Committees
Arts & Institutions
The committee provides a forum for artists, organizations and city agencies to present proposals for arts and cultural projects in the CB2 area. It is also a forum for the large institutions within CB2 to present their plans and ideas for development, programs or other events that will affect the community. Coverage includes universities, schools, libraries and religious and social institutions.
This committee advocates for preserving the artistic heritage of CB2, while giving the community and the board an opportunity to review and have input on various proposals at an early stage with the purpose of protecting the public interest.
Board Members Public Members
Ivy Kwan Arce, Chair Stacey Goergen
Chris Dignes Kristin Marting
Susan Gammie Jonathan Slaff
Rocio Sanz
Cannabis Licensing Committee
The Community Board 2 Cannabis Licensing Committee (CLC) seeks to support the success of cannabis businesses that contribute to the district’s economic development and cultural diversity. In so doing, the CLC works to facilitate such businesses’ ability to preserve and enhance the quality of life experienced by the District’s residents.
The legal authority under which the Community Board operates in relation to cannabis licenses is the New York State’s Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA). Under the MRTA, Community Boards in New York City are responsible for advising the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board with respect to applications for licenses to sell cannabis products for on-premises and off-premises consumption, as well as license renewals, transfers, alterations, corporate changes, and method of operation changes. Although the Community Board does not make the final decision on licensing, its recommendations carry significant weight in the OCM/CCB review.
Community Facilities Advisory Panel
Economic Development & Small Business
The committee seeks to develop a strategy to encourage economic diversity in a way that fosters the distinctive Community Board 2 environment and responds to current retail pressures that have contributed to retail blight, notably the loss of essential quality-of-life businesses that serve our area’s residents.
Board Members Public Members
Valerie De La Rosa, Chair J. Mills-Pierre III
Bo Riccobono, Vice Chair
David Gruber
Ryder Kessler
Kristin Shea
Equity, Race & Justice Committee
Board Members
Mar Fitzgerald, Chair
Patricia Laraia, Vice Chair
Akeela Azcuy
Katy Bordonaro
Amy Brenna
Ed Ma
Matthew Metzger
Antony Wong
Executive Committee
Susan Kent, Chair
Valerie De La Rosa, 1st Vice Chair
Eugene Yoo, 2nd Vice Chair
Antony Wong, Treasurer
Amy Brenna, Secretary
Brian Pape, Assistant Secretary
Jeannine Kiely, Former Board Chair
Ivy Kwan Arce, Arts & Institutions
Valerie De La Rosa, Economic Development & Small Business
Mar Fitzgerald, Equity, Race & Justice + Cannabis Licensing
Susanna Aaron, Human Services
Eugene Yoo & Katy Bordonaro, Land Use & Housing
Chenault Spence, Landmarks
Rich Caccappolo, Parks & Waterfront
William Benesh, Quality of Life
Patricia Laraia, Schools & Education
Donna Raftery, SLA 1
Cormac Flynn, SLA 2
Shirley Secunda, Traffic & Transportation
Finance
Human Services
The committee discusses issues relating to the needs of important groups and institutions including youth, seniors, and the LGBTQ+ community. It deals with other serious problems facing persons with disabilities, HIV/AIDS victims and families, substance abuse users and immigrants. The committee works with social service specialists, city agencies and elected officials.
This committee also addresses issues related to public safety and public health.
Board Members Public Members
Susanna Aaron, Chair Rachel Yarmolinsky
William Benesh
Keen Berger
Ritu Chattree
John Deverna
Wayne Kawadler
Ryder Kessler
Ivy Kwan-Arce
Land Use & Housing
The committee holds public hearings on land-use applications including zoning, special permits and variances and anything to be built or modified that is not as-of-right. Resolutions are sent to the City Planning Commission, Board of Standards and Appeals, or other appropriate agencies and elected officials.
The committee also seeks to preserve and increase the affordable housing stock in the CB2 area.
Board Members Public Member
Katy Bordonaro, Co-Chair Sean Sweeney
Eugene Yoo, Co-Chair
Anita Brandt
Stella Fitzgerald
John Paul DeVerna
David Gruber
Michael Levine
Donna Raftery
Frederica Sigel
Susan Wittenberg
Read More...
Landmarks & Public Aesthetics
The committee reviews applications for work overseen by Landmarks Preservation Commission in the several landmarked districts and for individual landmarks in the CB2 area. Its recommendations concerning restoration, renovation, new construction, and legalization of work carried out without a permit are sent to the Landmarks Commission.
The Committee also considers designation of new districts and individual landmarks.
The Committee may proactively recommend review by the Commission of work that appears to be in violation of landmark statutes.
Board Members Public Members
Chenault Spence, Chair Albert Bennett
Susan Gammie, Vice-Chair Andy Clark
Anita Brandt Brenden Fitzgerald
Valerie De La Rosa
Brian Pape
Bo Riccobono
Zachary Roberts
Eugene Yoo
Liquor Licensing (SLA) 1
These committees review applications for new liquor licenses and alterations of existing licenses within Community Board 2. There are two Committees, equal in mission, due to the high volume of liquor license applications in the CB2 service area.
The Committees review each application pursuant to State Law, which generally requires the applicant to satisfy the public interest standard, before providing its recommendations to the New York State Liquor Authority.
Board Members
Donna Raftery, Co-Chair
Carter Booth
Cormac Flynn
Lois Rakoff
Dr. Shirley H. Smith
Susan Wittenberg
Antony Wong
Read More...
Liquor Licensing (SLA) 2
These committees review applications for new liquor licenses and alterations of existing licenses within Community Board 2. There are two Committees, equal in mission, due to the high volume of liquor license applications in the CB2 service area.
The Committees review each application pursuant to State Law, which generally requires the applicant to satisfy the public interest standard, before providing its recommendations to the New York State Liquor Authority.
Board Members
Donna Raftery, Co-Chair
Katy Bordonaro
Cormac Flynn
Susan Kent
Brian Pape
Dr. Shirley H. Smith
Parks & Waterfront
The committee reviews plans and proposals regarding all the public space in CB2. It also reviews other properties operated or maintained by the Parks Department, including the Dapolito Recreation Center, Greenstreets plantings, street trees and public plazas.
Where possible, the committee promotes the creation of new public open space and the preservation and upgrades as needed of existing parks and open areas.
Also, the committee focuses on the development, operation and management of Hudson River Park from Canal Street to 14th Street including potential buildout or modifications of Pier 40 and Pier 55 and the Gansevoort Peninsula.
Board Members Public Members
Rich Caccappolo, Chair Elizabeth Gilmore
Susanna Aaron, Vice Chair Sharon Woolums
Ritu Chattree Coral Dawson
Chris Dignes
Matthew Metzger
Daniel Miller
Shirley Secunda
Kristin Shea
Frederica Sigel
Personnel
The committee, composed of the board’s officers, meets when necessary to create the process by which the board chooses its district manager, supervises and reviews the performance of the district manager, and assists the DM in hiring, supervising and reviewing the performance of all staff members.
Jeannine Kiely, Chair
Carter Booth
Ritu Chattree
Valerie De La Rosa
Mar Fitzgerald
David Gruber
Susan Kent
Antony Wong
Quality of Life
The committee reviews applications and complaints regarding sidewalk cafes; resolutions go to the Department of Consumer Affairs with additional review by the City Council as needed. It also reviews applications and issues related to newsstands, street furniture, street vendors and any other incursions on sidewalk access.
Also, the committee reviews applications and complaints on street festivals, block parties, and other street and sidewalk closures and examines the impact of movie production as well as street parades in our community. Street festival resolutions are sent to the Street Activity Permit Office and the Office of Citywide Events Coordination and Management.
The committee additionally focuses on issues pertaining to sanitation and environmental protection.
Board Members Public Members
William Benesh, Chair Karen Eckhoff
Susan Kent Johanna Lawton
Michael Levine
Ed Ma
Brian Pape
Zachary Roberts
Rocio Sanz
Wayne Kawadler
Read More...
Schools & Education
The committee focuses on the schools and education-related needs of our community, including the funding, design and educational focus of new public schools; funding and support for existing schools; and discussion of educational issues that impact our community.
Often the committee will coordinate with other CB 2 committees on specific issues that impact schools, such as safety and transportation, arts funding and student access to local parks and open spaces. The committee works with local schools, city agencies, education advocates and elected officials.
Board Members Public Members
Patricia Laraia, Chair Michael Markowitz
Cherly Wu, Vice Chair Barbara Glassman
Akeela Azcuy
Keen Berger
Amy Brenna
Rich Caccappolo
Mar Fitzgerald
Matthew Metzger
Traffic & Transportation
The committee addresses the design, planning, operation and regulation of streets, neighborhood plazas, bridges, tunnels and other transportation options, including pedestrian, motor vehicle and bicycle traffic, street safety and street activities, as well as all issues related to public transportation including subway, bus and other modes of transit.
Some of the major topics include traffic calming, parking, signage, signalization, bicycle lanes, street amenities and upgrading transit routes, stations and stops.
Board Members Public Members
Shirley Secunda, Chair Joseph Flahaven
Daniel Miller, Vice Chair George Haikalis
Amy Brenna
Lois Rakoff
Antony Wong
Working Group – Bylaws
This ad hoc working group convenes at the suggestion of the board chair to review, periodically, the board’s by-laws and develop suggested revisions.
Board Members
Susan Kent, Chair
Katy Bordonaro
David Gruber
Michael Levine
Matthew Metzger
Working Group – Permanent Open Restaurants
Working Group – SoHo/NoHo
Board Members
Anita Bartholin Brandt, Chair
Eugene Yoo, Vice-Chair
Akeela Ali Azcuy, Ph.D.
Carter Booth
Michael E. Levine
Frederica Sigel
Susan Wittenberg
Antony Wong