Manhattan Community Board 12 education committee plans principal visit
The Washington Heights Middle School principal is expected next month, while a possible presentation on AI in schools could lead to a resolution.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — announcements, new business discussion, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The chair suggested learning from parents and advocates who oppose AI in schools and raised the possibility of writing a resolution.
A new principal is on the Youth Education Committee’s calendar. The Manhattan Community Board 12 — Youth Education Committee expects to hear from the Washington Heights Middle School principal at its next meeting. The chair said Stephan De Jesus had booked the guest and described the principal as new to the position. The chair called next month’s agenda “jam packed.” The announcement did not give a meeting date.
The chair mentioned a separate AI-related presentation by parents and advocates who oppose using AI in schools. The announcement did not make clear when that presentation would take place. The chair suggested the Manhattan Community Board 12 — Youth Education Committee might learn from the group’s advocacy approaches and consider drafting a resolution. No resolution was presented or adopted during the announcement. For now, the committee has a potential topic to explore, not a position on AI in schools.
The chair referred to a KIPP charter school as a longstanding part of the community but announced no decision concerning it. The principal’s visit is the clearest next step: it would give committee members a chance to hear from the person now leading Washington Heights Middle School. The AI presentation remains less defined. If the Manhattan Community Board 12 — Youth Education Committee takes it up, members would still need to decide whether to pursue the resolution the chair mentioned, and what it would address.
New Business Discussion: Know-Your-Rights/ICE Information and Website Resource Hub
Manhattan Community Board 12 members discussed bringing a community organization to a general meeting to share know-your-rights information, particularly in Spanish. NYIC came up as one possible invitee. Members discussed distributing flyers and sharing links through newsletters and social media, so the information would be available beyond a presentation. They did not vote on an invitation.
Members proposed a resource hub on the Manhattan Community Board 12 website that could bring together information about affordable housing lotteries, know-your-rights guidance, free health care and NYC ID. One member said the board already publishes individual resource pages and could add a dedicated know-your-rights page. Another said existing resources, including an Airtable resource, were hard to find and urged a more prominent way to reach them.
The discussion included a warning about whom Manhattan Community Board 12 would direct residents to. Members wanted organizations vetted so links would not lead to exploitative or money-making operations; some favored sending readers to trusted sites elsewhere. There was general support for making reliable information easier to find and considering an in-person presentation, but no formal decision on either proposal.
Youth committee hears update on safe space
The Manhattan Community Board 12 — Youth Education Committee heard Orlando Nunes, a DYCD credible messenger and youth life coach with Grow Jr., describe a safe space for people ages 11 to 24. He said the program at 501 West 161st Street offers referrals and conflict mediation and works with the 33rd and 34th precincts.
Young people seeking support can visit the second- and third-floor space at 501 West 161st Street.
CB12 weighs district reach of youth project
Manhattan Community Board 12 heard its Youth and Education Committee report on a Futures Ignite and Wheels proposal to measure neighborhood temperatures and consider responses such as planting trees. Members questioned how to frame a request for agency funding without naming a nonprofit and whether youth in the district’s southern areas would benefit.
Members want any neighborhood project to reach young people beyond the areas where services are already concentrated.
CB12 reviews parks plans and landmark rules
Manhattan Community Board 12 heard its Parks and Cultural Affairs chair report on the O’Reilly Greenway initiative and upcoming proposed Landmarks Preservation Commission rules amendments. The chair said an LPC hearing had moved to November 17 and suggested paving and subway tiles for the 191st Street tunnel, where murals face recurring vandalism.
The hearing date may affect when Manhattan Community Board 12 can ratify related letters.
CB12 reports injuries in West 180th Street fire
Manhattan Community Board 12’s district manager reported that an October 13 fire at 598 West 180th Street began at 11:17 a.m. and was under control by 1:00 p.m. One person was critically injured; another was hospitalized with minor injuries. The district manager said tenants would return home.
The fire injured two people at a building where the district manager said tenants would return.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Manhattan Cb12 had 10 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Adjusts November and December Meeting Calendar. The board set the November Licensing Committee meeting for Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. It also moved the November and December general meetings to Nov. 23 and Dec. 16, corrected an Executive Committee date, and added a Dec. 17 holiday party.
- GOVERNANCELicensing Committee Report. The Licensing Committee reported on cannabis and outdoor dining applicants and noted that operators would be invited to present and answer operational questions. The committee planned to send an email in early December to give operators time to prepare.
- GOVERNANCERatification of Comment Letter Opposing Modular Bathroom Installation at Plaza de Las Americas Dominicana. The board ratified a previously submitted comment letter opposing the modular bathroom installed outside the CB12 building at Plaza de Las Americas Dominicana. The letter cited lack of consultation, accessibility and language access issues, and the requirement to use an app or obtain an NFC card.
- GOVERNANCETraffic and Transportation Committee Report. The committee reported on tracking resolution statuses with DOT, a street co-naming application for “Shirley Rodriguez Way,” and detailed budget item work with DOT guidance. The committee emphasized outreach support for events and noted attention to neglected areas in the southern part of the district.
- GOVERNANCEDistrict Manager Report: Budget Priorities Ranking and Project Statements (Deadlines and Templates). The district manager reminded committees to complete budget priority rankings and submit short project statements. The deadline for submissions was moved up to Wednesday (with late submissions accepted through Friday), and members were asked to send 3–4 sentence blurbs to help update outdated narratives.
- GOVERNANCEOutreach/Communications Committee Report and Volunteer Functional Assignments. The outreach chair reported the committee would begin meeting on a consistent day and continue revising the communication plan. The chair supported creating a survey to match members to functional volunteer roles (social media, outreach, agency follow-up) and discussed possible contractor support for flyering.
- GOVERNANCEElected Official Updates (None Present). The chair called for elected official updates, but none were provided. The committee emphasized the importance of elected officials attending to discuss youth and education priorities.
- GOVERNANCEAdoption of Tonight’s Agenda. The chair called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. and requested a motion to adopt the agenda. With no objections heard, the agenda was adopted.
- GOVERNANCEAdoption of CB12 Playbook (with Edits). The board considered and adopted a CB12 “playbook” document intended to describe board focus and operations beyond bylaws. The chair noted comments had been incorporated, including edits submitted by Jim, and the board conducted a roll call vote approving the playbook.
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