If you’ve ever wondered where the decisions about your block actually get made, this is your week to find out. Multiple Manhattan community boards are holding public meetings over the next several days, and the agendas touch on everything from affordable housing policy to new bike lane proposals. Every one of these meetings is open to the public, and most now offer hybrid options so you can join from your couch.

Community Board 3: Affordable Housing and City of Yes Analysis

Community Board 3, which covers the Lower East Side, East Village, and Chinatown, has a packed schedule this week. On Wednesday, April 8, a committee meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Chinatown YMCA at Houston Street Center. On Thursday, April 9, another committee session convenes at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board 3 Office at 59 East 4th Street — this one is a hybrid meeting with Zoom access available.

One of the most notable items on CB3’s April calendar is a Fellow Report on Policy Analysis of Affordable Housing Opportunities under City of Yes. This is the kind of deep-dive session that directly affects what gets built in your neighborhood and who gets to live there. If housing policy matters to you, this is the meeting to attend.

Additional CB3 committee meetings continue through the month, including sessions on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chinese-American Planning Council (hybrid) and April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at BRC Senior Services Center at 30 Delancey Street. The Full Board Meeting is set for Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at PS 20, located at 166 Essex Street between Houston and Stanton Streets.

Community Board 2: SoHo, Greenwich Village, and NoHo

CB2, covering SoHo, Greenwich Village, NoHo, and Little Italy, holds committee meetings on Monday, April 6 (6:30–9:30 p.m.) and Tuesday, April 7 (6:30–11:30 p.m.), with another session on Wednesday, April 8 (6:30–9:30 p.m.) and Thursday, April 9 (6:30–11:30 p.m.). Check the CB2 calendar for specific committee topics and locations.

Community Board 7: Upper West Side (Virtual)

If you’re on the Upper West Side and prefer not to leave your apartment, CB7 has you covered. They’re holding a meeting on Thursday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. CB7 meetings are known for tackling development and transportation issues in the Lincoln Center to Riverside Drive corridor, and remote access makes it easier than ever to tune in.

Coming Later This Month

State Senator Liz Krueger is hosting a Virtual Town Hall on Election Security on Thursday, April 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. And the Manhattan Borough Board meets on April 16 at 8:30 a.m., with the Borough Service Cabinet following on April 24.

What You Need to Know

• All community board meetings are free and open to the public — you don’t need to live in the district to attend
• Most meetings now offer Zoom hybrid options; check each board’s website for links
• CB3’s affordable housing analysis under City of Yes is a can’t-miss session for anyone tracking development on the Lower East Side
• CB7’s April 9 meeting is fully remote, so there’s no excuse not to show up
• If you want your voice on the May agenda at CB3, the deadline to submit items is April 17

Community boards are the most local form of government in New York City, and showing up is one of the few ways to have a direct say in what happens on your street. If you’re new to the process, check out our guide to using NYC 311 to get results for another way to engage with city services.