by: Adam Roberts
Borough Presidents and Council Members are now accepting applications for those interested in serving on community boards.
Community boards are volunteer advisory groups that provide community input to city agencies and elected officials. The primary responsibility of community board members is overseeing land use applications in their district such as zoning changes. This is why it is so essential that more land use professionals, including architects, serve on their community boards.
AIA New York strongly encourages its members to apply! While it is a major time commitment, serving on a community board is an important way to give back to your community. You may apply to serve in the area in which you work or live.
If you are interested in applying, be sure to attend your local community board to meet currently serving members and get a better idea of what serving entails.
In addition, interested members please reach out to Adam Roberts, Government Affairs Coordinator, at aroberts@aiany.org or 212-358-6116 if you apply or have any questions. Adam will keep track of your application and will follow up with your Borough President’s and Council Member’s office to advocate for your appointment.
Applications for the boroughs are found below:
- Manhattan: Deadline 2/8/2019. See the Manhattan Board Map.
- Brooklyn: Deadline 2/15/2019.
- Bronx: Deadline 2/8/2019.
- Queens: Deadline 2/8/2019.
- Staten Island: No deadline.
Pulse Points
- Registration is now open for the 2019 HOPE Count, the NYC Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) annual counting of the homeless. One evening each winter, volunteers venture out to count the homeless they encounter, which is how DHS determines the number of New Yorkers living on the street. AIANY proudly participated last year and encourages its members to sign up here at any of the various locations.
- The special election for the New York City Public Advocate has been set for Tuesday, February 26, 2019. The Public Advocate is a citywide position which is responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of city agencies and performing constituent services across all five boroughs. The position is vacant, as the former Public Advocate, Tish James, has been sworn in as the New York State Attorney General. A list of candidates can be found here.
- The Design and the Just City in NYC exhibition opening is on Thursday 1/10 from 6-8pm at the Center for Architecture. The exhibition asks viewers to imagine what a more justly designed city would look like. More information on the opening can be found here.