CB11 lines up agencies and business outreach
The board expects SBS, the MTA, and EDC to enter the conversation soon, while Union Settlement set dates for merchant meetings, grants, and East Harlem events.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — agency and partner announcements (sbs, mta,, union settlement career fair announcement and, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
A new program manager arrived as the board pressed for agency follow-through, small-business support, and a clearer plan to bring more foot traffic into East Harlem.
The outreach calendar is starting to fill in. The chair said NYC Small Business Services was expected to connect with the committee, and he was sending an email to help make that happen. He said the MTA wants to collaborate and may come to a future meeting. He added that NYC Economic Development Corporation would attend the next Executive Committee meeting.
Union Settlement used the opening to introduce new staff and lay out its own schedule. Michelle Cruz introduced Evelyn Flores as the new program manager in Union Settlement’s economic development department. Cruz said “East Harlem Nights” would begin the following Friday, with four events across May and June. She said Union Settlement was still supporting Second Avenue Subway business-promotion videos and had recorded more clips to share online. Merchant meetings will continue on the first Wednesday of each month, but 116th Street meetings will now be separated from the general merchant sessions because some businesses were missing information.
The next key date is July 1, when the DRRI grant application opens. Cruz said she would convene a meeting for CB11 members and others, including Uptown Grand Central, once the application goes live and would bring more details within the next two weeks. Committee members also asked about small grants and about turning World Cup attention into neighborhood business. Cruz said she would share grant information by email and described work around Open Streets, business mapping, and games-related activity meant to draw foot traffic into the community.
Union Settlement career fair announcement and debrief
Board members spent part of the meeting trying to get more people through the door. They promoted a Union Settlement job fair, asked for volunteers, and urged members to help spread the word before the event.
Later, they looked back at how it went. Members praised the effort and treated it as a useful start, not a finished model.
Their suggestions were practical. They said timing could improve, employer participation should be broader, and employers should stay on site longer so job seekers have a better chance to connect. The discussion landed on a familiar local-government point: turnout depends on logistics, and logistics can be fixed.
CB11 presses EDC on La Marqueta
District Manager Angel Muscain said EDC presented the planned city-owned grocery store at La Marqueta as collaborative even though CB11 had not been consulted. She said the board needs to correct that impression before more details spread, while the chair said EDC would attend the next executive committee meeting.
memorial
Borough President office shares budget, event updates
The Manhattan Borough President’s office reported on budget advocacy, Gateway project testimony, immigrant-support planning, and the next round of community board appointments. The office also announced an Eid al-Adha event on May 26 and a Jewish Heritage Month celebration on May 28.
memorial
UMEZ details loans, grants, and training
Gina Balden Rivera said UMEZ provided 447 loans and grants totaling $17,551,000 from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2025. She said CB11 had the largest share of pandemic microloans, that $500,000 remains available in that program, and that CB11 cultural groups received $669,000.
large dollar figure ($17,551,000)
Executive Committee opposes district manager term-limit bill
The Executive Committee voted unanimously to send a letter opposing NYC Council Intro 0501-2026, which would impose four-year terms on district managers and expand borough president authority. Members said the bill would weaken community boards by cutting institutional knowledge and shifting control away from them.
Executive Committee unanimously opposed Intro 0501 changing district manager terms and borough president removal authority.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Manhattan Cb11 had 232 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEAttendance actions advance against three board members. The Executive Committee initiated due process for attendance-related removal proceedings against John Green and Valerie Ponty and separately recommended removal of Jessica Morris for attendance. Members discussed how absences are tracked and noted that the Morris action would still need full-board ratification.
- GOVERNANCEBoard backs air monitoring and Conservatory Water projects. The Environment, Open Space & Parks Committee supported a City Council bill to expand air quality monitoring on heavy-traffic streets and near parks and playgrounds, and also backed the Central Park Conservancy's Conservatory Water restoration and accessibility project. The full board later approved these items as part of a bundled parks and environment vote.
- GOVERNANCENew Business — Letter of Support for Targeted Anti-Displacement Relief for HDFC Owner-Occupants. The board approved a letter of support for targeted anti-displacement relief for vulnerable owner-occupants facing expiring property tax abatements, following discussion of HDFC buildings on Madison Avenue and a redrafted letter from the Housing Committee.
- GOVERNANCEBoard supports social workers in police precincts. The committee voted to support Intro 0073-2026, which would require licensed master social workers to be available in every police precinct around the clock, while also raising implementation questions. The full board later approved that support as part of a bundled Public Safety and Transportation vote.
- GOVERNANCEMotion: Request DOT Consider Converting Third Avenue (East 125th–East 128th) to Two-Way Traffic. The committee approved a motion to request that NYC DOT consider converting Third Avenue between East 125th Street and East 128th Street to a two-way street to improve traffic flow during anticipated construction impacts. The motion passed unanimously, with discussion about wording corrections before sending to the full board.
- GOVERNANCEJaness LLC (Cafe Deli Aalia NYC) — temporary retail permit class change to full liquor (409 East 116th Street) — committee action. The representative requested a class change from wine to full liquor under a temporary permit while awaiting the permanent license, describing the business as food-focused and closing around 10:00 p.m. The committee approved the application.
- GOVERNANCEYouth & Education Committee Report and Motion — Support for Senator Cleare Bill 2705-A. The committee reported on DOE/CEC participation, a new superintendent introduction, discussion of a Student Suicide Prevention Act proposal, and a Saturday program serving deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. The board approved a letter of support for Senator Cleare bill 2705-A.
- GOVERNANCEAmendment — EJ Kitchen SLA Application (1567 Lexington Avenue) to Approve. The board amended the committee’s prior denial recommendation for EJ Kitchen and approved the application after determining documents would be considered timely.
- GOVERNANCE115 Corner LLC — renewal adult-use retail dispensary license (345 East 115th Street/First Avenue) — committee action. A representative stated the dispensary had been licensed for three years but had not opened yet and that the renewal involved no changes. The committee approved the renewal.
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