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Votes at a glance: CB2 adopts Open Streets support, school grading guidance, youth jobs request and multiple licensing/landmarks recommendations
Summary
At its April 30 meeting, Community Board 2 adopted a package of resolutions covering Open Streets support, the school grading approach for 2019–20, a request to restore the Summer Youth Employment Program, and a slate of landmarks and licensing committee recommendations; several individual committee items drew separate opposition votes.
Community Board 2 concluded its April 30 meeting with an omnibus roll-call vote that bundled multiple committee recommendations. The full board recorded approvals for the board’s Open Streets pilot criteria, school‑year grading guidance and a request to prioritize restoration of the Summer Youth Employment Program for FY2021, along with a series of committee motions on landmarks and State Liquor Authority (SLA) licensing applications.
Highlights of actions (committee recommendations adopted as part of the omnibus vote unless otherwise noted):
- Schools & Education: The board voted to support a binary grading system with narrative comments for the 2019–20 school year and urged the DOE to plan remediation and bridge the digital divide. The board also passed a resolution urging restoration of the Summer Youth Employment Program for FY2021.
- Landmarks: The board considered multiple applications; the committee recommended approval of a stair access at 123 Sullivan Street and approval of a side‑yard/roof reconfiguration at Horatio Street with conditions. One façade alteration (17 East Ninth Street) was recommended for denial and resubmission with revisions. A board member recused on one landmarks item as noted in committee record.
- SLA licensing: The combined SLA committee reviewed 20 applications; four of them were formally heard in committee and recommended with standard stipulations. The board included the committee’s recommendations in the omnibus package. At least one SLA matter (a proposed operation on Pier 45) drew several “no” votes in the final roll call recorded at the meeting.
- Gansevoort/Aurora restrictive declaration (executive committee): The board rescinded and replaced prior language on qualifying tenants for off‑site community benefit space tied to a restrictive declaration; the revised text broadened preference language beyond performing‑arts organizations to include other arts and art‑production entities with a record of stability in the community.
A handful of items drew individual opposition when the full board recorded the omnibus roll call; those “no” votes were noted on the public record and were not sufficient to defeat the overall package. The meeting minutes record multiple individual “no” votes on the Pier 45 licensing item and at least one “no” on a traffic resolution (the omnibus package passed overall).
Why it matters: The omnibus vote bundles many of the board’s formal positions that will be transmitted to city agencies (DOT, Department of Education), the State Liquor Authority and the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Several items—particularly the Open Streets endorsement and the summer youth funding request—signal the board’s priorities for pandemic-era relief and recovery.
