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April 24, 2014 Gigi Lee, Chair Community Board 3, Manhattan 59 East 4th Street New York, NY 10003 Chair Gigi Lee: I am writing to voice strong concern about the fact that you have consistently and regularly failed to appoint any Black or Latino members of our community board as the chair of a committee, subcommittee or task force. In fact, as a result of this failure, not a single Black or Latino member of Manhattan Community Board #3 sits as the chair, co-chair or vice chair of any CB3 committee, subcommittee or task force. Until March 2014, of the fifteen committees that existed, eleven were chaired by members who are White, five by Asians and two or three of these members simultaneously chaired multiple committees. In March 2014, you eliminated three committees and appointed two additional chairs. Both are White. Currently, there are eleven White and three Asian members who chair all committees replicating a pattern of Black and Latino exclusion from appointed leadership on our community board. When the chair of the Human Services, Health, Disability & Seniors/Youth & Education Committee resigned last year, I asked to replace her because of my significant experience and interest in the quality and equity of education for all children. However, you told me I could not be appointed because a member had to be on the community board for a year before being considered. Responding to the same vacancy, two other people, one of whom is Black, asked to jointly co-chair the committee and you responded that committee co-chairs were not allowed. While it is correct our bylaws do not allow for co-chairs, you subsequently appointed two White members as co-chairs of that committee, one of which had been on the board for six months. But, even if one did not know about this particular situation, the pattern of exclusion is painfully evident. In the past year there have been several opportunities for chair appointments including for the Ethics, Bylaws & Procedures Task Force; Transportation and Public Safety/Enviornment; Human Service, Health, Disability, Seniors, Youth and Education; Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing and Economic Development. Yet, not one has resulted in a Black or Latino being appointed as a committee chair by you. While it is clear the board chair has the sole privilege of making such appointments, leadership that includes diversity must be considered as a matter of course. It is not just a check list but, instead, a crucial ingredient for progressive governance. Diversity contributes a wealth of different kinds of ideas, cultures, morals and goals that absolutely influence the decisions our

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board makes about the community it is our privilege to serve. It also happens to help cure prejudices. My concern is not about the ability or commitment of those who have or are serving as chairs. Their willingness to take on leadership responsibility is commendable. It is specifically, however, about the longtime overtness of there being no Black and Latino committee chairs and, or more so, the possible lack of understanding about how critical this matter is to all of us. Neither scenario is tolerable. Sincerely, Ayo Harrington Member, Community Board 3, Manhattan Cc: Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer Council Member Margaret Chin Council Member Rosie Mendez

Members of Manhattan Community Board #3