UPDATE as of Jan. 17: The item pertaining to 128 W. 17th St. has been removed from the agenda of Jan. 21’s Chelsea Land Use committee meeting.

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Normally held on the first Wednesday of the month, the Full Board meeting of MCB4 has much activity to offer, including sections reserved for coments by members of the public and updates from local eleted officials-but the majority of the meeting’s content comes from the full board discussing and voting on letters generated at the most recent meetings of their individual committees. With that in mind, here’s what those committees are up to during the month of January, 2025.

Meeting dates, times, locations, links, and agenda items subject to change.

Please visit MCB4’s Online Calendar or call the MCB4 office (212-736-4536) for confirmation.

Arts, Culture, Education, and Schools Committee (ACES) | Monday, January 13, 6:30pm Online via Zoom & YouTube and In-Person at the MCB4 Office (424 W. 33rd St., Suite 580) | ACES provides support and access to arts and cultural resources available to residents and organizations of the district; advocates for the advancement of education and youth-focused institutions and programs; and provides a place for residents and businesses to voice concerns about issues that have a negative impact on their quality of life. Matt Green and Josephine Ishmon are ACES Co-Chairs. Salvador Munoz is a Public Member. The general committee members are Wendy Gonzalez, Max Goodstein, Ella Kim, Chenise Mitchell, Maria Ortiz, Katy Stokes, and David Warren.

The Agenda of January 13’s meeting begins with an Open Session, an opportunity for community members to share their perspectives with ACES on issues connected to Arts, Culture, Education, and Schools. There will be three presentations to ACES: The first, by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, presenting on ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Services. Next, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs presents on funding priorities for Fiscal Year 2026. The final presentation is from the McBurney YMCA (125 West 14th Street).  To attend theJanuary 13 meeting via Zoom, click here.  To attend via phone, dial 646-518-9805 (when prompted to enter the Webinar ID, it’s 961-6164-5211). Click here to watch the meeting live or access it after-the-fact via MCB4’s YouTube channel. For info about all things MCB4, their website can be found by clicking here.

Business License & Permits Committee (BLP) | Tuesday, January 14, 6:30pm Online via Zoom & YouTube and In-Person at the MCB4 Office (424 W. 33rd St., Suite 580) | Any beer, wine, or on-premise liquor license applications and sidewalk cafe applications must come before the Business License & Permits Committee of the Community Board for its review. The Board’s position must be considered in the final determination of these applications. Frank M. Holozubiec and Burt Lazarin are BPL Co-Chairs. The general committee members are Theodore Arenas, Christine Berthet, Wendy Gonzalez, Jesse Greenwald, Candice Hewitt, Inge Ivchenko, Kerry Keenan, James MacDonald, Gregory Morris, Tina Nelson, Michael Noble, and Allen Oster.

There are 11 items on the BLP’s November 12 agenda. The stipulation packet of agenda items can be found by clicking here. Two agenda items concern applications for a new liquor, wine, beer and cider license. Two Agenda items concern new wine, beer & cider license applications. The remaining items see applicants hoping to operate on nearby sidewalks or roadways. To attend via Zoom, click here. To attend via phone, dial 646-518-9805 (when prompted to enter the Webinar ID, it’s 996-7780-9240). Click here to watch the meeting live or access it after-the-fact via MCB4’s YouTube channel. For info about all things MCB4, their website can be found by clicking here.

Transportation Planning Committee (TPC): Wednesday, January 15, 6:30pm Online via Zoom & YouTube and In Person at the MCB4 Office  (424 W. 33rd St., Suite 580) | TPC reviews application for street closures and permits for anything that is placed on the sidewalks; advocates for better maintenance of streets and sidewalks and improved transit services; and works with the NYC Department of Transportation to consider changes in parking regulations, street design, and traffic patterns. Christine Berthet and Jesse Greenwald are TPC Co-Chairs. Brett Firfer and Charles Todd are public members. The general membership consists of Gwen Billig, Viren Brahmbhatt, Liam Buckley, Pete Diaz, Max Goodstein, Sanford Miller, Tina Nelson, Allen Oster, David Warren, Alice Wong, and Rodney Washington. On the Agenda for January 15: Three presentations followed by the TPC voting on the matter. First up, NYC DDC & DOT present on Project HWM42PSM, concerning Pedestrian Security Measures at West 42nd Street (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Next, DOT & MTA present on 34th Street Enhanced Bus Priority Service. The final Presentation/Vote item is an update on traffic calming measures on 22nd Street. Finally, there’s a Presentation on the Bike Lane Census and NYC Department of Transportation Punch List. To attend the January 15 meeting via Zoom, click here. To attend via telephone, call 646-518-9805 (when prompted for the Webinar ID, dial 973 3488 0256). Click here to watch the meeting live or access it after-the-fact via MCB4’s YouTube channel. For info about all things MCB4, their website can be found by clicking here.

January’s meeting of the Cannabis Task Force (CTF) has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 20. | Formerly known as the Cannabis Working Group, CTF operates with a three-pronged mission: (1)  keep track of and advise MCB4 and the public about relevant NYS cannabis laws, regulations, licensing, and enforcement; (2) provide feedback to the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board, on proposed cannabis regulations and licensing applications; and (3) provide recommendations to MCB4 on its role in the licensing and siting of cannabis-related businesses. Delores Rubin is CTF’s Chair. Its members are Wendy Gonzalez, Raul Larios, Sanford Miller, Allen Oster, Rodney Washington, and Tina Nelson.

Chelsea Land Use Committee (CLU) : Tuesday, January 21, 6:30pm Online via YouTube and Zoom and In-Person at Pier 57 Classrooms (25 11th Ave. at W. 15th St.) | Any application for a change or variance from the Zoning Resolution must come before the Community Board for its review. The Board’s position must be considered in the final determination of these applications. Gregory Morris and Kerry Keenan are CLU Co-Chairs. Pamela Wolff is a Public Member. The general membership is comprised of Viren Brahmbhatt, Maarten de Kadt, Paul Devlin, Candice Hewitt, David Holowka, Josephine Ishmon, Inge Ivchenko, Burt Lazarin, Betty Mackintosh, Chenise Mitchell, Michael Noble, Brad Pascarella, Hector Vazquez, and Rodney Washington.

Besides old/new business, January 21’s meeting has just two Agenda Items: The CLU considers an application to. go before the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) that would allow window replacement at 318 West 22nd Street. The second presentation provides an update on work being done at 128 West 17th Street–a site familiar to MCB4. Currently owned by the NYC Department of Sanitation, the address was brought to public attention pre-pandemic, by author and historian Eric K. Washington. MCB4 was an early ally of Washington’s campaign to see the building landmarked, due to its status as Former Colored School No. 4. The landmarking effort proved successful, as this May 23, 2023 article by Chelsea Community News notes.

To attend via Zoom, click here. To attend via phone, dial 646-518-9805 (when prompted to enter the Webinar ID, it’s 420-721-312). Click hereto watch the meeting live or access it after-the-fact via MCB4’s YouTube channel. For info about all things MCB4, their website can be found by clicking here.

Below, find links to the archived YouTube recordings of January, 2025 MCB4 committee meetings that took place before the January 13 publication of this roundup.

Housing, Health & Human Services Committee (HH&HS) / Tuesday, January 7 | Click here to view a recording of this meeting, HH&HS reviews proposals and monitors the progress of affordable housing commitments made during the Hudson Yards, West Chelsea, and Western Rail Yards rezoning; reviews Low Income Housing Plan Applications as part of the Inclusionary Housing Program; and evaluates tenant complaints re: service issues, co-op conversions, and tenant associations. Maria Ortiz and Joe Restuccia are HH&HS Co-Chairs. The Public Members are Paul Ames and Travis Rogers. The general committee members are Roberta Barnett, Liam Buckley, Kevin Collins, Lisa David, Pete Diaz, Raul Larios, Rachel Lee, Betty Mackintosh, Jean-Daniel Noland, Delores Rubin, Catie Savage, Katy Stokes, and Hector Vazquez.

The Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Land Use (CHKLU) Committee / Wednesday, January 8 | Click here to view a recording of this meeting. Any application for a change or variance from the zoning Resolution must come before the Community Board for its review. Jean Daniel Noland and Paul Devlin are the CHKLU Co-Chairs. Robert J. Benfatto, Jr. and Brian Weber are Public Members. The general committee members are Theodore Arenas, Kevin Collins, Frank Holozubiec, Christopher LeBron, Rachel Lee, James MacDonald, Sanford Miller, Leslie Boghosian Murphy, Joe Restuccia, and Delores Rubin.

Waterfront, Parks & Environment Committee (WPE) / Thursday, January 9 | Click here to view arecording of this meeting. The WPE is actively involved in the planning and operation of the Hudson River Park and other developments along the waterfront, worhing with environmental groups and government agencies on various matters involving the waterfront and inland open space.

The WPE also advocates for the creation of new parkland and increased funding for recreation centers and parks. Maarten de Kadt and Leslie Boghosian Murphy are WPE Co-Chairs. Jennifer Cook and Sally Greenspan, and Lowell Kern are Public Members. The general committee members are Roberta Barnett, Gwen Billig, Lisa David, Matt Green, Candice Hewitt, David Holowka, Ella Kim, Raul Larios, Christopher LeBron, Brad Pascarella, Catie Savage, and Alice Wong.

The February Full Board Meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4: Wednesday, February 5, 6:30pm Online via Zoom & YouTube and In-Person at the Pier 57 Classrooms (25 11th Ave. at West 15th St.) | To visit the page on MCB4’s website dedicated to the February 5 full board meeting, click here. There, you will find a link to the meeting’s Agenda as well as background material pertaining to various Agenda Items. Information is added throughout January, as various committees have the meetings from which letters will be drafted that come up for discussion and vote by the full membership of MCB4.

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