11 UWS Block Associations Form Coalition To Promote 'Common Good'

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A significant new neighborhood coalition announced itself to the Upper West Side on Monday.

Eleven local Block and Neighborhood Associations are founding members of the Upper West Side Coalition Of Block Association And Community Groups — a nonprofit community organization seeking to "revitalize the historical legacy of block associations as sources of civic strength and resilience in New York City."

The UWS coalition's initial focus has been to adopt a set of by-laws articulating its mission and to design a model that builds trust and credibility.

The coalition is eagerly looking to add more Block Associations to its ranks, but the 11 founding members are:

• West 64-67th Street Block Association
• West 69th Street Block Association
• West 70th Street Block Association
• West 71st Street Block Association
• West 75th Street Block Association
• West 78th Street Block Association
• West 79th Street Block Association
• West 81st Street Block Association
• Theodore Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association/West 81st Street
• West 83rd Street Block Association
• West 80s Neighborhood Association

"The group recognizes that our community benefits from diverse and inclusive neighborhoods and is committed to creating an open and welcoming environment for all members of our community", the UWS coalition wrote in a news release. "To this end, a guiding purpose of the UWS Coalition is to help existing block associations thrive and support the creation of new block associations by offering guidance and mentoring to neighbors who may feel daunted by the process."

The newly formed coalition will also host candidate forums for the Upper West Side's City Council District 6 election and the Manhattan borough president's race. Those online forums will take place on May 18 for the City Council race and on May 25 for the Manhattan borough president election.

Chris Giordano, who is the West 64-67th Street Block Association president, will serve in the same position for the new coalition.

The Upper West Side Coalition Of Block Association And Community Groups also included a long list of supporting quotes from local elected officials and other community members for the new nonprofit.

The coalition's supporters include Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, City Councilmember Helen Rosenthal, City Councilmember Mark Levine, NYPD 20th Precinct Captain Neil Zuber, NYPD 24th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Naoki Yaguchi, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell, State Senator Jose Serrano, State Senator Brian Benjamin, State Senator Robert Jackson, State Senator Brad Hoylman, and members of Community Board 7.

"My sincere congratulations to the Upper West Side Coalition of Block Associations on its formation," Councilmember Rosenthal said in the news release. "I encourage block associations across my district to join the coalition and work with their neighbors for the betterment of our community. Together, we are stronger!"

"I think the Upper West Side Coalition of Block Associations is a wonderful idea and I'd like to assist in any way I can," Zuber said in the same news release.

The coalition specified that its founding members share a commitment to "promoting the common good and general welfare of the community."