REPORT: Manhattan Community Board 7’s Year in Review

Looking back at 2025, Manhattan Community Board 7 is proud to report all the work we have done to pursue tangible changes in quality of life for Upper West Siders all over the district. First, in the numbers:

CB7 passed 87 resolutions this year with 30 originating from the Business & Consumer Issues committee, 13 from Preservation, 11 from Transportation, 10 from Housing & Land Use, 7 from Parks & Environment, 6 from Health & Human Services, 5 from Steering, 4 from Youth, Education & Libraries, 1 from Executive, and 1 from Budget & Strategy. 

On average, the office receives about 770 emails per month to our general inbox, MN07@cb.nyc.gov. 

We have uploaded 104 video recordings of Board meetings to our YouTube channel this year, which were watched a combined total of 9647 times.

In 2025, 11 new Board Members have been appointed. Our newest appointee has served just five months, and the longest standing board member has served over 48 years!

In terms of impact the Board has guided or supported the following initiatives:

• The installation of a bike corral at W71st Street at the request of the block association to the Transportation Committee.

• The establishment of an advisory Task Force by CB7’s Housing & Land Use Committee to assure the community’s voice is heard throughout the redevelopment of the former ABC Studios site on W 66th and 67th Streets.

• The opening of six Kindergarten classes at PS112M in a previously underutilized educational facility after a Youth, Education and Libraries Resolution.

• The evaluation of West Park Church’s hardship application, finding partially mixed evidence of hardship, but through hours and hours of meetings, testimony, and deliberation by the Preservation Committee, ultimately recommending the protection of West Park Church as an important historical landmark and community meeting space. 

• The thoughtful redesign of River Run Park after a Parks & Environment Committee meeting in August led to an outpouring of community input that inspired Parks to draft a revised plan, which was delivered at this month’s Parks & Environment meeting.

• An entirely Board-leadership-led investigation on the current challenges the Department of Sanitation faces when street sweeping.

The Board has also spoken up for the needs of New Yorkers in the face of an incredibly challenging political year by:

• Affirming the status of New York City public schools as welcoming for all New Yorkers.

• Supporting the H.E.L.P. Act to increase availability of mental health services within hospitals for those in need.

• Supporting a package of amendments that make the legal discovery process more equitable.

• Requesting that the City encourage corporate partners with whom it invests city pensions and other similar funds to continue the use of inclusive and equitable workplace policies despite federal government pressure.

• Supporting the New York City Department of Education’s independence despite numerous attempts by the federal government to request policy changes.

• Opposing the new NYPD policy to issue criminal summons for bicycle traffic violations, knowing that federal immigration enforcement has placed increased emphasis on criminal violations for workers born outside of the United States.

• Supporting a bill that will allow the New York State Department of Health to offer vaccine recommendations that differ from those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last but not least, the Community Board 7 office has made significant wins communicating with agencies on behalf of our district’s residents such as:

• Establishing strong communication between the Department of Environmental Protection and residents recently affected by a water main break on W108th Street earlier this month.

• Sending weekly newsletters with local events, notices, and updates on nearby construction projects.

• Navigating tricky conflicts between business-owners and nearby residents to assure strong communication and good neighborly conduct throughout the district.

• Holding monthly meetings, in accordance with the Board’s chartered responsibilities, with all agency representatives who focus on the Upper West Side to collaboratively address interagency issues impacting our district.

• Holding monthly meetings with local block associations to offer guidance on issues of sanitation, safety, and maintenance.

• Creating a new section on our website for reporting maintenance and service issues at any of our district’s parks, which will allow us to better communicate with the Department of Parks and Recreation to get these concerns addressed.

As the year comes to a close, we are also looking ahead to consider how we can continue to best serve this district in 2026. The office will continue working hard to strengthen cross-agency communication, expand and deepen our engagement with the community, and improve our meeting processes. Under our new Chair, Alex Bell, the Board will continue the great work done by previous Chairs in advocating for policies and investments that are in line with the needs of Upper West Siders. The Board will also continue to speak up on issues that affect not only the Upper West side but all New Yorkers. Under the leadership of a new District Manager in 2026 as well, the office will continue to focus on transparency, accountability, and delivering meaningful outcomes for the district.