the vicinity of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, the birthplace of Hip Hop, said she had attended board meetings as a resident in the past, but that this was her first time to get actively involved.

 

“Glad we got out to see everybody,” she said. “I’m also on the community education council for District 8 as well, so I’m really coming in as a parent and as a Bronx born and bred.” She said the Harlem River Waterfront [project] was important to her. “I hate that they’re calling it that because it’s a little auspicious but I’m ready to get to work,” she said.