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Manhattan is one of the most dynamic and diverse boroughs in New
York City. And the Borough President (a.k.a. “BP”)
is its chief elected official.
Municipal Building
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The powers of the BP derive from
the 1898 Charter -- New York City's Constitution -- as well as
from the unique role this office occupies in the political
life of the city. The central office located at the Municipal Building
works to protect and promote a diverse and stable economy that
broadly benefits its people and communities.
The BP represents more than 1.5 million residents. Because of Manhattan's
central importance to New York's economy, the BP also responds
to the needs
of more than three million people who work,
shop and do business in this borough every day.
The Charter empowers the BP to advocate Manhattan's needs in
the city's budget-making process. This is done, in part, by developing
an annual budget
statement with the Borough Board -- a group the BP chairs that
is comprised of the Manhattan City Council members and the chairs
of our 12 Community
Boards. The BP plays an important role during the budget adoption
process, lobbying for borough needs and service restorations.
The Charter assigns the BP direct control over part of the city
expense and capital budgets -- some $13.7 million in the 2003 fiscal
year -- to spend on Manhattan projects and programs. It also gives
the
BP oversight and some direct authority over such services as street
repair, housing
code enforcement and parks maintenance.
Many decisions about what gets built when and where pass through
the BP’s
office. The job calls for review of all major public and private
land use proposals in the borough -- from new office towers to
the size and location
of daycare centers. The BP has the opportunity to recommend the
approval, rejection or change of such projects, and to guide
recommendations
through the City
Planning Commission and Council. The BP also works with Community
Boards and local residents in developing new plans and
zoning proposals
for their neighborhoods. And as the chair of the Borough Service
Cabinet, the BP works to make city services more responsive to
community needs.
The BP’s staff also helps Manhattan residents meet the
day-to-day demand of living in this most challenging of cities.
Under the Charter, the BP appoints individuals to the following:
- A member of the City Planning
Commission
- A member of the Economic Development
Corporation Board.
- A parent to the Public Education Panel
and two members to the New York City Community and City-Wide Education
Council.
- 600 members of Manhattan's 12 Community
Boards;
half on nominations from City Council members.
- Three members to sit on the Hudson River Park Trust Board
- Members to advisory boards of
Manhattan's municipal health facilities
- Thirty-five
additional municipal advisory and tasks forces.
Other important roles of the Borough President:
- Sits on the New York City
Off-Track Betting Site Selection Board when the board is considering
matters pertinent to OTB locations within the borough.
- Serves as a Trustee to the
New York City Employee's Retirement System.
The BP also has an office in Northern Manhattan located
at 163 West 125th Street. This office focuses on expanding economic
development and improving city
services in the area
north of 96th Street. And the Constituent Services
Division helps people navigate the complicated channels
of government
bureaucracy and obtain
assistance and information.
Many Manhattan residents also serve as volunteer
members of borough advisory boards and task forces;
many more
collaborate with this office as part
of their own endeavors to secure a better life for
this borough.
NOTE: Part of this description was taken from the current
Manhattan Borough President's Web site.
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