Our Community

Economic Development Committee Chair: Antonio Rivera  

Economic Development Committee Mission Statement: “The Economic Development Committee of Manhattan CommunityBoard 11 (East Harlem) strives to enhance and establish economic opportunities for its residents and business owners. The committee seeks to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for the community by creating and retaining jobs, helping shape opportunities for our small business owners and fostering an atmosphere that encourages future generations to continue the workthat has been initiated.”  

City Properties & Land Use Committee:

Chair: La Shawn Henry

Vice-Chair: Beverly Alston

City Properties & Land Use Committee Mission Statement:

"To review and guide land use matters in Community Board 11, including those which come before the board as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure and other processes in which public review is necessary. Through careful review and subsequent negotiations the committee ensures that the built form that is developed is sensitive to the needs of the community and targets community benefits such as housing affordability, local hiring, green/sustainable design, creation/preservation of open space, contextual design and other quality of life improvements, utilizing local professional consultants and contractors whenever possible."

Manhattan Community Board 11 City Properties & Land Use Checklist (please see attachment below)

The City Properties and Zoning Checklist must be completed and submitted fourteen (14) days prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Manhattan Community Board 11 City Properties and Land Use Committee. Please note, all Checklists are due back at the Board Office, 1664 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10035 by 4:00 PM of the due date. Submission of a Checklist does not ensure immediate review by Committee.

The District Manager and the Chairperson of the City Properties and Land Use Committee will review your checklist only if it is submitted before the deadline date. The Committee will only review your request if it meets all of the following criteria for completeness:

Parks & Recreation Committee Chair:
  
Frances Mastrota

Parks & Recreation Committee Mission Statement:
 
“The Parks committee is charged with the responsibility of working closely with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, its affiliate organizations, Elected Officials and other state and federal environmental agencies, to ensure the preservation, conservation, maintenance, renovation and enjoyment of East Harlem Parks, playgrounds, ball fields, recreational facilities, community gardens, riverbanks, open public land and green spaces for East Harlem citizens. This is to be accomplished by education, evaluation and advocacy to ensure that the East Harlem community is represented properly.”

Randall's Island Sports Foundation

Randall’s Island Sports Foundation Mission Statement:

Housing Committee

Chair:   Jo Ann Lawson

Vice-Chair: Tasha Williams 

Housing Committee Mission Statement: "The Housing Committee seeks to review, monitor, initiate and/or report on the implementation of all East Harlem current and new housing initiatives and homeownership programs, and advocate and preserve quality affordable housing for all East Harlem residents."

Looking for Affordable Housing?

Affordable Housing Organizations:

El Barrio's Operation Fight back — (212) 410-7900, Manages affordable housing units in East Harlem.

Habitat for Humanity— (212) 991-4000, Builds or renovates single family homes or multiple family apartment condominiums. www.habitatnyc.org/own_apply.html

HOPE Community Inc.—(212) 860-8821, Develops and manages affordable rental and owner occupied housing in East Harlem. www.hopeci.org

Palladia—(212) 979-8800, Provides permanent affordable housing units in the Bronx and Manhattan. www.palladiainc.org

Organizations that can assist you in locating affordable housing:

116th Block Association (East Harlem) — (212) 860-4100, 23 E. 115th Street, Suite 3 Provides assistance to those in Community Board 11 (East Harlem).

Health & Human Services Committee Chair:

Chair: David Giordano

Vice-Chair: Monica Brown

The Health & Human Services Committee meets the First Monday of every month. Check the calendar for Agenda details and/or Change of Dates.

Health & Human Services Committee 2008-9 Agenda

Continuing community board reform efforts, the Health and Human Services Committee has proposed the development of a meeting format to include:

Youth & Education Committee Chair:

Chair: Cesar Ortiz

Youth & Education Mission Statement:

"The Youth and Education committee is comprised of Community Board members and representatives from youth and community groups throughout the district.  Our mission is to advocate for and do our best to provide for funding, programs, and policies that help youth to secure a college education, careers of their own choosing, and economic stability for themselves and their families.  Our educational activities should seek to encompass all learners, both youth and adult including our English as a Second Language Learners and our special needs learners.  We advocate for academic excellence in all of our schools.  We advocate for and do our best to provide knowledge of social justice issues that affect our community so that residents are better able to address them in productive ways. We seek to develop a networking relationship with the district’s parochial, proprietary schools and colleges, and moreover, to assist schools in getting needed city services.  We strive to give direct voice to the youth and assist the East Harlem Youth Council, and other youth groups in any way possible consistent with our mission."

Cultural Affairs Committee

Chair: Yma Rodriguez

Cultural Affairs Committee Mission Statement:

“To strengthen and maintain East Harlem's cultural assets thorough the promotion of collaborations and partnerships with artist, institutions and community planning and development initiatives. Advocate for the participation of EH artists and cultural programs by the development of policy statements and to increase access to resources”.

East Harlem Arts Symposium 2008

The East Harlem Arts Symposium was held on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at the Reece School in East Harlem. The symposium was co-hosted by Manhattan Community Board 11, State Senator Jose M. Serrano and Art for Change. The event was an opportunity to bring local artists and arts organizations together to discuss what issues they are facing and what opportunities are available to them.

The symposium also brought major arts institutions and organizations together to show what they have been doing for the arts and to share information with the East Harlem arts community. Organizations that were present included the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Lincoln Center and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

The Symposium was considered an overwhelming success by those in attendance. Many ideas were shared and this marked the beginning of the development of a cohesive East Harlem Arts Community. the rest of this report will detail the information that was shared at the symposium and will also list some recommended action items. 

(See attachment for Full Report)

Public Safety & Transportation Committee

Chair: Peggy Morales

Vice-Chair: Brodie Enoch

Mission Statement:

As the committee charged with the oversight and response to Public Safety concerns we endeavor to address, advocate for and respond to any concerns brought before us that affect the security of our East Harlem community.  Additionally we will monitor, assess and make recommendations in the best interest of the our community residents to ensure that transportation needs for pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists are met in a fair, convenient and responsible manner.

Street and Avenue Name Change Policies and Procedures

All applications for street/avenue name changes must be brought before the Manhattan Community Board 11 Public Safety and Transportation Committee for a vote and recommendation to our Full Board. After Full Board approval, applications are then forwarded to the respective local City Council member with a request to submit the applicatioon before Council for an offical name change.

Please see the attached document below for detailed description of the policies and procedures for street and avenue name change requests.

Senior Citizen Committee Mission Statement:

"To promote a good quality of life of East Harlem Senior Citizens through education, celebration and advocacy."

Committee Chair:

Hans Desnoyers 

** Please see attachment below for a listing of local Senior Centers

Zoning Taskforce

Chair:   La Shawn Henry

Vice-Chair:  Diane Collier



Zoning Taskforce Mission Statement:

"To develop, review, comment and guide all applications for zoning text changes and zoning variances in Community Board 11 and ensure that zoning applications are consistent with the community’s goals and needs, submitting comments and making recommendations to the CB11 City Properties/Land Use Committee for ULURP’s and zoning variances. The Zoning Committee is responsible for preserving the scale and contextual character of the community and making certain that developers preserve the mixed income character of the community through the use of inclusionary zoning and the maximization of affordable housing opportunities, as well as other community benefits."

Carnivals Taskforce Chair:

Deborah Quiñones

For more information on Street Activity permits and how to apply visit the Mayor's Communtiy Assistance Unit Website or contact Norma Ojeda at the Board Office (212-831-8929/30).

East Harlem, sometimes referred to as El Barrio and Spanish Harlem, is located in the north-eastern section of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. The primary business hub of Spanish Harlem has historically been East 116th Street from 5th Avenue headed east to its termination at the FDR Drive.

East Harlem is also home to one of the few major television studios north of midtown, Metropolis (106th St. and Park Ave.), where shows like BET's 106 & Park and Chappelle's Show have been produced. Major medical care providers include Metropolitan Hospital Center, North General Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, which serves residents of East Harlem and the Upper East Side. Many of the graduates of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine have pursued careers in public health initiatives critical to East Harlem, including the battle against asthma, diabetes, unsafe drinking water, lead paint and infectious diseases.

Many famous artists have lived and worked in Spanish Harlem, including writer Langston Hughes, Soprano Marian Anderson, the renowned timbalero Tito Puente (110th Street was renamed “Tito Puente Way”), Jazz legend Ray Barretto and one of Puerto Rico’s most famous poets, Julia de Burgos among others. Piri Thomas wrote a best-selling autobiography titled, "Down These Mean Streets" in 1967. Also the contemporary artist Soraida Martinez, the painter and creator of "Verdadism," was born in Spanish Harlem in 1956.

Mental Retardation Committee Chair:

Willie Mae Goodman