Date: Jan 1, 2026
New York, NY — On December 16, 2025, Community Board 12-Manhattan (CB12M) elected its new officers for 2026 and voted to hire its new District Manager.
CB12M elected Anthony Viola to serve as its Chairperson. Viola served as the First Vice Chairperson in 2025, after serving as Secretary in 2024. Viola joined CB12M in January 2023 and has since been a member of its Licensing Committee, Land Use Committee, and By-laws Task Force. Viola succeeds Katherine Diaz, who served as CB12M’s Chairperson since 2023.
Additionally, CB12M named Leo Jimenez as its First Vice Chairperson, Tanesha Grant as its Second Vice Chairperson, Alexis Marnel as its Secretary, Elizabeth Lorris Ritter as its Assistant Secretary, and Heidi Guzman as its Treasurer.
The term for all elected officers began on January 1, 2026.
CB12M also voted to approve the hiring of Kiana Diaz as its next District Manager. Diaz comes from the Office of Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, where she has served as Deputy Chief of Staff since January 2022. Prior to this role, Diaz has experience working in various capacities for other elected officials, both at the city and state levels. Diaz is anticipated to start sometime in February 2026, succeeding Ebenezer Smith who served as District Manager for 18 years.
CB12M’s new leadership comes as other changes occur throughout New York City government. Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office on January 1, 2026, along with the new Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
About Community Board 12-Manhattan
CB12M is a local agency of the New York City government, serving the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood. CB12M consists of up to 50 volunteer members with connections in the district. Made up of committees carrying out its work, CB12M addresses issues including affordable housing, education, small business needs, and public safety, to name a few. CB12M is one of 59 community boards that advocate on behalf of the people of New York City.