What is Community Board 7?
Community Board 7 encompasses the area from West 59th to West 110th streets from the Hudson River to Central Park. Boards have 50 unpaid members who vote on issues in an advisory capacity. All members are appointed by the borough president to two-year terms, but half are recommended by the local city council members. On Board 7, City Council Members Gale Brewer, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Inez Dickens recommend, respectively, 17, 6 and 2 of the members.
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Looking for Youth to Help Change Community Boards
To read the side bar, please go to What is Community Board 7?
Anyone who’s ever crossed into hour four of a community board meeting can attest to two things: it is a gritty, tedious, absolutely necessary place where the first scraps of democracy are woven into something resembling a fabric and it’s not for the faint of heart—or those who didn’t have the foresight to pack snacks and aspirin.
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UWS Woman Honored by Senate
Earlier this week, the New York State Senate honored Upper West Sider Phyllis E. Gunther as a “Woman of Distinction” for her decades of community activism and service to the neighborhood. Senator Tom Duane nominated Gunther and presented her with the award.
Community Board 7 New Members
Borough President Scott Stringer announced the new appointees to Manhattan’s community boards today. Community Board 7 welcomes four new members. Tila Duhaime, a community activist who works with Upper West Side Streets Renaissance, was nominated by BP Stringer, who also nominated and appointed Jennifer Gomez and Joanne Imohiosen. City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito nominated new member Isaac Booker.
Community Board Backs P.S. 199 Safety Measures
Community Board 7 voted last night to unanimously approve five of the seven proposed traffic safety measures suggested by the PTA of P.S. 199, the Jesse Isador Straus School on W. 70th Street. The PTA is concerned primarily with drivers turning onto W. 70th Street from West End Avenue at dangerous speeds, as well as the fact that W. 70th Street is particularly wide near that intersection, also encouraging unsafe speeds. Read more
Group Changes Gears on Bike Lane
Changes are coming again to Columbus Avenue.
The recent redesign of the street was supposed to ease traffic congestion and make it safer for cyclists to ride Upper West Side streets. Instead, it’s caused a major headache for local business owners, according to a survey of Columbus Avenue businesses that was released Feb. 6.
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Homeless, Line Up Here
Law’s unintended consequence encourages owner to convert hotel
A perfect storm of political opposition is encircling 306 W. 94th St. The site of the Hotel Alexander has become a flashpoint for an Upper West Side debate about how and where to house the city’s homeless population.
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WEEKEND WALKS ON AMSTERDAM VENUE
Street vendors and local businesses are among the beneficiaries of a series of new weekend walks that will potentially take place along Amsterdam Avenue during the month of May. Read more
CB7 SHOOTS DOWN CHARTER AT BRANDEIS
By Josh Rogers
Community Board 7 voted last week to oppose opening the proposed Upper West Success Academy this September in the Brandeis High School building on West 84th Street. The resolution, which is only advisory, cites several reasons to oppose opening the kindergarten next year, including assertions that few Upper West Side children will be able to attend because many are a relatively low priority for admissions; that the greater demand is for middle-school seats in the coming years as students in overcrowded elementary schools graduate; and that a high school is an unsuitable setting for an elementary school. Read more
Separating Truth from Fiction
CB7 seeks input on new bike lane
By Jade Earle
The newly built bike lane that runs from 77th to 96th streets on Columbus Avenue was supposed to make life easier for the city’s burgeoning cycling, but instead has left many residents and businesses confused and frustrated, according to input that Community Board 7 has received. Read more
