Items of Interest from the May 8, 2026 Eblast – CB2 Manhattan Community Board

For the full May 8 Eblast, please click here.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

RENT GUIDELINES BOARD HEARINGS

For the schedule of hearings in all 5 Boroughs and related information about the Rent Guidelines Board’s proposals with respect to the rent for apartments subject to rent stabilization, please click here.

SURVEY ON PUBLIC E-BIKE CHARGING STATIONS

The NYC DOT launched a public portal to solicit feedback for our Public E-Bike Charging (PEC) program. This initiative follows a six-month e-bike battery-charging pilot intended to ensure that battery-swapping cabinets are safe, widely used, and convenient for delivery workers. For additional information about the program, please see today’s release, linked here. The PEC location in CB2’s District will be at the NW corner of Cooper Square at East 4^th Street.

SoHo DESIGN NIGHT

SoHo Design District celebrates NYCxDesign 2026 with SoHo Design Night on Friday, May 15th from 6 to 9 p.m., bringing together leading showrooms and galleries across SoHo for an evening of open studios and neighborhood-wide programming. Participating brands will debut new product launches, design collections and installations, offering visitors an immersive look at contemporary design in one of Downtown Manhattan’s most dynamic creative districts. To see the list of participating showrooms and to learn more, please click here.

FAMILY ART PROJECTS AT THE KITCHEN (WESTBETH)

The Kitchen is hosting drop-in family art workshops this month. They are free and open to the public.

Where: The Kitchen (163B Bank Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10014)

When: Saturdays 5/9, 5/16, 5/30, 6/6, 11AM-1PM, drop-in

What: Found Object Sculptures with Families: create found object sculptures inspired by the works on display. We will source recycled materials for families to use to build their sculptures together with the guidance of a teaching artist. Workshops will be drop-in, so families can come and go as they please. The Kitchen is pleased to partner with Artists & Mothers on the May 30 workshop.

For more information, please click here.

SHARE YOUR IDEAS FOR SUMMER STREETS

Summer Streets is a program of the NYC Department of Transportation that closes certain roadways (including Lafayette Street in CB2’s District) to vehicular traffic and opens the streets to alternative uses.

The DoT has created a survey to gather feedback from neighbors about what they would like to see during upcoming Summer Streets, linked here.

LEARN TO RIDE A BIKE + FREE HELMET

The 6^th Precinct Community Council and BikeNY are offering free learn to ride a bike classes, with a free helmet (and bike repair if necessary) while supplies last. Registration begins May 1; the event is on Saturday, May 16 from 9 to 11 am at the Seravalli Playground. To register, please click here.

FIRST AID CLASSES – STOP THE BLEED

The American College of Surgeons is offering free classes on first aid to stop bleeding on Tuesday, May 19^th (2 sessions – at 4 pm or 5:15 pm) at NYC H+H /Bellevue Hospital Library, 462 First Avenue. To register, please email [email protected].

CITYWIDE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING – VOTING IS UNDERWAY

In addition to the Participatory Budgeting program run by Members of the City Council which recently concluded, the NYC Civic Engagement Commission runs PB for each Borough and certain neighborhoods. Voting continues through early June. To explore the proposals on the ballot for Manhattan, please click here.

RECRUITING UNDER WAY FOR AN IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROGRAM

The Door is sponsoring a no-cost, paid 3-month training program designed for young adults interested in launching a career in Information Technology and Help Desk Support at its Bronx Youth Center. The program begins on September 8^th. The selected participants receive a stipend, CompTIA A+ Certification, job readiness training and more. To learn more and sign up, please click here.

CUNY SPRING CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE EVENT

Saturday, May 16th, FROM 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 524 W 59th St

New York, NY 10019. To make an appointment:

Call us at 646-664-9400 and leave us a message
Text us at 929-334-3784
Email us at [email protected]
Website: Citizenship Day – The City University of New York

For more information, please click here.

NYPL BRANCH EVENTS AND UPDATES

For the Hudson Park Branch Library, please click here.
For the Jefferson Market Branch Library, please click here.
Mulberry Street Branch Library, please click here.

For the NYPL Spring Staff Picks for Spring/Summer reading, please click here.

SERVICE DOGS INFORMATION

Certified Service Animals are permitted in most places that their respective human is allowed. The types of qualified service animals is greater than just guide dogs for the visually impaired. For information from the New York State Attorney General’s Office about Service Animals in public accommodations, please click here.

FREE GALLERY WALK FOR STUDENTS

A collection of 5 arts institutions on the west side of Manhattan will be hosting tours of their exhibitions for students during the months of April and May. Each institution will be staffed with an educator or curator ready to speak with the students. The galleries include: Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA), 225 W 13th Street, New York, NY 10011 (The Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the Winds: For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant); Fort Gansevoort, 5 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10014] (Oototol); White Columns, 91 Horatio Street, New York, NY 10014 (Concrete Spirit and Art (by) Dealers); Westbeth Gallery, 55 Bethune St, New York, NY 10014 (WORKING CONDITIONS); and The Kitchen, 163B Bank St., 4th Fl Loft, New York, NY 10014 (Tromorama, Upon a Machine).

Please use this form to sign up for a date and time slot. For more information, please click Here.

WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Washington Square Music Festival returns for its 68^th season in Washington Square Park Tuesdays, June 9, 16, 23 and 30, all at 8 pm. The current lineup includes:

June 9, 8 pm: Festival Chamber Ensemble, Soloist Eriko Sato, violin – Baroque and Renaissance Music
June 16, 8 pm: Kali Rodriguez Peña Quintet – Latin Jazz
June 23, 8 pm: Itai Kriss and Telavana Ensemble – A fusion of jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and Middle Eastern music
June 30, 8 pm: Festival Chamber Orchestra, Ahmed Alom, Conductor, soloist Rosario Armas, mezzo-soprano – Music by Schumann, Berlioz, and Kinan Azmeh

For small businesses …

SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The NYC Department of Small Business Services is accepting applications for SBS Commercial Revitilization Grants. These grants offer funding to help Community Based Organizations to enact programs and delivery services to increase foot traffic on commercial corridors, enhance the public realm, and build organizational management and leadership capacity. The types of grants include: Merchant Organizing Grant; BID Development Grants; Small BID Support Grants; Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants; and Public Realm Grant. To learn more, please click on the list of grants or the application site or reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE FORUM

The U.S. Small Business Administration is sponsoring a small business resource forum on Friday, May 22 from 9 am to 1 pm at the Federal Plaza Conference Center, 26 Federal Plaza, 6^th Floor. RSVP is necessary – to register, send an email with your name and email address here.

NYC SMALL BUSINESS MONTH EXPO

Small business owners of all stages, industries, and boroughs will be able to access free resources, consultations, workshops, and networking to help solve the 6 top challenges NYC small business owners face on Thursday, May 28 from 9 am to 4 pm at 60 Pine Street in Manhattan. Information will be available relating to funding and growing a business, building a customer base, accessing legal services and more. To register to attend the expo, please click here.

FREE FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE WHITNEY

The Whitney Museum offers free admission from 5–10 pm on Fridays, with special programming throughout the Museum. On May 8^th, the Whitney  Free Friday Nights program includes opportunities to tour the Whitney Biennial 2026.

For more information and free tickets, please click here.

NYC TRASH BINS AVAILABLE AT HOME DEPOT

Most residential and commercial buildings are now required to place trash, composting and other items for collection in solid bins with closing lids. Starting in June 2026, those bins must NYC Bins approved by DSNY.

DSNY has announced that a variety of sizes of conforming NYC Bins are now available for purchase at various Home Depot locations.

For more information, including Home Depot locations, please click here.

RE-ROUTING OF THE GREENWAY ALONG THE HUDSON

The bikelanes and pedestrian paths along the Hudson River has been re-routed for approximately 6 months to accommodate work for the Manhattan Tunnel Project. For more information, please click here.

FLOOD PREPAREDNESS

For practical guidance on how to remain safe and informed in the case of a flood, please consult the information from the NYC Office of Emergency Management Here, or register for a webinar on flood preparedness for places of worship by clicking here.

NEW MTA MOBILE APP

With the newly-released MTA Mobile App, users can get accurate arrival times for subways and buses; service updates, and more. To download the new app, Click Here for Android or Click Here for iOS.

MTA – OMNY ASSISTANCE

The OMNY Customer Call Center is now operating 24/7 at 877-789-6669.

COMING SOON – MTA BUSES WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT COINS

At a later date in 2026, buses will no longer accept coins as payment. The exact date will be shared ahead of time. Instead, customers can tap and ride using their OMNY card, phone, or contactless debit or credit card. OMNY cards can be reloaded with cash or coins at OMNY vending machines in subway stations or at participating retail locations near you like Walgreens or CVS. If there is a local business or retailer in your district that would be a good candidate for the OMNY retail network, you can nominate them at this link. There is no cost for a store to participate.

MTA SERVICE ALERTS

Riders may set up up real-time service alerts for MTA subways, buses, and commuter railroads to receive notices about service changes along your route as they happen. Riders may also set up alerts to become notified via email or text about elevator and escalator outages in select station(s).

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK EVENTS

For updates from the Washington Square Park Conservancy, please click here.

HUDSON RIVER PARK EVENTS

For a calendar of events in Hudson River Park, please click here.

HIGH LINE PROGRAMMING

For the latest Free Events and program on the High Line, please click here.

ADA Pedestrian Ramps
The NYC Department of Design & Construction is at work on reconstruction of ADA pedestrian ramps, installation of granite curbs, upgraded sidewalks, restored cobblestone areas, and improvements in street lighting at the following locations. For more information, please click here and here. Upcoming work on this project is expected at:

Fifth Avenue at West 13^th Street – on-going.
Fifth Avenue at East 12^th Street (SE Corner) – through May 15.
Fifth Avenue at West 9^th Street (NW Corner) – through May 15.
MacDougal Street at Bleecker Street – through May 15.
Bleecker Street at Perry Street – through May 15.
Bleecker Street & Jones Street – through May 15.
Bleecker Street & Grove Street – through May 15.
Bleecker Street & 8th Avenue – through May 15.
Hudson Street & West 12 Street – through May 15.
Washington Place &Mercer Street – through May 15.
Broadway between East Houston and Spring Street – through May 15.
Prince Street between Mercer and Crosby Streets – through May 15.
Bleecker Street between MacDougal and Thompson Streets – through May 15.
Sullivan Street between West 3^rd and West Houston Streets – through May 15.
Spring Street between Sullivan Street and West Broadway – through May 15.
Prince Street between MacDougal and Thompson Streets – through May 15.
Sullivan Street between West Houston and Spring Streets – through May 15.
Bowery between Bleecker and East Houston Streets – through May 15.
Broome Street between Thompson and Wooster Streets – through May 15.
West Broadway between Spring and Grand Streets – through May 15.
Seventh Avenue at Perry Street – through May 15.
Hester Street at Baxter Street – through May 15.
Hester Street at Mott Street – through May 15.
Greenwich Street at Watts Street – through May 15.
Fifth Avenue at West 8^th Street – through May 15.
Washington Street at Horatio Street – through May 15.
East 12^th Street at Fourth Avenue – through May 15.
Broadway at West 3^rd Street – through May 15.
Broadway at Canal Street – through May 15.

NYS Travel Advisory: For this week’s travel advisory, please click here.

PORT AUTHORITY ADVISORIES

For the Port Authority Travel Advisory for the coming week, please click here.
Holland Tunnel lane closures for week of 5/10/26,
- From Monday, May 11th, through Thursday, May 14th, from 11:00 pm each night to 5:00 am the following morning, one eastbound lane will be closed.
- From Monday, May 11th, through Thursday, May 14th, from 11:30 pm each night to 5:30 am the following morning, one westbound lane will be closed.

Full Roadway Closures

West Houston Street between Washington and Greenwich Streets – through June 28.
Charles Street between Bleecker and West 4^th Streets – June 1 through June 12.
Bethune Street between West and Washington Streets – from May 15 through July 12.
Barrow Street between Seventh Avenue South and West 4^th Street – weekends through May 31.
Greene Street between Waverly Place and East 8^th Street – weekend of May 15-16.
West 13^th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues – beginning May 8 [no end date listed]
East 13^th Street between Fifth Avenue and University Place – weekends through May 17.
Greenwich Street between Canal and Spring Streets – weekend through May 31.
West Broadway between Spring and Prince Streets – May 16 through May 24.
Mott Street between Broome and Kenmare Streets – May 11 through May 18.
Thompson Street between West Houston and Bleecker Streets – May 11 through June 9.
Grand Street at Mulberry Street –through May 13.
Elizabeth Street between Spring and Prince Streets – weekends through May 10.
Downing Street between Bedford Street and Sixth Avenue – through May 31.
Washington Place between Sixth Avenue and Washington Square West – weekends through May 10.
West 9^th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues – weekends through May 17.
Charles Street between Bleecker and West 4^th Streets – weekdays through August 5.
Bedford Street between Grove and Barrow streets – through June 22.
Jane Street between Washington and Greenwich Streets – through June 6.
Perry Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets –through July 20.

And farther uptown on the West Side Highway …

Henry Hudson Parkway Exit at West 79^th Street Boat Basin will be closed intermittently for approximately 3 more weeks – weekdays and Saturdays.

DINING OUT NYC PUBLIC HEARINGS
Link for All Dates: Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/91467302621
Meeting ID: 91467302621

Please note that CB2 only lists the DONYC public hearings

that include applications relating to our District.

[No hearings currently scheduled for applications relating to CB2’s District.]