Save Your Community Board -- Rally Tomorrow

Your community board needs you! While it's true that the city's CB system is flawed, it is still one of the best and most effective routes available for community activists like ourselves to interact with City government. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed cutting $35,000/year from the boards' already-meager $200,000/year budget, which covers all employees, office expenses, etc. This will mean layoffs of essential staff, and will dramatically affect boards' ability to function effectively.

As anyone who has attended a community board meeting knows, boards are charged with a wide range of tasks - from providing constituent services, to reviewing City plans and proposals. They also have a City Charter mandate to undertake comprehensive planning for their districts; however, most boards lack the technical expertise and the finances necessary to do this. Community boards need MORE support from the City to function effectively, not less.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, along with the other 4 BPs and all 59 community boards, will rally tomorrow at 11am at City Hall to urge the City Council to fully restore community board funding for the coming fiscal year. Join them and let the Council know that you support your community board!