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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a Community Board?
New York City is divided into 59 geographic Community Districts, each one having an appointed Community Board. The Community Boards are municipal bodies of up to 50 representative Board Members. Board Members are appointed by their respective Borough President, half of them at the recommendation of their local City Council Member. They serve in a voluntary capacity for two-year, staggered terms. Board Members are people who live, work, own a business, or have some other significant interest in the Community District.
Who serves on Brooklyn Community Board 4?
The following is the official list of Board Members of Brooklyn Community Board 4, as supplied by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President.
View the 2024-2025 CB4 membership list
What does the Community Board do?
The Community Board is the official municipal body whose primary mission is to advise elected officials and government agencies on matters affecting the welfare of the district. Brooklyn Community Board 4 meets on the third Wednesday of each month, except during July and August. All meetings are open to the public. Community Boards are the local non-partisan interface to the many offices and agencies of City government.
How does the Community Board function?
The Community Board's general meetings are run according to Robert's Rules of Order. While the public is encouraged to attend and observe Community Board proceedings, only Board Members can discuss and vote on motions before it. The Community Boards were created by City Charter, and their roles and responsibilities are defined in Chapters 69 and 70. They must operate within all applicable City, State and Federal laws that govern public bodies. CB4 also has its own set of by-laws.
We encourage the public to attend the Community Board's various Public Hearings, committee meetings, informational meetings and special events. All meetings of the Community Board are open to the public and are posted on our online Calendar.
Who does Brooklyn CB4 represent?
Brooklyn CB4 represents the neighborhood of Bushwick, which boundaries currently extend from Flushing Avenue on the north, Broadway on the southwest, the border with Queens to the northeast, and the Cemetery of the Evergreens on the southeast.
View the Brooklyn Community District 4 maps
How do I speak at a Community Board meeting?
A section of every general Community Board meeting is set aside for the board to hear from the public. Towards the end of the meeting, during the Announcements item on the agenda, members of the public have a minute and half to address those in attendance. The Chairperson will acknowledge speakers in the order they line up.
What does the District Office do?
The Community Board 4 District Office has two primary functions - to process citizen complaints and requests for services, and to provide administrative support for the Community Board. Community Board 4, like all the community boards within NYC, has an important advisory role in land use and zoning matters, the City budget, municipal service delivery, and, in general, the welfare of their community.
The District Office maintains all the public records of the activities of the Community Board and is responsible for setting up and preparing notices of all Community Board meetings and functions. Additionally, the District Office monitors the delivery of municipal services, reviews Street Activity Permit applications for street fairs, block parties and other street closures, and on a broad level acts as a resource center for the community, providing information and referrals pertaining to all City government matters. The District Office is a professional, non-partisan office. There are no fees for any services provided.
How do I obtain a permit for a block party, street festival, farmers market, or other City street events?
The Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) under the Mayor's Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management issues permits for street festivals, block parties, farmers markets, commercial or promotional events, and other events on the City's streets, sidewalks and pedestrian plazas while protecting the interests of the City, the community, and the general public.
CB4 Application Process
- Review the 83 Precinct's Street Closing Denial and Blocked Off Dates lists (see below) to verify your block is able to have a street event and the date is available.
- Contact the CB4 District Office to confirm your chosen date as the 83 Precinct only permits five (5) block parties per day.
- Submit the block activity cover page and signature forms to the CB4 District Office. The signatures of 65% of the residents, who live on the block, are required to demonstrate notification and consent to the block closure.
- Email bk04@cb.nyc.gov with the subject line 'Block Activity Forms: <insert your block and the cross streets>' or visit the District Office at 1420 Bushwick Avenue, Rm. 370, Brooklyn, NY 11207 to obtain the required forms.
- Apply online by visiting E-Apply, SAPO's electronic application system. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the SAPO office at (212) 788-0025 during business hours of Monday through Friday 9 AM – 5 PM EST.
View the 2024 83 Precinct Blocked Off Dates
View the 2024 83 Precinct Street Closing Denial List - contact the 83rd Precinct
Blocks that are on the street closing denied list must follow up with the 83rd precinct for additional information.
What kinds of complaints does CB4 handle?
Any complaint that involves a municipal service. We strongly encourage the use of the City's 311 system for reporting routine maintenance requests including but not limited to the following:
Potholes, traffic or street light malfunctions, tree pruning, missing or damaged signs, and clogged catch basins.
How do I report a complaint?
Email us at bk04@cb.nyc.gov. Call the District Office at 718-628-8400. We recommend reporting issues via NYC 311 prior to contacting the office whenever it's applicable. Please be prepared to provide the service request number and most recent request date.
How do I get a street co-named?
The City of New York's official policy for a street co-naming begins with submitting a request directly to the Community Board. If the street is to be co-named after an individual, it may only be done posthumously. The reasoning and justification should include a brief biography of the individual that links them to the block. For more information, contact the Community Board 4 District Office.
How do I join a CB4 Committee?
CB4 committee membership must be composed primarily of a majority of Board Members however, membership is also open to non-board members, as well. This allows for broader, grassroots public representation on the Community Board's standing committees and encourages citizen participation in local government within our communities. Non-board members interested in joining a committee can submit the form below and/or contact the District Office at 718-628-8400 or bk04@cb.nyc.gov for more information. The term of appointment is for one year effective September 1st.
CB4 Committee Membership Request Form
When do the committees meet?
The various committees of CB4 meet on regular fixed days of the month unless otherwise announced. Meetings are occasionally rescheduled due to conflicts with holidays. Joint meetings of two or more committees are also held at times when it is necessary. All meetings are open to the public and are posted on our online calendar, which is updated frequently.