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Budget, Education & City Services
FY23 District Needs and Budget Priorities
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, the following resolution passed with a vote of 29 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
District Overview
Manhattan Community Board Five (CB5) is located in the heart of Manhattan. We are New York City’s Midtown Central Business District as well as the first and last impression of New York City for millions of commuters and tourists who pass through Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, or who visit Times Square, Herald Square, Union Square, and the Empire State Building every day. The Broadway Theatre District, the Garment District, Koreatown, Nomad, Flatiron, the Diamond District and parts of Chelsea all fall within the CB5 borders. All but three subway lines traverse CB5, and with the Port Authority just outside our western border the District is at the core of the City’s substantial pedestrian and vehicular traffic. We are the destination for millions of people who come here to experience New York City’s greatest business, tourist, entertainment and industrial landmarks. The Museum of Modern Art, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building are all here, along with world class shopping destinations such as Macy’s, Saks, Tiffany’s, Cartier and Nordstrom (to name but a few).
Although CB5 is primarily a commercial district, our residential population has increased by 23% which is an increase of 11,000 people in the last ten years. Our District is also seeing greater diversity in its population over the ten-year period with an 11% percentage increase of BiPOC residents (as reported by the 2020 census) in the total number of residents. Along with our increase in the residential population, we have increased housing stock by over 15% which accounts for about 5,773 additional units. However, a little over 21% of our housing units remain vacant according to the 2020 census which is an increase of more than 2% vacancy from 2010.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the many Community Board Five restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues. Having been shuttered for most of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, theatres and entertainment venues have only just begun to reopen their doors to the public. In the recent past, our District experienced a boom in hotel construction, particularly in the Flower District and the Broadway corridor. However, (according to the Restaurant Association) since the pandemic, 200 of the 700 hotels in New York, many of them in CB5, have closed their doors. And while hotels are starting to recover, occupancy rates at open NYC hotels this June saw only a 63% occupancy rate down from 90% during the summers of 2018 and 2019. Restaurants within the District have embraced outdoor dining as a result of the pandemic and almost every street within the district has an outdoor dining structure or two. Many sit either in sidewalk or curb lane although some have been granted permission to sit within the road bed. Community Board Five is different from most other Boards in the city in that we are primarily a business and commercial district. As a result of stay-at-home orders and subsequent work at home schemes, the District has seen less workers and therefore is less populated and vibrant. Although many companies initially pledged to return to their offices this fall, the Delta variant and concern over the long-term efficacy of covid inoculations changed that plan and businesses continue to allow employees to work from home. In Midtown, according to a recent REBNY report, only about 25% to 30% of the normal number of workers are coming into the office — meaning only about 60,000 people on the streets for lunches, haircuts, shopping or shoeshines. That compares to 180,000 office workers in the area before the pandemic lockdowns. (copied from NY Post report on latest numbers)
This dearth of workers has resulted in Midtown having the largest inventory of office space in New York City. (Historically, the Midtown East and Grand Central corridors have maintained a retail vacancy rate somewhere between 10% and 15%, according to the real estate trade association, CNBC report) According to REBNY, nearly 30% of the retail storefronts in Midtown East and around Grand Central are vacant, Work-from-home has also impacted commuter transportation and while subway ridership levels are increasing from the lowest levels seen at the height of the pandemic, ridership is down generally 50% according to the MTA (https://newwest.mta.info/coronavirus/ridership). There is also about a 40% decrease in bus ridership overall. Concurrently, we have seen an uptick in 311 calls within the District regarding illegal parking, vehicular noise and idling.
With fewer pedestrians on the street, the District saw an uptick in complaints regarding quality of life issues. 311 calls about homelessness -- encampments, issues with specific individuals and groups -- were the highest that they have ever been in the District. Vendor complaints and high profile crime within the Times Square area led to the creation of a special Manhattan (Midtown Business Recovery Detail). This unit has had some success in calming the 7th and 8th avenue corridors.
Weather disruptions throughout the summer made clear our infrastructure is unprepared for the sheer volume of rainwater that storms now bring. Pictures and videos of riders braving waist high waters in the district subway system at 28th street were seen all over the internet while other residents and visitors were caught in large areas of pooling water throughout many areas of the district.
Overall, the three most pressing issues currently within the district are homelessness, commercial revitalization and quality of life.
MOST PRESSING ISSUE BY POLICY AREAS:
Health Care, Hospitals & Human Services
Services to reduce or prevent homelessness is the number one priority within the District this year, although mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs came a close second as the issues are so closely intertwined. There was an influx of homeless people into the district last year as the City moved individuals out of congregate shelters and into hotels that are located primarily throughout midtown. This situation has largely, but not completely, been reversed as people have been transferred back to shelter settings. Nevertheless, the District is still seeing a large number of homeless individuals on the streets, many of them suffering from mental illness. According to Coalition for the Homeless, New York City’s unsheltered homeless population is concentrated in the central business district – that is, midtown Manhattan.
Fundamentally, our city needs more affordable housing – in our District and elsewhere. However, we also need high-quality temporary shelters and housing programs now to serve the homeless. That includes comprehensive programming with wrap-around services such as mental health and substance abuse treatment as well as facility improvements to provide for those services and enrichment programming on site. CB5 encourages the City and shelter providers to craft solutions that meet the homeless where they are and to address their concerns regarding safety, possessions, pets, significant others and recreation and social space as a means of creating a more comfortable, welcoming and productive environment for those experiencing homelessness.
In addition to addressing the housing concern, CB5 also requires public toilets so that individuals experiencing homelessness are spared the indignity of relieving themselves in public. In New York City, there is one public bathroom for every 7,700 people for a city with a population of over 8.5 million. And this figure does not include the millions of annual tourists that visit the city. There are only 2 public bathrooms in NYC that are open 24/7. There have been 378,655 311-complaints about public urination from 2010-2018, which underscores the vast need for these services.
A disproportionate number of our adult homeless neighbors suffer from severe and persistent mental illness. These New Yorkers must receive consistent and appropriate care, even if unsheltered. Outreach, integrated case management, safe havens, treatment, income support and benefits, vocational training, supported employment, and safe and affordable housing must all be woven together to end the cycle of mental illness and homelessness. Studies show that with access to comprehensive and integrated health and social services there is the capacity of the seriously mentally ill to become productive members of the community.
Youth Education and Child Welfare
While difficult to pinpoint just one issue affecting children in the District given the mental health and education constraints of the last year and a half, Educational Attainment is our prime area of concern. Children have been out of school for almost a full year and need-assessments will be critical to understand exactly how children have fared during this time. Tools and supports must then be developed, funded and provided for students so that they may get back to learning at grade level.
Special education services have always been seriously lacking throughout the City, and our District, but the pandemic has highlighted that there is no emergency plan for these students and their families. Additionally, mental health access for students in and from our District has consistently been a concern for CB5. The pandemic has only exacerbated the need for mental wellness support including a nurse and mental health professional in every school. Additionally, year round workforce development is needed in addition to the expansion of the Summer Youth Program. Meaningful employment programs are proven violence interrupters. These programs provide mentoring, work experience and income to students who may need to support their families.
Public Safety and Emergency Services
Public Nuisance including noise and other disturbances is of primary concern to CB5 and quality of life issues are one of our top concerns. The symptoms are as clear as the causes are myriad. Street and sidewalk noise, increasing graffiti, unauthorized street vendors, petty crime, panhandling, loitering and street encampments all detract from the quality of life in the District and feed the perception that the City is not safe.
While CB5 believes addressing the underlying issues of education, economic opportunity and homelessness will strike at the roots of these societal issues, consistent enforcement of existing regulations will also help. The goal of enforcement is not to criminalize any social condition but to create an environment where the rights of all are respected and the public space remains dedicated to the public.
Visitors and residents alike should expect that existing regulations --for example, prohibiting cars and delivery trucks from double parking or “blocking the box”, prohibiting cyclists from riding on the sidewalk or in the opposite direction of traffic, discouraging pedestrians who walk in the bike lane, cracking down on illegal food carts and un-permitted street vendors – will be enforced to help protect the quality of life of everyone who lives, works or visits the district. It is incumbent on the City to develop and direct resources to teams within Agencies that are specifically responsible for enforcement of quality of life infractions. Whether it is the inspection of outdoor dining or the removal of an encampment, enforcement should be visible and build confidence that there are procedures in place to address public concerns. And while CB5 has supported the transition of some routine public safety enforcement roles -- such as traffic and parking enforcement priorities -- from NYPD control, the current patrol indicates that there is a place for NYPD officers on the beat whose visibility can help rebuild public confidence in the force while maintaining public order. CB5 encourages that this program be replicated in other areas within the district that experience high levels of quality-of-life issues.
Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency
Overflowing garbage cans and debris on the streets around them has always been an issue in CB5. While sanitation pickups have improved over the last year, street cleanliness is still a concern. The increasing number of homeless individuals has also triggered the need for corresponding additional public sanitation services including a significant increase in the frequency of corner trash pick-up.
The City composting program, while currently funded, is a voluntary program that is triggered only when a certain number of households or buildings sign on to participate. Consequently, access to the program has been restricted due to a lack of committed households and buildings. In order to activate this program successfully more outreach and education need to be done.
Finally, resilience planning for subway stations and street drainage is imperative. This year, we experienced storms that downed our transportation systems and put people at risk. This was particularly notable at the 28th street subway station during Hurricane Ida and the subsequent ponding seen around the district. Now is the time to invest in resiliency strategies as our subways and sewer systems are not built for the weather due to our climate change crisis which is likely to become more critical in the coming years.
Housing Economic and Land Use
Commercial district revitalization is the most pressing issue within this policy area but we also understand this to encompass small business services and support. CB5 is a district heavily dependent upon commuters, business, and tourists. It is estimated that New York City lost over 631,000 jobs in 2020, many of them located in CB5. Reports suggest that employers expect more than half of their workforce will continue to work remotely at least part of the time. If that happens, the ripple effect will make the recovery a long-term proposition. Businesses in the District will require commercial tenant programs, better business programs as well grants and loans in order to remain resilient in the face of a longer recovery period. In particular, CB5 recognizes the important economic role that small businesses add to the vibrancy and character of our district as well as their role in employment, particularly among immigrants. Therefore, CB5 encourages public / private collaboration to address the challenges faced by businesses small and large. Investment in marketing and other programs to attract visitors should be undertaken as a means of spurring commerce within the District.
The Empire Station Complex GPP introduced by ESD in 2020 would divert real estate tax revenue from 10 development sites located around Penn Station. This revenue diversion would hurt New York City's ability to raise tax revenue and should not be pursued.
Transportation and Mobility
The most pressing issue in this policy area is subway service and quality. CB5, is home to nine of the ten busiest subway stations (MTA Annual Ridership by Station Report). Although the number of people riding the train is slowly increasing, subway ridership is still down significantly which results in less populated stations and less populated trains. This pushes the per rider crime rate higher than it has been in recent years and has created a sense of greater danger despite police figures to the contrary. A number of random attacks throughout CB5 have underscored the perception of the subway as a dangerous place. Alternative routes and services changes and disruptions have added to riders' distrust of the train. In order to encourage people to return to the District, the City must develop and implement a plan to provide safe, clean trains that run on time. It is only when riders feel comfortable and confident in their route and their safety that they will return to work, shop and play in the District. MTA funding disputes between state and city officials need to be resolved in order to provide this comprehensive service to riders. If the perception that using the subway is risky continues, it will imperil any effort to restart the economy, which includes reopening offices in Manhattan where a majority of workers rely on transit.
In addition to subway quality, CB5 is very concerned with the management of the Open Restaurants Program. While outdoor restaurants have been a boon to customers and restaurateurs alike, continuation of the program gives rise to concern regarding the competing interests that vie for public space on the sidewalks, curbs and roadways. CB5 encourages DOT to actively enforce existing rules to address any non-compliant operations.
Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities
While CB5 has Central Park on its periphery, along with Madison Square Park, Union Square and Bryant Park within its borders, the district still lacks the open spaces that are common in other Community Districts. The lack of public open space has become even more apparent during the pandemic. Accordingly, insufficient park or open space is our greatest concern within this policy area. While CB5 does not believe that public funding should be given to POPS (privately owned public spaces) there is an opportunity that additional public space be built into upcoming land use /development projects.
Additionally, CB5 believes our air and light are public assets that should not be privatized or monopolized by private developers. Light and air must be approached as any other budget assets and they must be treated and protected as such.
Parks, Cultural and Other Community Facilities: CB5 has seen the expansion of residential and commercial buildings which has heightened the awareness and need for public spaces and how these are managed. Unfortunately, there is no one Agency that has a handle on the overall planning of the City when taking into account issues such as shadows, access to green space, public toilets and other factors affecting public spaces.
The Director of the Public Realm role is one which is desperately needed to take on this complexity to holistically manage the streets, sidewalks, open space and plazas in a data driven way. CB5 believes that this office will rectify the current lack of cohesion in city planning and allow stakeholders to have a direct way to voice their views. CB5 appreciates that this role will highlight the importance of light and air as a public commodity that should be considered as any other commodity when making decisions concerning the public realm.
CB5 FY2023 Capital Requests
#
Fiscal Year
Budget Request
Agency
Organization
Budget submission request
1
FY23 capital HPD
Requesting the additional $8 million necessary to fully fund the conversion of the Paramount Hotel by Breaking Ground to supportive housing (235 west 46th street)
2
FY23 Capital DHS
HSU, Humans.NYC
Add new Safe Haven beds in the CB5 area from the DHS purpose built shelter program with quality ample indoor amenities, private outdoor terraces and common space so that clients are not hanging out on the streets. To the extent possible, select a site in conjunction with the community board so that these facilities are spaced out as much as possible. By supporting nonprofit ownership of consciously designed shelters, the City can save substantial monies all while having better control over the portfolio and benefiting from nonprofits’ ability to provide quality services in settings tailored to their use and purpose
3 FY23 Capital DOT
Garment District Alliance
Broadway plaza seating upgrade – With the recent expansion of the Broadway plazas, the Garment District Alliance is seeking to upgrade our plaza seating to the Landscape Forms Parc Centre Chair with end arms. Many of our existing chairs have been in use for nearly ten years. We recently purchased 30 of the new chairs, but still need roughly 370 more to completely upgrade all 5 of the plazas. The unit cost per chair is $340, putting the cost to upgrade all of the chairs at $125,800. Any funding toward this replacement project would be a huge help.
4 FY23 Capital HPD
HSU, Humans.NYC
Continued funding for the ELLA program as well as term sheet programs that are middle to moderate income
5 FY23 Capital DOT
Flatiron BID
Flatiron Plaza and Worth Square Permanent Redesign & Reconstruction (Total Project will be over $40M when design completed – only ~$10M currently allocated in City capital budget)
6 FY23 Capital DOMHM
Coalition for the Homeless
Develop medical respite beds for patients that are not sick enough to provide hospital level care but are discharged by hospitals with mental health service needs. The city could consider using underutilized hotel space to save on capital cost.
7 FY23 Capital DOT
Flatiron BID
.Complete City Lights Phase II Installs for entire district
8 FY23 capital SCA
CB5 Members
Fund the 100,000 square foot public school on the Bleecker School site in Greenwich Village on land owned by New York University; and utilize this opportunity before it passes back to NYU (from previous budget request) - capitaL
9 FY23 Capital HPD
CB5 Member
Increase capital allocation to HPD Supportive Housing Loan Program, and raise the budget for maintenance and operations (M&O) of those buildings so that supportive housing is well maintained, lasts the extent of its viable life, and provides a decent home for thousands of singles and families that have been chronically homeless. The Supportive Housing Network of New York consistently reports shortfalls in M&O budgets of buildng security, janitorial staff, insurance, and buildIng maintenance, among other areas.
10 FY23 Capital NYPL
NYPL
HEISKELL LIBRARY : HVAC replacement $675,000 capital request
11 FY23 Capital DDC
DEP/DDC
All current and new DEP\DDC infrastructure projects in the community district 5 must have funding expanded or included to support small business impacted by the construction.
12 FY23 Capital DEP
CB5 Member
Add drainage in the 14th Street Corridor to mitigate flooding at the Union Square subway station.
13 FY23 Capital DEP
CB5 Member
Add drainage in the 28th Street Corridor to mitigate flooding in the 28th Street subway station.
14 FY23 Capital DOT
Garment District Alliance
Broadway lighting – A capital buildout of the Broadway plazas has been promised for a decade. In the most recent city budget, two blocks (38th to 40th Streets) were finally budgeted for the capital process, but an actual capital buildout is still at minimum several years away, and likely longer. As a temporary safety measure, we would request that the city fund lighting, either via new poles or attachments to existing poles, to illuminate the pedestrian areas between 36th and 41st Streets. Of particular importance is the new fully pedestrianized block between 39th and 40th Streets. The plazas have very poor lighting because the existing lighting was designed with vehicular traffic in mind. The full plaza block between 39th and 40th does not even have lighting at all on the east side of the street. Now that portions of the roadway have been converted to plazas a level of illumination similar to a sidewalk is needed.
15 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Members
Repair ponding condition at 12 W 31 st
16 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Members
Repair ponding condition at SE corner of 37th and Bdway
17 FY23 Capital DOT
Flatiron BID
Additional Broadway Vision Streetscape Improvement Projects (SIP) from 27thst to 31st – this enhancement would fall under the Flatiron BID expansion jurisdiction.
18 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Member
Additional funding to support green infrastructure initiatives at Penn Station. These green infrastructure initiatives should include rain gardens, stormwater management, greenstreets, etc. to create a variety of sustainable green infrastructure practices in public and private streetscapes in the district. The City should use existing development proposals in the District as a platform to insert these City priorities into proposals.
19 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Member
Additional funding to support green infrastructure initiatives at Herald Square. These green infrastructure initiatives should include rain gardens, stormwater management, greenstreets, etc. to create a variety of sustainable green infrastructure practices in public and private streetscapes in the district. The City should use existing development proposals in the District as a platform to insert these City priorities into proposals.
20 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Member
Additional funding to support green infrastructure initiatives at Greeley Square. These green infrastructure initiatives should include rain gardens, stormwater management, greenstreets, etc. to create a variety of sustainable green infrastructure practices in public and private streetscapes in the district. The City should use existing development proposals in the District as a platform to insert these City priorities into proposals.
21 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Member
Additional funding to support green infrastructure initiatives at Times Square. These green infrastructure initiatives should include rain gardens, stormwater management, greenstreets, etc. to create a variety of sustainable green infrastructure practices in public and private streetscapes in the district. The City should use existing development proposals in the District as a platform to insert these City priorities into proposals.
22 FY23 Capital DOT
Flatiron BID
5.5 blocks of Park Avenue South Median Restorations ($5,200 for planter repair at 31st Street + multiple new tree plantings: 3 btw 28-29 Streets / 3 btw 29-30 Streets / 5 btw 30-31 Streets / 4 btw 31-32 Streets) The Partnership will be putting up at least $30K to clear, weed, and seasonally landscape this sections of PAS medians in our expansion area
23 FY23 capital ACS
CB5 Members
To fund renovations to increase programmatic space at the ACS Children’s Center which is a 24/7 temporary care center for children entering foster care, located in Manhattan CD 6 but utilized by CB5 youth as well.
24 FY23 capital DOE
CB5 Members
To close the digital divide and provide all schools in our district with technology upgrades like in-school infrastructure and take-home equipment to cover every student in school and for take home purposes.
25 FY23 capital SCA
CB5 Members
To complete installation of A/C units in every school instructional room within our district as per the City's five year plan to ensure our students have a comfortable and safe environment in which to learn and thrive in.
26 FY23 capital SCA
CB5 Members
To bring every school up to full accessibility status. Accessible schools are located in a fully or partially accessible building where an individual with mobility impairment may enter and access all relevant programs and services, including the science laboratory, library, cafeteria, and the gymnasium; in some cases school programs may need to be re-located to accommodate access. At least one restroom must be accessible as well.
27 FY23 Capital DOT
CB5 Member
Request for ADA Access on the following street corners (request funding for ramps): NE corner of E45th and Vanderbilt Ave (near UrbanSpace at 230 Park Ave) - SE corner of E47th and Vanderbilt Ave (near HSBC at 250 Park Ave) - NE corner of E48th and 5th Ave (near Ted Baker London at 595 Fifth Ave)
28 FY23 Capital DOE
CB5 Member
Funding for technology upgrades for PS 340, the Sixth Avenue Elementary School, including purchase of 10 Promethean Smart Boards and upgrades of dated computers and printers
29 FY23 capital SCA
CB5 Members
To install green roofs, farms, and recycling operations in all schools in district to increase sustainability.
30 FY23 Capital DOE
CB5 Member
Provide computers (800) for School of the Future (DOE)
31 FY23 Capital DEP
Midtown South Community Council
Arrange for the identification and disposition or long-term lease of city-owned rooftop space or vacant lot in CD 5, with a minimum usable space of 1,000 square feet that receives good light, for Midtown South Community Council to add a second location to their urban farm initiative. This has been successfully piloted through a farm provided in partnership with Midtown Community Court. Community benefits include: provides affordable, healthy, and organic food; offers jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities; multiple environmental and inftrastructure benefits (full proposal available upon request).
Expense Requests FY2023
1 FY23 Expense Mayor's office
CB5 Members
Budget for a director of the public realm. Funding - Office of the Public Realm
2 FY23 Expense SBS
CB5 Members
Funding to support small businesses/ revitalize empty storefronts
3 FY23 Expense HRA
Legal Aid
Add staff lines to re-create casework team to focus on connecting individuals and families to permanent housing. Homeless and at-risk families and individuals are still having trouble accessing landlords to secure permanent housing. In the past, there was a first-rate team of workers assembled by the City to move homeless veterans out of shelters and off the streets using Section-8 vouchers specifically earmarked by the Feds. It was a remarkable success. Legal Aid and other advocates would like to push for $500k for a five-member team to replicate that model.
4 FY23 Expense DCP
CB5 Members
Budget to fund 197-a planning
5 FY23 Expense DOT
CB5
Study to identify locations to install APTs in CB5
6 FY23 Expense DOMHM, HRA
HSU
Increase funding to add staff lines for ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) teams.
7 FY23 Expense DHMH, NYFD
CB5 Members
Request: Additional funding for expansion of the Mental Health Teams Pilot Program (B-HEARD) operated jointly with DHMH to provide citywide emergency mental health responses.
8 FY23 Expense HRA
CB5 Member
Increase funding for Legal Services for low- and moderate-income tenants in anticipation of the expiration of the eviction moratorium. At present, it is set to expire in January 2022, and vulnerable tenants will flood social services organizations when that happens. Legal Services must be prepared and staffed up to handle this influx. Tenants need rapid access to an attorney to educate them about their rights, guide them in housing court cases, and even assist them in their applications for available funding targeted at eviction prevention, such as the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) .
9 FY23 Expense DOT
CB5 Members
Increase funding to add staff lines for more DOT after hours inspectors
10 FY23 Expense Office of Special Enforcement in the NYC Mayor's Office
CB5 Member
Increase the enforcement budget of the Office of Special Enforcement in the NYC Mayor's Office to enforce existing and future short-term rental laws. As NYC recovers from COVID, we anticipate a significant increase in efforts by some landlords and building owners to circumvent the law to profit off of platforms like AirBNB, moving housing units off of the market from NYC residents and contributing to the broader housing affordability crisis.
11 FY23 Expense NYPD
CB5 Members
Make permanent the midtown business recovery detail. Funding to commit more “beat cops” to the district - officers whose diversity matches their beat, who can know the area, its people, and can address their public safety concerns from a community perspective rather than an external NYPD “enforcement” perspective.
12 FY23 expense DYCD
CB5 Members
To add funding to the Youth Employment program to meet need. SYEP is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer. Participants have the opportunity to explore their interests and career pathways, develop workplace skills and engage in learning experiences that help in developing their social, civic and leadership skills. By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future. This program is a win-win for employers and NYC youth.
13 FY23 Expense Department for the Aging
CB5 Member
Provide for senior center programming in CB5. CB5 has "black holes" in certain areas, notably Times Square/Bryant Park and the Lexington Avenue corridor, with significant populations of seniors aging in place--many of whom are in rent-stabilized buildings--that do not live close to services sites that provide them with housing assistance and counseling. Aging should commission a study to identify other such "housing services deserts" in areas with significant populations aging in place, and should lease highly visible storefronts in those areas to connect local seniors to services to help them stay in their homes.)
14 FY23 expense ACS
CB5 Members
Baseline an additional $8M to Fair Futures to maintain year over year funding levels through which thousands of young people in foster care ages 11-21 are receiving coaching, tutoring and/or educational advocacy and support. The City invested $20 million to continue this model in FY2022, however only $12 million is baselined in FY2023 and beyond.
15 FY23 Expense DHS
Humans.NYC
Increase funding for Home-Stat. Fully fund the street outreach program that follows client from street to permanent housing. (Additional Case Managers for DHS: Additional funding to provide case managers to homeless individuals and especially families. These individuals face a myriad of problems, programs and outreach from an array of sources, both public and private. Establishing trust and confidence is difficult and the presence of a licensed professional who can work on a continuing basis to connect them with existing resources could be life-changing for these individuals. This presence also will help leverage the success of existing programs and interventions.)
16 FY23 expense DSNY
CB5 Members
Increase funding for more DSNY inspectors
17 FY23 expense DEP
CB5 Members
Increase funding for more DEP after hours inspectors
18 FY23 expense DOHMH
CB5 Members
Increase funding for more DOHMH inspectors
19 FY23 Expense DSNY
CB5 Members
Increase Funding for a comprehensive education and outreach campaign for NYC composting. People are not signing up to the program but it is not clear that people know about the program or how the program works. It is also not clear how much outreach has been done to communities.
20 FY23 expense DYCD
CB5 Members
To increase the number of Summer Rising seats available in our district in order to support social, emotional, and academic learning in kids left behind by the pandemic, and to support working households.
21 FY23 expense DOE
CB5 Members
To increase funding for special needs programs, and services to student and their families to address significant impact of pandemic loss of services.
22 FY23 Expense DCWP
CB5 Members
Increase funding for the Office of Street Vendor Enforcement to properly to oversee and implement Local Law 18 of 2021, which allows for the issuance of 4,000 new street vendor permits over the next 10 years, creates an Office of Street Vendor Enforcement, and establishes a street vendor advisory board.
23 FY23 Expense NYPL
NYPL
Support increased expense funding for library to reengage with patrons following pandemic and implementation of new strategies such as outdoor programming
24 FY23 Expense DOT
NYPH
Study assessing cost, benefits, and feasibility of transitioning NYC's concrete procurement for infrastructure projects, sidewalks, and ongoing maintainence to solely/mostly carbon concrete (i.e., concrete containing recycled CO₂) sources
25 FY23 Expense DEP
Additional Street level air quality monitoring in high traffic corridors and child recreational areas within CB5