Let Your Voice Be Heard: A Guide to Manhattan's Community Boards

It's easy to feel like you're not being heard in a city as cacophonous as New York, but don't give up. If you have concerns about your neighborhood – too many rats on the block, a high-rise development proposal that will mar the local character – voice them at the next public meeting of your local Community Board.

Each of Manhattan's 12 Community Districts is represented by a Community Board. Community Boards are fundamental local resources for each neighborhood within Manhattan. Staffed entirely by volunteers, they serve as liaisons between New York City government agencies and local civic organizations, residents and businesses in each district. Monthly public meetings involve civic and public officials as well as city agency representatives, and public sessions at each meeting offer community residents an opportunity to speak out on local issues, make new proposals and more.

Don't get drowned out by all the noise; check your local Community Board's schedule, and make it a priority to attend the next meeting. Use this guide to find information on the Manhattan Community Boards where you live and do business.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This information is accurate as of June 3, 2006. To ensure that you have the latest available contact information for your Community Board, link to its Web site or check the city’s listing at the Community Assistance Unit Web site. (The Board Web sites tend to be more up-to-date than the city’s listing.)

LOWER MANHATTAN
Manhattan Community Board 1
Board Chairperson: Julie Menin. District Manager: Paul Goldstein.
Address: 51 Chambers St.. Room 712, New York 10007. Phone: 212-334-0611.
Area: Little Italy, Tribeca, Lower Manhattan, Ellis Island, Governor's Island and Liberty Island.
Monthly Meetings: 6:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday; call or check the Web site for location.

Manhattan Community Board 2
Board Chairperson: Maria Passannante Derr. District Manager: Arthur Strickler.
Address: 3 Washington Square Village, New York 10012. Phone: 212-979-2272. Fax: 212-254-5102.
Area: From Canal St. to 14th St. between the west side of Bowery and the Hudson River.
Monthly Meetings: 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday; call for location.

Manhattan Community Board 3
Board Chairperson: David McWater. District Manager: Susan Stetzer.
Address: 59 East 4th St., New York. 10003. Phone: 212-533-5300. Fax: 212-533-3659.
Area: From Houston St. to East 14^th St. between the East River and Bowery/Third Ave.
Monthly Meetings: 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday at P.S. 20, 166 Essex St.

CLINTON/CHELSEA
Manhattan Community Board 4
Board Chairperson: Lee Compton. District Manager: Anthony Borelli.
Address: 330 West 42nd St., New York 10036. Phone: 212-736-4536.
Area: From West 14th St. to West 59^th St. between the Hudson River and Sixth Ave. or Eighth Ave. (depending on the block).
Monthly Meetings: 6:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday; call or check the Website for location.

DOWNTOWN/MIDTOWN
Manhattan Community Board 5
Board Chairperson: David Diamond. District Manager: Gary Parker.
Address: 450 7th Ave., Suite 2109, New York 10001. Phone: 212-465-0907. Fax: 212-465-1628.
Area: From 14th St. to 59th St. between Lexington Ave. and Eighth Ave.
Monthly Meetings: 6:00 p.m. on the second Thursday; call for location.

Manhattan Community Board 6
Board Chairperson: Carol A. Schachter. District Manager: Toni Carlina.
Address: 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 308, New York 10017. Phone: 212-319-3750.
Area: From East 14th St. to East 59th St. between the East River and Lexington Ave., and further west in some areas.
Monthly Meetings: 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday, usually at the NYU Medical Center, 550 First Ave.

UPTOWN
Manhattan Community Board 7
Board Chairperson: Sheldon J. Fine. District Manager: Penny Ryan.
Address: 250 West 87th St., New York 10024. Phone: 212-362-4008.
Area: From Columbus Circle to Cathedral Parkway (West 110^th St.) between Central Park West and the Hudson River.
Monthly Meetings: Usually held during the first week of the month; call or check the Web site for dates, times and locations.

Manhattan Community Board 8
Board Chairperson: David G. Liston. District Manager: Elizabeth McKee.
Address: 505 Park Ave., Suite #620, New York 10022. Phone: 212-362-4008.
Area: From the north side of East 59th St. to the south side of East 96th St. between Fifth Ave. and the East River, including Roosevelt Island.
Monthly Meetings: The third Wednesday; call or check the Web site for dates, times and locations.

Manhattan Community Board 9
Board Chairperson: Hon. J. Reyes-Montblanc. District Manager: Lawrence McClean.
Address: 565 West 125th St., New York 10027. Phone: 212-864-6200.
Area: From the north side of West 110th St. to the south side of West 155th St. between Riverside Dr. and various avenues (depending on the block).
Monthly Meetings: 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday at the Community Board office.

Manhattan Community Board 10
Board Chairperson: Hon. Neal Clark. District Manager: Yasmin Cornelius.
Address: 215 West 125th St., 4th Floor, New York 10027. Phone: 212-749-3105. Fax: 212-662-4215.
Area: Harlem and the Polo Grounds.
Monthly Meetings: The first Wednesday; call or check the Web site for dates, times and locations.

Manhattan Community Board 11
Board Chairperson: Lino Rios. District Manager: Javier Llano.
Address: 565 West 125th St.. New York 10027. Phone: 212-864-6200.
Area: From East 96th St. to the northeastern tip of Manhattan between the East River/Harlem River and Fifth Ave., including Ward's and Randall's Islands.
Monthly Meetings: The third Tuesday; call or check the Web site for details.

Manhattan Community Board 12
Board Chairperson: Martin Collins. District Manager: Charles DeFino.
Address: 711 West 168th St., Ground Floor, New York 10032. Phone: 212-568-8500.
Area: From the north side of West 155th St. to the northwestern tip of Manhattan between the Harlem and Hudson Rivers, encompassing Washington Heights and Inwood.
Monthly Meetings: The fourth Tuesday; call or check the Web site for details.