Brooklyn’s community boards probably won’t be accomplishing much of consequence over the next year, according to an article in today’s Daily News. Our borough’s 19 boards recently submitted requests to the city for things they’d like to see happen in fiscal year 2009, like a new sewer in Prospect Heights and a new police precinct in Bushwick. The city has told most boards to keep dreaming, and it’s only committing to small measures like getting new printers for Bushwick’s firehouse. The city also plans to slash the already meager budgets community boards have to play with. “They’re basically sounding the death knell for community boards,” said CB1 District Manager Gerald Esposito. Is it true? Could we really be witnessing a slow sunsetting of community boards? And if that turns out to be the case, what’s going to replace their role?
Brooklyn Community Boards Expecting a Lean 2009 [NY Daily News]
CB6 Chief Talks Community Board Budget Cuts [Brownstoner]
Photo by Bryan Bruchman.