Res. No. 801
Resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would grant Community Boards the authority to approve or reject applications related to the sale of alcohol.
By Council Member Cabrera
Whereas, New York City is divided into 59 contiguous community districts, each represented by a Community Board (“CB”); and
Whereas, CBs are composed of up to 50 volunteer members, all of whom must reside, work, or have significant interests in the community district they serve; and
Whereas, Half the members of each CB are appointed directly by the Borough President for the borough where the district is located and half are nominated for appointment by the relevant Borough President by the Council Members for that district; and
Whereas, Borough Presidents must assure adequate representation from different geographic sections and neighborhoods within the district in making their appointments and must consider whether the appointments reflect all segments of the community; and
Whereas, CBs give New Yorkers from each community a forum for providing feedback to City and State agencies, and other government bodies, on how their neighborhoods might be affected by pending regulations and whether public services are effectively delivered; and
Whereas, In addition to duties granted to CBs by the New York City Charter, the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control law directs the State Liquor Authority (“SLA”) to solicit the opinion of CBs in the determination process for granting or denying applications regarding liquor establishments; and
Whereas, Currently, the SLA receives a CB’s vote on a liquor establishment application as a recommendation and can choose to override the CB’s decision; and
Whereas, CBs are designed in the New York City Charter to have a membership that is representative of their community districts; and
Whereas, CBs are better positioned than the SLA to understand the needs of their community district, as their membership is entirely made up of members with significant ties to their district; and
Whereas, As a result, CB votes on liquor establishment applications should be considered binding; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would grant Community Boards the authority to approve or reject applications related to the sale of alcohol.
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2/22/19