Manhattan Community Board 3 Oct 2025 Report
City and State officials outlined new funding plans and legislative pushes for civil rights while residents demanded urgent action on SNAP cuts and ICE raids
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! Any opinions expressed below are solely my own and do not represent the views of Manhattan Community Board 3.
Find your community district and key information about it here.
Manhattan Community Board 3 Oct 2025 Full Board Meeting
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2025 - 6:30pm
PS 20 - 166 Essex Street
Meeting Highlights:
Community members and elected officials raised alarms about the federal shutdown’s impact on SNAP and WIC benefits, while highlighting local food justice efforts led by the East Village Community Coalition and the NY State government
ICE raids on Canal Street vendors sparked outrage and fear, with Congressmember Dan Goldman announcing oversight actions and a rapid-response task force to address civil rights violations and Councilmember Christopher Marte reporting on his experience at the scene
City and state officials reported major updates including a $93B FY26 capital plan with $1.8B for affordable housing, a new 15 MPH e-bike speed limit, and severe federal cuts to Planned Parenthood funding
Community Board 3 committees advanced resolutions this month supporting improving safety on the Manhattan Bridge off-ramp, co-naming Essex Street “Jack Kirby Way,” and widening the East River Greenway path at 14th Street
Notes from board meeting:
Public Session
Federal government shutdown is affecting food stamps, people in need. Public comment requesting to know if there is anything we can do to help people facing hunger and sickness. Big beautiful bill is also threatening to cut food stamps.
East Village Community Coalition is leading a food justice initiative in collaboration with a number of food pantries. Won’t entirely meet the need but may hopefully fill some gaps.
ICE conducted a raid on food vendors on Canal Street
Board Chair requested for Congressmember Dan Goldman to attend this meeting and speak about the raids
Elected Officials Reports
Mayor Eric Adams’ Liaison
District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s Liaison
Indictment of a slasher who committed a random attack on a stranger on Astor Place
Sentencing for 10 years in state prison for a man who stabbed someone on the subway last year
Borough President Mark Levine’s Liaison
Planned Parenthood has lost 90% of its funding which came from the federal government - State will be supplementing some of this funding but not restoring the full amount
Separately, the Manhattan branch is selling its property and has not determined a new location yet - closing on 11/1
Congressmember Dan Goldman - in attendance
On the Canal St ICE raid:
For a while now migrants have been detained at 26 Federal Plaza and subsequently deported without due process
There is an existing statute that allows individual Congress members to conduct oversight on ICE detention centers
Congressmember Goldman and others have filed suit under this statute
The majority of those detained by ICE have no criminal record
Wrote a letter to NYPD requesting them to be prepared to arrest ICE officers who are operating outside of their official duties, such as arresting U.S. citizens (not allowed under their responsibilities), assaulting individuals when conducting arrests
Putting together a rapid response task force, moved his office to across from 26 Federal Plaza
On the federal government shutdown:
Wants people to be aware of what may be coming, with the Trump administration threatening to continue withhold funding for SNAP, potentially for WIC
Some discussion happening in the Senate but not seeing much progress at this moment
Assemblymember Grace Lee’s Liaison
Office moved to 250 Broadway
Legislative mailers have been sent out for the upcoming local election
Turkey drive event with Vision Nirvana, distributing turkeys on 11/15 from 10 AM to 2 PM at 65 Norfolk
Assemblymember Harvey Epstein’s Liaison
State Senator Brian Kavanagh - in attendance
Pet adoption event on 11/9 at Tompkins Square Park 12 PM - 4 PM
Running a taskforce on the work occurring to construct the Manhattan detention complex
Sponsored bill to encode Fair Housing protections (anti-discrimination measures) currently in federal law into State law
Holding a public hearing 11/18 to address the rising cost of insurance pushing up costs of housing, discuss how to build a strong and affordable insurance system
NY Governor Hochul announced State resources will be used to help fill gaps in loss of federal SNAP funding - but this will not completely make up the lost amount
Councilmember Christopher Martre - in attendance
Councilmember was at the site of the ICE raid on Canal Street soon after it occurred
Encourages citizens who can to sit in on court cases as court watchers, he’s seen the effect this has had on the judges and ICE officers at these cases
City Council held a hearing on Councilmember Martre’s bill Intro 1307-2025 that would set up a fund to support employment for those with disabilities working in film and theater production
Hoping to have a vote on it before the end of the year
Participatory budget is underway - any constituents can vote on how $1 million gets used in their district
Board Reports
Board Chair’s Report
Department of City Planning presented on the four key principles they use in all their planning
District Manager’s Report
Please call 311 when you see a problem in the district - the only official record of any complaint is through 311
Even when you know an issue is being worked on, filing complaints can provide additional funding and resourcing toward the solution
Committee Reports
Executive
Documenting procedures and updating committee chair handbooks prior to 15 of our current board members reaching term limits in 2027
Some debate occurred on having an open discussion about turnover in the Assistant District Manager position, which ultimately did not occur
Nominations made for CB3 executive positions - elections next meeting
Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency
Pinch point at 14th Street and FDR Drive will be replaced with wider pedestrian path as part of the East River Greenway project
Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment
Resolution asking for safety enhancements to the Manhattan Bridge off-ramp, primarily to lower the speed limit on the bridge to match speed limits on local roads
Resolution in support of co-naming Essex Street between Stanton and Rivington Streets as Jack Kirby Way
Waterfront Stewardship Organizing
Battery to Bridges is putting together an advisory committee on the renovation occurring below Montgomery Street
Looking to get nonprofit status and assemble requests and proposals for elected officials
The words "3 Oct 2025" in quick succession make it seem like this is a report from the October 3 board meeting (due to date format, written by a non-American!)