While lawmakers in Albany negotiate behind closed doors on policies to prod much-needed housing development, fault lines on the issue and accusations of NIMBYism and unconditional YIMBYism erupted in the open last night at an emergency meeting for Manhattan’s Community Board 5.
The meeting came about three weeks after the tech-backed nonprofit group Open New York seized control of CB5, the most important of the city’s many community boards, in a 22-19 vote. Open New York members are fed up with stalled housing development and recently launched a political action arm to support lawmakers who support its goals.
About half of CB5’s nearly 40 volunteer members — a mix of architects, lawyers and community activists – were upset to discover that four members of the lobbying group had joined the board and some campaigned for leadership without disclosing their affiliation with Open New York. CB5 members agree that housing is needed but disagree on the means. Among other fights, Open New York members opposed a resolution put forward by CB5 to maintain a cap that limits how high buildings can go.
Newly installed CB5 Chairman Samir Lavingia is a former Google and Twitter software engineer who works as Open New York’s campaign coordinator, a staff position. He is 29 years old, meaning his lifetime is a year shorter than his recent predecessor’s tenure on CB5. He said he hopes members can move past last month’s contentious election.
“I apologize that some recent officer changes have prompted much discord,” said Lavingia. “I will do everything I can to focus on the work we need to do.”
CB5’s support is sought by developers seeking to build anywhere in the district between Eighth and Lexington avenues, from 14th to 59th Street. Elected officials closely watch the board’s recommendations on policy matters ranging from neighborhood rezonings to the future of Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. Community boards emerged 60 years ago to give neighbors a greater voice in urban-planning matters. According to a paper in the Fordham Urban Law Journal last year, instead of being “engines of consensus” they have become “inherently pushed…to playing the role of an opponent to citywide decisions.”
Last night’s CB5 meeting kicked off with a motion to vacate the chair. The board bickered for more than an hour and consulted dueling editions of Robert’s Rules of Order before finally agreeing to remove Lavingia as chairman for the evening’s meeting, which was run by 2nd Vice Chair Craig Slutzkin.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who appoints community board members and was scheduled to address the group, left without speaking. He has taken no position on the CB5 tussle.
Board member Tristan Haas, a financial executive who is not part of Open New York, reminded that Lavingia was only one of two candidates for a vacant senior board position. He was elevated to chairman after his opponent dropped out and the predecessor resigned. Haas urged members to get beyond the “absolute hysteria” and described the feuding as “a complete embarrassment” that doesn’t serve the community.
He noted a new board election is to be held in June.
Several CB5 members with decades of experience have left the board in the past two months, including Vikki Barbero, a former Fashion Institute of Technology administrator who served on the board for 30 years and led it for 15. Former Chairman Nick Athanail, a real estate broker, and land use committee chair Layla Law-Gisiko, a writer, also left after around 20 years. Some members last night lamented the loss of experienced members, while recognizing newer voices bring different perspectives.
Eventually the board got down to business. Members heard resolutions calling for the creation of an ethics committee, limiting the number of members who work for a single employer, and identifying members who have a financial interest in a matter before the board. Board member Joseph Maffia, an accountant who has served on the board nearly eight years, said reforms are needed to prevent other groups like Open New York from “invading” CB5. He said that other lobbying groups would aim to seize community boards.
“Open New York will set the standard. This is how you do it,” Maffia said. “Other groups will follow suit around every community board around the city.”
Open New York said two employees serve on two separate boards across the city. Members paying annual dues of $36 are seated on community boards 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 in Manhattan, covering the Financial District, Chelsea, Midtown, Upper East and Upper West sides, according to people familiar with the matter.
City Council member Gale Brewer appointed Lavingia to CB5 when she was borough president. She stopped by the meeting to remind the board that, from the perspective of her tenure in public service, the sausage-making of policy and reviewing development proposals can get pretty ugly. You’ve just got to grind it out sometimes.
“Continue your dialogue,” she said, adding, “it can be hell.”
Aaron Elstein , 2024-04-04 21:43:23
Source link
