Manhattan Community Board 3 September 2025 Report
Numerous upcoming opportunities for public engagement to inform local infrastructure improvements, plus many, many upcoming events.
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 September 2025 Full Board Meeting
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2025 - 6:30pm
PS 20 - 166 Essex Street
Meeting Highlights:
Major Infrastructure Safety Improvement Projects: The Canal Street Safety Improvement Project is moving forward with DOT planning numerous public engagement sessions, including a workshop on October 1st. The Chinatown Connections project is also underway, redesigning traffic patterns with multiple opportunities for community input.
Financial Impact on NYC Residents: Representatives pushing legislation addressing concerns about SNAP benefit cuts that could affect an estimated 300,000 New Yorkers, with Lower East Side and Chinatown families expected to be particularly hard hit. Additionally, a joint investigation has been launched into rising property insurance premiums affecting nearly half a million NY homeowners.
Upcoming Community Events: Several neighborhood celebrations are coming up, including a Two Bridges block party on September 27th, Community Day in East River Park on September 28th, and numerous cultural institutions hosting an open house on October 18th across the Lower East Side.
Notes from board meeting:
Public Session
Sat, Oct 18th - 28 cultural institutions across the LES are hosting an open house, hosting activities - great way to get to know local cultural organizations
Rep from Two Bridges Neighborhood Council - block party celebration this Saturday (Sep 27, 12PM-5PM), free activities for children, music, educational programming
Elected Officials Reports
Borough President Mark Levine’s Liaison
Leadership Training Series coming up in October - Oct 20th-Oct 24th - covering employment opportunities, skills to combat implicit bias
Community Board members are required to attend
Note: “While the series is designed with Community Board Members in mind, it is open to all Manhattanites interested in local government and public service.”
Over $55 million in capital funding has been allocated across the borough, to a range of cultural institutions, educational institutions, parks, and social services
Canal Street Safety Improvement Project - BP Levine in meetings with DOT about moving this project forward, urging DOT to present their street safety plan
DOT is doing public engagement around this proposal in the coming weeks, including public workshop on Oct 1st
Congressmember Dan Goldman’s Liaison
Pushed through a SNAP-EBT protection that puts more security measures on how SNAP funds are dispersed, in response to funds stolen out of recipients’ accounts
Assemblymember Grace Lee - attended herself!
Held press conferences with Congressmember Goldman on the effects of SNAP cuts in the “Big Beautiful Bill” - estimated that 300,000 NYers are going to lose their SNAP benefits
LES and Chinatown families will be especially hard hit
Went to 26 Federal Plaza where immigration hearings and deportations are being held
Following this event, signed onto legislation prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks
Hosting Oct 15th event on Hispanic Heritage Month at Grand Street Settlement
Oct 17th - shredding event on East Broadway to provide a way to dispose of documents securely
State Senator Brian Kavanagh’s Liaison
Launched joint investigation into the State’s property insurance industry, causes of rising premiums
Identifying legislation and policy changes NYS should implement to combat rising insurance costs
Nearly half a million NY homeowners - 5% of NY homeowners - are uninsured, many citing rising costs
Flu shot clinic on Oct 9th at Madison St
Councilmember Christopher Martre’s Liaison
Also monitoring the Canal Street Safety Improvement project
Also calling on NYPD for greater enforcement of illegal vendors on Canal Street
Be on the lookout for a fact sheet regarding the upcoming Charter Revision Commission ballot proposals that will be on NYC’s ballot this November
Councilmember Carlina Rivera’s Liaison
Councilmember Rivera term in this office is ending this November :(
Board Reports
District Manager’s Report
Two cases of measles reported in the LES
Ensure any children you are responsible for have been vaccinated!
E 11th Street delivery bike situation continuing to be addressed by DOT and representatives
Takes 1-2 years to install new bike corrals
Reminder that Community Boards are non-mayoral City agencies, following State and City regulations
The City Law Department act as the CB’s lawyers, provide advice and representation
Committee Reports
Executive
Policies and procedures are being recorded to provide for easier transitions when community board term limits kick in soon
Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency
See Zach’s summary of the September Parks Committee meeting here
New East River Park public restroom building is being constructed, not expected to be completed in 2026
Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment
DOT and EDC gave a presentation on their Chinatown Connections project, presented new expected layout of traffic patterns
Many community engagement opportunities for the public to provide feedback and input on this project that is redesigning Chinatown’s roads
Committee putting together a resolution for support of DOT’s Manhattan Bridge Off-Ramp safety improvements and requests for additional safety improvements to prevent further traffic casualties
Tompkins Square Park Dog Parade on Oct 18th, on Avenue A between 7th-15th Streets
Personnel and Board Member Matters Task Force
Personnel Task Force recommends terminating the Assistant District Manager - we moved into a private executive session for this discussion, so I will not share what was said in this session. I am only sharing what is publicly available information, which is that this was scheduled on the meeting agenda.
Waterfront Stewardship Organizing
Attend the East River Park celebration event this Sunday, Sep 28th!!! There will be free food.
Thanks!
Bravo! We appreciate this summary!