Our Role

Community Board Five plays an important advisory role in shaping the character of our district and working with elected officials and government agencies to ensure that city services run smoothly. Our board deals with a wide range of issues in the district, including land use and zoning, landmarks, transportation, parks, public safety, and city services.

Our district is New York’s central business district. It encompasses some of the city’s most iconic destinations: Times Square, the Theater District, the Garment District, Herald Square, Flatiron, Union Square and more. We are at the center of the city’s tourism industry. The Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall, Bryant Park, Madison Square Garden and Columbus Circle all fall within our district, as well as two of the region’s transportation hubs, Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station.