Manhattan Community Board 3 June 2025 Report
Key issues included delivery worker disputes on E 11th St and debates over Charter Revision Committee proposals
As always, the below summary of the Full Board Meeting is not complete but represents my best attempt to highlight key takeaways from the meeting. If you attended the meeting and believe I missed or misstated any important points, please comment below or reach out!
Find your community district and key information about it here.
Manhattan Community Board 3 June 2025 Full Board Meeting
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 6:30pm
PS 20 - 166 Essex Street
Meeting Highlights:
Divisions over delivery bikers presence on E 11th Street: some cite safety and cleanliness concerns, while others support the bikers’ need for secure parking and appreciate their presence in the community.
Assemblymember Glick’s team reported on legislation targeting plastic packaging and lithium-ion battery disposal. Meanwhile, Assemblymember Lee pushed for broader AAPI history education in schools and notification requirements for polling site changes.
A community picnic is scheduled for July 12th at Tompkins Square Park, offering residents a chance to connect with board representatives and voice concerns informally.
The board had an extended discussion on member deference and its impact on housing development decisions, with the recent Elizabeth Street Garden preservation serving as a notable example for both sides of the argument.
Public Session
Complaints that the online (Zoom) option of CB3 committee meetings are inaccessible. Audio often does not work well, there is no process for how online attendees can participate, there is no information provided on public participation
Support for the delivery bikers parked on E 11th St and allowing them to remain there. Delivery bikers congregate on this spot to prevent their bikes from being stolen, local landlords want them gone
Tenants have complained that the are is dangerous and unsanitary - rats and filth everywhere, bikes blocking entrances and driveways
Food truck is permanently parked in a no cars zone
Other tenants support the bikers, find their presence an addition to the area
Elected Officials Reports
Note: Given that this meeting occurred on the same day as NYC’s primary election day, many representatives from local offices did not attend.
Congressmember Dan Goldman’s Liaison
Congressmember Goldman is being unlawfully denied access to the ICE detention facility at 26 Federal Plaza (where migrants are going for regular proceedings and being arrested by ICE agents
Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick’s Liaison
Assemblymember Glick was working on a bill to reduce plastic packaging but the bill was not brought to a vote
School zone speed camera program reauthorized for another 5 years
Passed bill to ensure safe disposal of lithium ion batteries, keeping them out of landfills
Public has until June 30th to provide comments on Rent Guideline Board’s new rent guidelines
Assemblymember Harvey Epstein’s Liaison
Councilmember Carlina Rivera’s Liaison
Councilmember Rivera is working on budget negotiations prior to deadline on 6/30
Working on providing more bike racks for E 11th St and keep the streets clean
Assemblymember Grace Lee & State Senator Brian Kavanagh - attended themselves!
Assemblymember Lee passed a bill to authorize state DOE to survey all school districts across the state on how they are incorporating AAPI history across all grade levels, evaluate how AAPI history can be better integrated into education in NYS
State Senator Kavanagh spoke more to above bills and budget negotiations
Board Reports
Board Chair’s Report
There will be a CB3 picnic on 7/12 from 12-3pm at Tompkins Square Park! This event is open to the public
Opportunity to get to know your community board representatives better and also an outlet for voicing any thoughts, complaints, concerns regarding the community
Committee Reports
Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency
East Side Coastal Resiliency project continues on with various parts of East River Park closing while newly done sections are opening
East River track will be closing in early September
Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing
Land Use committee had a joint task force meeting with the Charter Revision task force this month to draft a resolution on the Charter Revision Commission (CRC) proposals
Committee supports “new tools to prevent displacement and unlock housing development, preserve community boards’ limited ability to provide input, consideration of member deference that does not dilute CB input, support efforts to streamline the contractor payment processes, and consideration of any proposal that might increase voter turnout”
Committee supports most of the CRC’s proposals but finds them still too vague and general to provide specific comment on in most cases
The full board had an extensive back-and-forth on whether we support member deference or not. Mixed opinions were heard, and a vote was taken to change the committee proposal to be more supportive of member deference.
Elizabeth Street Garden was held up as both a reason why member deference is good and why it is bad.
The board also discussed the pros and cons of supporting open primaries in NYC. The board voted NOT to remove language supporting the CRC’s recommendation that primaries be open to everyone regardless of party affiliation.
There was further debate on shortening the ULURP timeline by consolidating the Borough President review period and the Community Board review period (so that they would overlap, reducing overall review period from 90 days to 60 days). The board voted to oppose this consolidation.
Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment
Received 3 Open Street applications from DOT - two were then withdrawn before the committee meeting
Remaining application for Stanton Street Open Streets on weekends between 7/5-7/27 was approved
Thanks for this. I'm in the neighborhood and it's helpful to get news without having to attend a protracted community board meeting. You're on my RSS feed now.
did someone say community picnic?!?!?!?!