My name is Darney K Born Rivers and I’m a Bronx resident who was recently denied a position on my local community board. Despite being highly recommended and interviewed by the president of my community board, I was denied by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. I believe this denial is rooted in retaliation, as I have publicly criticized her policies and leadership, which I believe are responsible for the decline of our borough.

This situation highlights an issue that goes beyond personal grievances—it's about democracy at its most basic level. Currently, the power to appoint or deny citizens from their local community boards lies solely with the Bronx Borough President. This system allows for potential abuse of power and can prevent dedicated individuals from serving their communities.

In New York City, there are 59 community boards that serve as important advisory bodies on land use and zoning matters (source: NYC Department of City Planning). They play a crucial role in shaping our neighborhoods' future. Therefore, it's essential that these boards represent diverse voices within each district.

We propose a change in policy where decisions regarding appointments to local community boards should not be made unilaterally by one individual but should involve input from other stakeholders such as existing board members or neighborhood residents.

By signing this petition, you're supporting fairness in our local government processes and helping ensure that dedicated individuals can contribute to their communities without fear of political retribution. Please sign today!