Ideally, Borough Presidents monitor community board membership to ensure a diverse balance of voices—younger and older, homeowners and renters, various ethnicities, and a range of incomes and education levels.
But since they aren’t required to do this, the reality is that it often doesn’t happen.
Many Community Board members have been there for a long, long time—some even 20, 30, and 40 years! As a result, numerous Community Boards no longer reflect the diverse communities that they serve.
This it not to diminish the commitment of community board members, who are doing an incredible public service.
We have term limits for every elected office in NYC. But Community Board members are appointed, mostly by Borough Presidents and some by Council Members. Right now, they have no term limits.
We believe that term limits will open doors for more diverse New Yorkers to get involved and become community leaders.