Your community board is your neighborhood’s voice to city government. It plays an incredibly important role in decision-making around land-use and preservation issues, as well as a host of other important local concerns, from safety and health to schools, liquor licensees, and housing. Advocates of upzonings and stripping away landmark protections and sensible zoning regulations have been applying for and gaining seats on local community boards in increasing numbers.

The deadline for applying to join Manhattan community boards is this Friday at 5 PM. If you care about the future of your neighborhoods, and sensible planning policies that maintain history and neighborhood character and don’t promote displacement and out-of-scale development, we strongly urge you to consider joining your local community board.