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Budget, Education & City Services
CB5 FY25 District Needs and Budget Priorities
CB5 FY25 District Needs and Budget Priorities
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, Thursday, November 9, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 30 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
District Overview
Geography:
Community Board 5, located in the very center of Manhattan, is an extremely vibrant area of the City as it is host to cultural attractions, world class dining, commercial districts and residential enclaves. Our boundaries extend from Lexington to 8th Avenues and 14th to 59th Streets. Within CB5's jurisdiction, one can find some of New York City's most famous and iconic areas and buildings, such as Times Square, Central Park, the Flatiron Building, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Terminal.
Population
According to the 2020 Census, the residential population of CB5 has been growing steadily with an estimated population of 63,600 which is an increase of 23% over 2010. The 2020 Census also indicates the population is becoming more diverse with the share of Hispanic, Asian and Black residents more than doubling from the 2010 Census.
While CB5 has a much smaller residential population than many community districts, it should be noted that the area is host to many of the millions of tourists that visit New York each year. The District also caters to over one million workers that commute into Manhattan each week. CB5 is crisscrossed by nearly all subway lines, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, located just beyond our western border, makes us a focal point for the city's significant pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Housing
According to the Census, between 2010 and 2020 CB5 has added 5,773 additional units of housing representing a 15.8% increase in housing stock in the District. During this same time period, the District also saw a significant increase in the number of vacant housing units. The combination of smaller existing units into larger units as well as the demolition of old housing stock has contributed to the loss of affordable units in the District. Manhattan has the highest share of housing density in the country at 62%(as per Construction Coverage).
Tourism
After experiencing a dearth of tourism during the COVID period, Manhattan is on track to welcome over 61 million tourists in 2023. As the hub for many of these visitors, CB5 boasts a number of hotels, theaters, entertainment spaces, restaurants, and stores, as well as iconic attractions such as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building and the Empire State Building.
CB5 has seen over 21 new hotels added to the current stock within the District to service the influx of visitors. While CB5 welcomes these visitors as they influence the unique character of the District while recognizing that the large number of individuals visiting the District also poses challenges.
Commercial Spaces
Manhattan has seen record high vacancy rates with 22.4% of its commercial space empty as of the first quarter of 2023 much of it within the boundaries of CB5; District is facing above borough averages for commercial vacancies.
While this is attributable to more flexible work offerings from employers, new data from the Partnership for New York City indicates that more people are returning to their offices with 58% of pre pandemic Manhattan office workers in the workplace on an average weekday. The Partnership reports that the expectation is that this will grow to 59% on a long-term basis.
According to the New York City Council Data team, some of the highest storefront vacancy rates are found in the Midtown Manhattan business areas due to rising rents, changing consumer habits and the growth of e-commerce. In terms of neighborhood vacancies, Turtle-Bay-East Midtown, which partially lies in CB5, has the highest storefront vacancy rate at 19.8% while Midtown-Midtown South comes a close second with over 550 vacant storefronts.
Homelessness
As of June 2023, there were over 100,000 people living in New York City shelters with thousands more living on the street including nearly 19,000 families with children. The city's homeless population is now the highest it has been since the Great Depression. While the City increased expenditure aimed at addressing the homeless crisis in 2022, the outcomes have been underwhelming. The directives succeeded in relocating only 119 individuals out of the 2,308 homeless New Yorkers residing in encampments to the shelter system. This represents a 5% success rate as per the Comptroller’s most recent report. Yet the report further notes that just three of those moved to the shelter system ended up in permanent housing.
There is often a visible homeless population within CB5 particularly around the Penn Station area and the vicinity of Port Authority Bus Terminal. These areas are heavily trafficked, with a significant number of transportation hubs and public spaces, which can attract individuals experiencing homelessness. According to data from the New York City Department of Homeless Services, one of the areas in Manhattan with the highest rates of homelessness is Midtown, the center of CB5.
It is generally reported that a substantial portion of the homeless population experiences mental illness. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has reported that around 25% of people experiencing homelessness in the United States have a serious mental illness which means plans to address homelessness necessarily must include mental health services.
Migrants
Over 130,600 migrants have arrived in New York City since 2022 and the City is using a landmarked former hotel within CB5 as its primary migrant intake center. While the City is currently operating over 140 emergency shelters and eight humanitarian relief centers, several located in CB5, it is currently not able to fully address migrant needs and has sought authorization to limit the entitlement to shelter.
Even prior to the request to limit shelter accommodation, CB5 has seen long lines outside of the Roosevelt Hotel with migrants, at times, sleeping outside on the sidewalk. And as migrants continue to arrive into the City in record numbers, it is unclear how the City will process, at this single Midtown location, these new arrivals along with those who return for processing after their limited entitlement is exhausted. Hotels within CB5 have been converted to use for migrants and many are currently being used to house migrant families with children, many who attend local CB5 schools.
Micro mobility
CB5 has seen an increase in bicycle lanes including the transformation of Broadway between Herald Square and Madison Square Park along with the pedestrian mall created on Broadway between 42nd Street and 47th Street that provided room for cyclists. Along with this, CB5 has experienced a proliferation of various forms of micro-mobility usage including bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, e-scooters and mopeds an complaints include the use of these vehicles on the sidewalk,riders riding in the wrong direction on roads and in bike lanes and failing to obey traffic laws. Complaints about the parking of a large number of these vehicles have been registered around the Roosevelt Hotel as well as areas in which operators congregate. Locations where micro mobility vehicles may be permitted to park so as to minimize concentration in any one area are necessary.
Open Restaurants
The Open Restaurants program that allowed restaurants to expand outdoor dining space to accommodate more patrons safely during COVID has been made permanent. As one of the Districts perhaps most impacted by this program, CB5 created an Open Restaurant Task Force to consider the impact of this program upon the District. The Task Force has issued recommendations at how the Open Restaurants may best serve the District and has called for neighborhood environmental impact statements as well as the ability to weigh in on the operation of the program including give backs for use of the public realms such as public bathrooms.
Penn Station
The revitalization of Penn Station is a major project within the District. The station is one of the busiest stations in the US, and has been a significant and ongoing urban redevelopment project aimed at transforming and improving the transportation hub and the surrounding area in New York City. Penn Station serves as a central transit point for Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and New Jersey Transit, as well as the New York City Subway.
The multi-phase, multi-year project is part of ongoing efforts aimed at achieving a more efficient, attractive, and functional transportation center and is part of a broader urban redevelopment initiative to improve public transportation in New York City.
The primary goals of the revitalization effort are to improve passenger experience, modernize the facilities, and restore the grandeur of the original Penn Station. It aims to address the overcrowding and congestion issues, enhance transit connectivity, and create a more welcoming and efficient space for commuters and travelers.
CB5 created the Community Led Improvement Plan (CLIP) Task Force to address this project which will have an indelible impact upon CB5. Several resolutions have been adopted and work is on-going to help engage the community as well as develop recommendations to address current plans including the development of the public realm.
Cannabis
Since cannabis became legal for adults 21 and older to possess, thousands of unlicensed cannabis shops have opened in New York City without regard to their legality. As CB5 is required to weigh in and vote on every potential cannabis location, similar to the liquor license process, and has limited time to review each application and offer their opinion to the state, the CB5 SLAP committee convened a Cannabis Task Force. The task force developed comprehensive rules to balance the needs of the community with public safety concerns, while ensuring any proposed locations are appropriate and run by responsible operators. The rules promulgated by the task force will be used by the CB5’s SLAP committee as a blueprint to evaluate any cannabis retail application which provides transparency in decision-making and clarity for those coming before the Board to request approval. By developing and following these clear and comprehensive rules, CB5 seeks to ensure that pot shops operate responsibly, comply with regulations, and minimize any negative impacts on the community.
In line with its support of legal cannabis retail stores, CB5 supports the initiative announced by the District Attorney and Mayor to shut down New York’s 1,400 unlicensed cannabis shops so that legitimate businesses within the District may flourish.
State Environmental Quality Review
The State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process is a legal requirement in New York State that mandates the consideration of environmental factors before certain actions are taken by state and local agencies and is designed to assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts of proposed projects or actions. CB5 believes that the SEQR process should be adapted to seek a more holistic assessment. Specifically, CB5 would like to see a requirement for cumulative impact analysis. This analysis would assess the combined effects of multiple projects and activities in a defined area, rather than evaluating projects in isolation. This is extremely important in a dense urban area like CB5 where numerous projects can impact the environment collectively. As part of the holistic outlook, the SEQR formulation should also set clear environmental thresholds and standards for specific environmental parameters such as air quality, noise, water quality, sunshine protection and green space. It could consider the environmental effects of demolition versus adaptive reuse. These standards can guide the evaluation of projects and ensure that projects contribute to rather than degrade environmental quality. Periodic comprehensive environmental reviews of specific areas within the city would allow for the ongoing evaluation of the environmental effects of multiple projects and serve to strike a balance between protecting the environment and supporting responsible development.
Policy Specific Needs
The three most pressing issues facing the district are : homelessness, economic recovery and development and quality of life issues.
Homelessness is rampant throughout CB5 and the City must approach the issue with a comprehensive and compassionate strategy that combines short-term assistance with long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness. CB5 calls upon the City to provide housing along with comprehensive support services such as job training, medical care, mental healthcare, and addiction treatment. While budgetary constraints are often offered as a reason for the lack of homeless services and housing, upfront investment in homeless housing and services is likely to result in better public health outcomes which in turn lessens the need for emergency services, including shelters and hospital services for the homeless. Apart from the humanitarian necessity of providing such services, the presence of a large and visible homeless population negatively impacts tourism, the reputation of the District and how residents feel in their neighborhoods,which, in turn, affects businesses and jobs.
Addressing economic recovery in Midtown Manhattan is essential not only for the well-being of the local community but also for its role in the larger economic ecosystem, impacting the city, state, and nation. Strategies for recovery must involve targeted investments, incentives for businesses, tourism promotion, and support for the creative industries that New York City is known for. As CB5 recovers economically it will enhance the overall quality of life for its residents and visitors by providing access to better services, more job opportunities, and a vibrant cultural scene.
Addressing quality of life issues within the District fosters a sense of community and social cohesion and creates a more welcoming and inclusive place for all. We would like to see investment in public safety measures, such well-lit streets and crime prevention programs to enhance security including anti-shoplifting mechanisms. Quality of life also includes ensuring residents of all income levels can access suitable housing along with the development and maintenance of green spaces, the maintenance of our tree canopy and sightlines to iconic landmarks. Our District welcomes regulations and enforcement to mitigate excessive noise especially in residential areas. We also wish to see improvements in cleanliness through effective waste management and sanitation services to create a more pleasant environment throughout the District . And while we appreciate the availability of cycling and alternative modes of transportation, we need to ensure there is enforcement of our laws and that they are are followed by everyone which will make our streets safer for pedestrians, micro mobility riders and motorists.
Health Care & Human Services: Services to reduce or prevent homelessness
Given the number of homeless individuals and families within CB5 as well as the large numbers experiencing housing insecurity, services to reduce or prevent homelessness are of primary concern to those in the District. Addressing mental health needs is a crucial aspect of homelessness prevention and assistance programs and we include that in our most important issue within this policy area.
Providing access to mental health services, supportive housing with integrated mental health care, and comprehensive support systems are essential to addressing the complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness and we would like to see robust funding for these programs. We ask for additional funding for private emergency shelter accommodation as well as funding for the expansion of the City FEPS ( Family Eviction Prevention Supplement) program to help people transition to permanent housing with rent support. We have also requested funding for cost of living increases for those that are currently working in homeless community outreach. CB5 understands that one of the barriers to effective outreach is the inability to attract and retain staff and this funding will help to ensure the availability of trained homeless outreach workers. We also have requested funding to expand the intensive mobile outreach teams who are critical in stabilizing those in supportive housing so that they do not become homeless.
CB5 recognizes that individuals facing eviction are much more likely to be evicted when they are not represented by a lawyer. CB5 has requested that there be robust funding of the Right to Counsel program which will greatly aid those seeking to retain their homes.
Finally, as luxury developments continue to expand, there's also a concern about the potential displacement of long-term residents and the exacerbation of income inequality and we call on the City to ensure that luxury developments increase, rather than decrease, the availability of affordable units and that programs to ensure there is no displacement of long term residents be continued.
Youth Education and Child Welfare: Youth workforce and summer youth employment (SYEP)
CB5 continues to support funding SYEPs, which provide local youth with hands-on work experience while helping to instill leadership, innovation, problem solving, communication and time management. Research has found that well-designed SYEPs have positive impacts on academic and health outcomes, as well as soft skill development. These programs build the self-esteem and self-confidence of young people which in turn helps them to develop the ability to manage personal and social relationships as well as help address socioeconomic disparities by providing opportunities to those who might not have access.
Youth employment rates are very low relative to historical standards, triggering what has been called a “youth employment crisis”. CB5 hopes that this program can be fully funded so that any youth that applies may be admitted to the program.
Public Safety and Emergency Services: Crime Prevention programs
While noise complaints are consistently at the top of complaints registered at 311 for the CB5 community, crime prevention programs are of the utmost concern in this policy silo. The empty storefronts in the District attest to the need to nurture and protect retail establishments. We have seen these organizations face increased challenges related to theft and shoplifting and encourage programs that support the viability of our retail establishments.
As a primary destination for tourists as well as those who live and work here, it is important that we maintain a robust and lively streetscape in which retail establishments are often an integral part. By investing in theft prevention programs, businesses contribute to the overall safety and well-being of the community and help foster a sense of security, making the community a more desirable place to live, work, and visit.
CB5 has also requested funding for vending enforcement which impacts our local retail. Apart from crime prevention, the protection of local businesses are paramount as they contribute to a vibrant streetscape and contribute to the city in myriad ways. CB5 encourages the City to ensure that local businesses, especially those that were key to the District’s pandemic recovery, be supported and not be undercut by other policies. The recent shuttering of popular restaurants Marta and Maialino which occurred as the landmarked Redbury hotel transitioned to migrant housing was a blow not only to those who worked there but also to the District’s economic recovery and street vibrancy.
Core Infrastructure, City Services and Resiliency: Cleanliness / trash collection
Trash and unsanitary conditions have been ongoing issues for the District and we hope that the problems will be alleviated given the new rules around commercial collections, the new rules regarding residential garbage, the new bin requirements and the increase of trash receptacles. We also hope that the new Rat Czar will have a major impact on the number of rats within the District.
We have asked for funding to ensure that the frequency of trash collections in and around the Grand Central area be increased. In addition, we have requested funds to ensure the continued operation and success of the precision cleaning initiative as well as increased enforcement of dirty sidewalk/dirty areas and failure to clean area laws.
Although we have identified sanitation as our most important issue in this policy silo, CB5 also has grave concerns about the preparedness of the District for extreme weather events. Rain earlier in the year overwhelmed the sewer system and flood water spilled into the subways causing major disruptions. Accordingly, we have asked for additional funding to ensure there is a preparation and a plan to deal with extreme weather events including rainfall, flooding and extreme heat as the city's aging infrastructure, including its sewer system and transportation network, appear ill-equipped to handle the increased stress from extreme weather events.
Housing, Economic Development and Land Use: Affordable Housing Creation
Addressing the need for affordable housing in Midtown Manhattan is an ongoing challenge, given the District’s unique characteristics and the high demand for housing in this central location. However, it remains a critical goal to ensure that the area remains accessible to a broad range of residents, including those with varying income levels and background and CB5 has continually advocated for the retention of current units as well as the inclusion of affordable units in new developments. As always, CB5 requests funding for housing preservation programs, including funding for New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development to expand the community land trust initiative to create and preserve permanent affordable housing.
New opportunities for affordable housing must be found, including senior housing, supportive housing, and housing for the formerly homeless, and existing affordable housing must be preserved in perpetuity as current programs do not create affordable housing and in fact often exacerbate affordability.
Transportation and Mobility: Traffic Safety and Enforcement
The enforcement of New York City Traffic Rules and Regulations is a complex task that includes education, licensing, infrastructure and enforcement and we support every measure taken to ensure compliance with New York City Traffic Rules and Regulations. Complaints in the District include bicycles, mopeds and motorcycle riders riding the wrong way in bike lanes and against traffic on the streets, failing to obey traffic rules and riding on the sidewalk.
Cyclists whether on bike, e-bike, scooter, moped or motorcycle cannot be immune to the local laws governing our public realm. CB5 encourages and requests increased funding for enforcement of local laws whether this is administered through DOT or the NYPD to ensure the safety of pedestrians, riders and drivers as we share the public realm. We also request permanent bike infrastructure on streets that do not have dedicated bike lanes.
Parks, Culture and Other Community Facilities: Quality of parks and park facilities
CB5 is perhaps unique in that most of its park space is not managed by the Parks Department. Instead these parks are operated by private nonprofit organizations who are responsible for the day-to-day management, maintenance, and programming. These non-profits work in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to ensure the park's upkeep and the implementation of various activities and events.
CB5 is seeking additional green space including the creation and preservation of the tree canopy within the District. The Board supports programs that plant trees, focus on maintenance efforts, and public awareness campaigns. Trees play a vital role in managing stormwater runoff and help prevent flooding, decrease the strain on drainage infrastructure, and improve water quality by filtering pollutants before they enter water bodies. Moreover, access to green spaces has positive impacts on public health and well-being. Trees and greenery in the city have been linked to reduced stress levels, improved mental health, increased physical activity, and enhanced overall quality of life.
Community Board Budget Requests The final section includes the two types of budget requests submitted to the City for the FY24 budget cycle; one list for capital and another for expense budget requests. For each budget request, community boards were able to provide a priority number, explanation, location, and supporters. OMB remains the definitive source on budget requests submitted to city agencies.
See Attached Lists of FY24 Expense and Capital Items
CAPITAL
| Fiscal Year | Budget Request | DOT | Organization | Contact | Budget submission request | Explanation | Order for input | |
| 1 | FY24 | Capital | DEP | Other capital budget request for DEP | Add drainage in the 14th Street Corridor to mitigate flooding at the Union Square subway station.This is a request made last year and the Agency indicated further study of the issue was necessary. We hope that the investigation of this request has concluded and the Agency can move forward on our request. | 4 | ||
| 2 | FY24 | capital | DEP | Other capital budget request for DEP | Add drainage in the28th Street Corridor to mitigate flooding in the 28th Street subway station.This is a request made last year and the Agency indicated further study of the issue was necessary. We hope that the investigation of this request has concluded and the Agency can move forward on our request. | 5 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Capital | DOB / DOT | Green Infrastructure | Additional funding to support green infrastructure initiatives throughout the district, but particularly in areas of greatest pedestrian traffic such as around Penn Station, Herald and Greeley Squares, and 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. | 3 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Capital | DOE | PS 340 | Patricia Carney | Replacement Heavy Duty Copiers | PS 340 has been open for 10 years and has three heavy-duty copiers that are out of date that they would like replaced. These copiers are approximately $15-20k each. | 6 |
| 2 | FY24 | Capital | DOE | Capital | Renovate interior building component | To bring Repetory Company high school located at 123 West 43rd street up to full accessibility so that 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. | 7 | |
| 3 | FY24 | Capital | DOE | C | Renovate interior building component | To bring United Center for Urban Technology, Murray Hill Academy and Manhatten Academy for Arts & Languages, all located at 111 east 33rd street up to full accessibility so that 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. | 8 | |
| 4 | FY24 | Capital | DOE | renovate interior building component | To bring Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School located at 120 West 46th Street up to full accessibility so that 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. | 9 | ||
| 5 | FY24 | Capital | DOE | renovate interior building component | To bring Manhattan Village Academy located at 43 West 23rd street up to full accessibility so that 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. | 10 | ||
| 6 | FY24 | Capital | DOE/SCA | Fund the creation of the | Allocate funds for the 100,000 square foot Bleecker Street School. As part of the New York University 2012 up-zoning, NYU's key community giveback was the option to build the Bleecker School, a 100,000 square foot public school that would serve approximately 600 students. If the Bleecker School is not built, 100,000 square feet of school space reverts to NYU for university use. If the Bleecker School option expires, $65+ million in value transfers from NYC taxpayers to NYU, based on the average price per buildable square foot in Manhattan and arguably higher, due to the lack of vacant land in Greenwich Village. P | 11 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Layla Law-Gisiko | Penn Station Public Realm | Funding for public realm at and around Penn Station, consistent with ESD-appointed Public Realm Task Force. | 1 | |
| 2 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Garment DIstrict Alliance | Barbara Blair | Protected Bike Lanes | Protected bike lanes on both Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Garment District should be constructed using permanent materials to separate them from traffic and make the avenue safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Eighth Avenue has an existing protected bike lane marked by temporary materials that leads to dangerous confusion for pedestrians and bicyclists alike, while Seventh Avenue has no bike lane at all, creating a 12-block gap between 42nd and 30th Streets without safe bicycle access. Concrete curbs could be constructed to protect the lanes, or permanent concrete or metal bollards installed, which are ubiquitous in other cities around the world. | 15 |
| 3 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Times Square Alliance | Improve Traffice and pedestrian safety including traffic claming | Explanation: Allocate capital funding to provide permanent pedestrian safety improvements (e.g., bollards) to the Broadway Plaza from 47th to 48th Streets. Currently the pedestrianized portion of the street and the eastern sidewalk are protected by concrete blocks, jersey barriers, and planters, but more permanent solutions are necessary to better protect pedestrians, separate bike traffic, and link the 47-48 plaza with the fully pedestrianized Broadway Plazas from 42-47 as part of the City’s Broadway Vision.Broadway between 47th and 48th Streets | 16 | |
| 4 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Garment DIstrict Alliance | Barbara Blair | Construct permanent Broadway Pedestrian Plazas in the Garment District | The city has budgeted $28 million to make permanent two of the five blocks of plazas on Broadway in the Garment District, but the scope must be expanded to include the other three blocks and complete the project. The Broadway plazas are the neighborhood’s only public spaces, used by thousands of people every day. However, the Broadway plazas have been “temporary” for nearly 15 years. They have uneven surfaces, poor drainage, low lighting, and no access to electricity. They are not as safe, inviting, or functional as other NYC plazas that have been permanently constructed. They contribute to a general feeling that the neighborhood’s public realm is unfinished and dangerous critical capital investment is needed to create an environment that is conducive to recovery and revitalization in the heart of the neighborhood. | 17 |
| 5 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Garment DIstrict Alliance | Barbara Blair | Construct Avenue Sidewalk Widenings in the Garment District | The Garment District’s Seventh and Eighth Avenue pedestrian corridors must be constructed as true sidewalk widenings. This would make them more safe, attractive, accessible, long-lasting, less likely to be encroached on by vehicles, and would eliminate the war zone-like concrete barriers. Over the last five years, NYCDOT converted lanes of roadbed on Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue into temporary painted pedestrian corridors, delineated by planters and large concrete barriers. In just a short time, these temporary projects have deteriorated, and have disappeared entirely in some sections. The concrete blocks are unsightly and form chokepoints at intersections. Further, the barriers suggest an unsafe passageway. | 18 |
| 6 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Garment DIstrict Alliance | Barbara Blair | Complete Districtwide Street Lighting Replacements in the Garment District | The Garment District’s outdated streetlights should be replaced with new, energy efficient poles. The Garment District has a hodgepodge of streetlight styles, and most poles are in states of significant disrepair. Many are not just unsightly but have also become safety hazards with exposed wiring and missing parts. In response to this, the Alliance began a streetlight replacement campaign in 2014, resulting in an upgrade of 38 of the 185 streetlights in the neighborhood to the modern, LED City Light poles. Funds have been allocated by NY City Council which should cover the replacement of an additional 15 poles. However, 132 poles remain unfunded. Economic recovery is dependent upon the neighborhood being perceived as modern, inviting, and safe; replacing outdated streetlights with new, energy efficient poles would help achieve that goal. | 19 |
| 7 | FY24 | capital | DOT | Improve traffic and pedestrian safety, including traffic calming | Provide capital funding to transform Restaurant Row (46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues) into a safer, better functioning shared street | 20 | ||
| 8 | FY24 | Capital | DOT | Reconstruct streets | Permanently widen the sidewalks on Seventh Avenue within the Garment District | 21 | ||
| 9 | FY24 | Capital | DOT | Other transportation infrastructure requests | Create permanent bike infrastructure on CB5 side street that do not have dedicated bike lanes | 22 | ||
| 10 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Flatiron Nomad | Shared street creation | -Additional funding will be needed for Phase 2 of shared street permanent construction - 27th Street to 32nd Street, | 23 | |
| 11 | FY25 | Capital | DOT | Flatiron Nomad | shared street creation | -Flatiron Plazas and shared streets permanent reconstruction ($100 million, monies allocated for Phase 1 from 21st to 27th Street) | 24 | |
| 12 | FY24 | Capital | DOT | Improve mobility options, including bike share | DOT to identify locations and discuss creation of bike charging stations within CB5 | 25 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Capital | DSNY | Flatiron Nomad | Additional Curb Containers (5units $15,000 each = $75,000) | Needed to address the rats and sanitation issues | 12 | |
| 1 | FY25 | Capital | FDNY | FDNY | Vehicle and mobile command center for Times Square are | 14 | ||
| 1 | FY24 | Capital | DOHMH/Health & Hospitals | Other capital budget request for DOHMH | 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. | 1 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Captial | HRA | funding for supportive housing | HRA in Borough Consultations indicated that more funding was required for HPD and DOH which we wish to support as this is one of our primary pressing needs | 2 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Capital | NYCAAS | Air Quality Monitoring Infrastructure | Additional street-level air quality monitoring in high traffic corridors and child recreational areas (e.g., playgrounds, schools) | 13 | ||
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EXPENSE
| Fiscal Year | Budget Request | Agency | Organization | Contact | Budget submission request | Explanation | Comments | Ordering of Requests for Website | |
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DCAS | Building Carbon Capture Infrastructure Pilot Project | Conduct a pilot test adding Carbon Quest carbon sequestration technology to a city-owned building to determine feasibility/pros and cons of using such carbon sequestration to reduce building emissions as an alternative to electrification - both for city owned buildings as well as for the private market working to comply with Local Law 97. For context, in such technology, carbon dioxide from gas boilers is captured, cooled to a liquid, then sold/distributed to external parties for use in producing concrete and other products. Such initiatives could provide a cost-effective way at reducing building emissions and meet our climate goals. See below article for additional details. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/10/climate/buildings-carbon-dioxide-emissions-climate.html?searchResultPosition=6 |
28 | |||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DCP | Layla Law-Gisiko | CB5 Land Use Visioning Process | Support funding CB5 land use visioning process at and around Penn Station | From Layla on behalf of Landmarks | 26 | |
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DEP | DEP | Funding for additional noise enforcement cameras and inspectors to aid in enforcement. | 29 | |||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DFTA | DFTA | Funding to make up for the non-recurring deferal funds which pay for staff and on going community care | This came from the Dept. of the Aging | 33 | ||
| FY25 | Expense | DHS | DHS | Funding to support semi-private shelter accomodate /emergency beds for homeless population | 10 | ||||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DOE | DOE | Full funding of fair student funding | 30 | |||
| 2 | FY25 | Expense | DOE | DOE | Funding for class size reduction | 31 | |||
| 3 | FY25 | Expense | DOE | DOE | Funding for immigrant family outreach | 32 | |||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DOHMH | CIDNY | Funding is needed for mental health, housing, and legal services. CIDNY is requesting 1.1 million dollars to fund these three start-up programs | CIDny is a non profit - requests have to go to city agencies - mm | 6 | ||
| 2 | FY25 | Expense | DOHMH (Supportive Housing Network) | expanding the Intensive Mobile Treatment teams specifically for residents in supportive housing with behavioral and physical health needs. | Some supportive housing providers are not funded to provide on-site clinical care, and community-based resources are scarce. We recommend the City immediately expand IMT and target teams toward current and future supportive housing residents. | 7 | |||
| 3 | FY25 | Expense | DOHMH(Breaking Ground, CUCS) | Fund 6.5% COLA for those working in community outreach to ensure staffing levels | 11 | ||||
| 4 | FY24 | Expense | DOHMH | Other programs to address public health issues requests | Funding for more full time school nurses to support mental health in school | 12 | |||
| 5 | FY25 | expense | DOHMH | BC/Marisa | Increased funding for preparedness/prevention program for suicide prevention, mental health and substance abuse | Mental health issues are one of the major concerns within our district and funding is needed to provide the programs and supports that those suffering require. | 13 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DOT | EJ | Bike lane enhancement | DOT to fund better safe two-wheel enforcement of the new alternative forms of transportation on the streets and the bike lanesincluding signage and rumble strips | 14 | ||
| 2 | FY25 | expense | DOT | BC/Marisa | Increased funding for Open Restaurants program | In order for Open Restaurants to be successful robust inspections will be required and funding is necessary to ensure there is a cohort of additional inspectors. | 20 | ||
| 3 | FY25 | Expense | DOT | DOT | Provide gap funding to maintain baseline funding for real time passenger information program | This is a program that is welcomed and appreciated by riders. Baseline funding is required to ensure the viability of the service. | 23 | ||
| 4 | FY25 | Expense | DOT | DEM | Climate Resiliency Study | Study projecting 50-100+ year NYC sea level rise & resulting impact, and identification & evaluation of long-term resiliency improvement initiatives (including artificial land/Manhattan island expansion) on impact, cost, and feasibility grounds | 24 | ||
| 5 | FY25 | Expense | DOT | Green Concrete Utilization Study | 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 | |||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DSNY | Grand Central Partnership | Alfred Cerullo | Vending Enforcement | Funding for regular patrols from enforcement to deal with time, place, and manner violations - which is a primary vending issues in the midtown area. Patrols can manage the proliferation of unlicensed fruit and water vending, which is currently adversely affecting pedestrian flow on already crowded sidewalks. | 15 | |
| 2 | FY25 | Expense | DSNY | DSNY | Funding to ensure the continued operation and success of the precision cleaning initiatve | 16 | |||
| 3 | FY25 | Expense | DSNY | Grand Central Partnership | Alfred Cerullo | Increased Frequency of Trash Collections in and around Grand Central area | It is imperative for DSNY to do more regular pickups around the district, in particular the Grand Central area. The Grand Central Alliance will complete 2 or sometimes 3 pick ups a day as an organization, and many adjacent areas not in the BID go on with trash piling up. | 17 | |
| 4 | FY24 | Expense | DSNY | DSNY | Increase enforcement of dirty sidewalk/dirty area/failure to clean area laws | Increase funding for more DSNY inspectors | 18 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | DYCD | DYCD | Funding to ensure that the Summer youth employment program can accomodate all those that apply | 21 | |||
| 2 | FY25 | Expense | DYCD | DYCD | Funding for Runaway Youth Programs/Learn/Grow Programs and adult literacy | 22 | |||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | EDC | BC/Marisa | Funding for CleaNYC for graffitti removal | $2M was removed from this budget and CB5 would like to see that funding is restored | 19 | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | HPD | Community Service Society of New York | expansion of CITYFEPS | In its current form, CityFHEPS already costs the city a significant amount of money every year—from providing individuals and families experiencing homelessness with shelter to supporting their transition to permanent housing and subsidizing the resulting rents. Program expansion costs will be offset by savings from reduced shelter costs, resulting from shortened shelter stays and prevented evictions. | NOTE: CityFHEPS is a rental assistance supplement program to help individuals and families find and keep an apartment, a room, or single room occupancy (SRO) unit. |
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| 2 | FY25 | expense | HPD | Layla Law Gisiko | Expand the community land trust initative to create neighborhood based CLT's to preserve permenataly affordable housing | Fund a Community Land Trust Program, including financing for land acquisition | 2 | ||
| 3 | FY24 | Expense | HPD | Other affordable housing programs requests | Given the expiry of 421-a, fund a working group of policy and planning experts to propose and evaluate viable NYC alternatives for 421-a, working with New York State counterparts as necessary, and publish results accessible to the public. This is a request made last year and the Agency indicated further stufy of the issue was necessary. We hope that the investigation of this request has concluded and the Agency can move forward on our request. | 3 | |||
| 4 | FY24 | Expense | HPD | Other affordable housing programs requests | Baseline funding for the landlord ambassador program and partners in preservation | 4 | |||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | HRA | MBPO | Fully Fund Local Law 53 | The City must fully fund Local Law 53, which requires the office of Civil Justice to work with community groups to educate tenants about their rights in housing court. The City should also better fund tenant representation in housing court by increasing baseline funding for tenant representation. Housing court cases are funded at approximately 70% of the cost of representing New Yorkers. That rate should be increased to 100% so that organizations providing services to New Yorkers can afford to retain the legal, social work, and administrative talent required to do this essential work. Right to Counsel is really not a right if there is not enough attorneys to handle the caseload and currently there is a dearth of attorneys. | 5 | ||
| FY25 | Expense | HRA | ACS | Continuation of funding for the city pilot program called Promise NYC, which covers up to $700 a week in child care to undocumented children with low-income parents | 37 | ||||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | LPC | Layla Law-Gisiko | LPC Research Department | Fund additional staff for research department | From Layla on behalf of Landmarks | 34 | |
| 2 | FY25 | Expense | LPC | Layla Law-Gisiko | LPC Enforcement | Fund additional staff for enforcement | From Layla on behalf of Landmarks | 35 | |
| 3 | FY25 | Expense | LPC | Layla Law-Gisiko | LPC Grant Program | Fund a grant program to provide support to owners of landmarked buildings for exterior capital projects | From Layla on behalf of Landmarks | 36 | |
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (NYEM | TCFD Report & Plan | Establishment of a team responsible for producing and implementing a Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures report and action plan covering the city as a whole, covering climate risks and opportunities, governance, risk management practices, targets, and performance metrics. See below for details. https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ |
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| 1 | FY25 | Expense | PARKS | PARKS | NY4P | To get 1% of the city budget allocated to parks, increase maintenance and operations funding for parks | Funding for dedicated gardeners and bathroom staff and attendants, Funding Officers for Playground Associates and PEP | ||
| 1 | FY25 | Expense | SBS | BC/Marisa | Funding for Commerical Lease program | Small businesses can use the Commercial Lease Assistance program to get help with: Signing a new commercial lease. Amending, renewing, or terminating an existing commercial lease. This is an important means to ensure the vitality of small businesses in CB5 when so many have been lost | 20 | 7 | |
| 2 | FY25 | expense | SBS | BC/Marisa | Funding for MWBE contract loan fund program | Contracting Financing Loan Fund: loans help win, start and perform on City contracts and provides financing and other supports to business that may otherwise not feel able to compete for these funds | 21 | 8 |