Committees

Meets on the second Wednesday of the month, 6:30 PM

Joshua Cohen and Benjamin Wu, Co-Chairpersons

Members: Barbara Adler, Murat Akaydin, Linda Alexander, Miranda Goodwin-Raab, Doug Kleiman and Andrew Rigie.

The major tasks for the Business and Consumer Issues Committee are the review of State Liquor Authority (SLA) applications for bars, restaurants and hotels; review and approve new enclosed and unenclosed café applications and their renewals; and review street fair permit renewals. We also mediate quality of life issues between the community and various business interests. We hold "ex-officio" positions on the three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in our district: the Lincoln Square, Columbus-Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue BIDs.

The committee has also expanded its interests to include annual Business to Business (B2B) networking receptions and programs that include special guest speakers from Business, Government and the Non-Profit Sectors. Due to the growth in the BCI Committee, we also have a Cultural Affairs subcommittee which serves as a liaison between the numerous cultural institutions/colleges and the community.

BCI takes a particular interest in being a proactive committee, engaging all committee members and developing strategic partnerships between national corporate businesses and the small businesses in our community that are crucial to a lively and thriving residential West Side community.

Meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM

Sheldon J. Fine and William Ortiz, Co-Chairpersons

Members: Ken Coughlin, Louisa Craddock, Audrey Isaacs, Rhonda Marshall, Ben Rosenfield and Ava Stryker-Robbins.

The Health and Human Services Committee evaluates and advocates for the quality, location, availability and appropriateness of public and private services to special needs populations in the community including the homeless, children, elderly, mentally ill, abused, persons with AIDS, the disabled, and addicted.

Meets on the third Wednesday of the month, 6:30 PM

Richard Asche and Tibita Kaneene, Co-Chairpersons
Members: Page Cowley, Louisa Craddock, Sheldon J. Fine, Jami Floyd, Miranda Goodwin-Raab, Rhonda Marshall, Ira Mitchneck, Klari Neuwelt, Seema Reddy, Polly Spain, Melissa K. Rosenberg, Peter Samton, Ethel Sheffer and Howard Yaruss.

Meets on the third Monday of the month, 6:30 PM

Natasha Kazmi and Daria Kim, Co-Chairpersons
Members: Barbara Adler, Linda Alexander, Elizabeth Caputo, Avi Flatto-Katz, Daria Kim, Melissa Rosenberg and Ethel Sheffer.

The Parks and Environment Committee addresses community needs and resources related to public open space, recreation, and sustainability. The committee works closely with the Department of Parks and Recreation to review and comment on park designs, concession applications, and use patterns. The committee also mediates conflicts between groups that share public resources.

Meets on the second Thursday of the month, 6:30 PM

K Karpen and Madge Rosenberg, Co-Chairpersons
Members: Jay Adolf, Page Cowley, Mark Diller, Klari Neuwelt, Michele Parker and Peter Samton.

The Preservation Committee is concerned with maintaining and enhancing the aesthetic and historic character of the Upper West Side, reviewing proposed changes to individually designated landmarks as well as to properties listed within the Upper West Side's Historic Districts. The committee may also make recommendations regarding the surrounding streetscapes to ensure appropriateness within the historic context of the surrounding neighborhood.

The focus of the committee's work is directed by the City Charter mandate that Community Boards review matters prior to consideration by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The committee, and then the full Board, reviews proposed changes to individually designated landmarks as well as to properties listed within the Upper West Side's Historic District. A determination is made as to whether or not a particular project is "appropriate" to the landmark or within the context of the Historic District and that determination is conveyed to LPC in an advisory resolution. In making our determination, we solicit comment from the community at large and interested organizations.

Meets on the second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM

Andrew Albert and Mark N. Diller, Co-Chairpersons
Members: Jay Adolf, Carey Alexander, Alex Bell, Elizabeth Caputo, Ken Coughlin, Jami Floyd, Doug Kleiman, Andrew Rigie and Howard Yaruss.

The Transportation Committee addresses every aspect of the district's transportation needs, including infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, traffic signals, traffic patterns, street usage, signage, bus and subway service, ferries, and all types of vehicular uses including automobiles, trucks, bicycles, scooters, skates, wheelchairs, strollers, as well as pedestrians. The committee works closely with the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and other agencies, with an eye toward making the streets, sidewalks, and transit facilities of the Upper West Side the best they can be.

Meets on the third Thursday of the month, 6:30 PM

Kristen Berger and Kevin Reevey, Co-Chairpersons
Members: Murat Akaydin, Alex Bell, Avi Flatto-Katz, Audrey Isaacs, Blanche Lawton, Ira Mitchneck, Michele Parker and Ava Stryker-Robbins.

The focus of YEL is to engage with the community regarding the quality, needs and accessibility of our public libraries, our youth and youth facilities and our schools.

YEL works with youth, parents, concerned citizens, school and community-based organizations, governmental agencies, and to address the concerns and needs of young people across Community Board 7. Our focus ranges from capital improvements at local libraries to the availability of after school and youth employment opportunities to capacity issues in our school system.

Meets the third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM

Beverly Donohue, Chair
Members: Executive Committee, Committee Chairs, and Task Force Co-Chairs

Meets as needed.

Roberta Semer, Chair
Member: Carey Alexander and Blanche Lawton

Beverly Donohue, Chair
Doug Kleiman, Vice-Chair
Seema Reddy, Treasurer
Barbara Adler, Co-Secretary
Alex Bell, Co-Secretary

Meet as needed. Please watch our Calendar of Events for schedule.

Senior Task Force

Roberta Semer, Chair
Members: Roberta Semer, Louisa Craddock, K Karpen, Madge Rosenberg, Ellen Amstutz, Connor Callahan, Aaron Rooney, Jennifer Cinclair, Sherri Lerner, Paula Seefeldt, Lisa Beth Miller, Maggie Walters, Bonnie Lumagui, Daniel Leinweber, Mark Jennings, Robin Strashun, Brian Kravitz, Daniela Breton, Ed Amador, Shula Puder, Laura Hardjowirogo, Emmet Sklar, Erik Cuello, Erica Overton, Grant Dennis, Tevon Williams, Hannah Weinerman, Jacques Brunvil, and Tiffany Pryor.