City Review Process Takes 90 Days
Time is running out for residents who want to hold a block party this summer but have yet to submit an application for a permit from the city’s Street Activity Permit Office.
As of last Friday, May 17, the office was no longer considering applications for block parties scheduled to take place on or before Aug. 24.
Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano explained that block party organizers are required by the Street Activity Permit Office to submit their application on online 90 days prior to the date which they request to hold their event.
All block party applications must be reviewed by the office and various city agencies including the Police, Fire, Health and Buildings departments. Community boards are also provided with copies of applications in order to review them and make their own recommendations.
The Street Activity Permit Office has the final say in determining whether a street event takes place in New York City. Their decision can be made based on recommendations and comments from local community boards, police precincts and other agencies.
Those planning to hold a block party in their community must submit their application electronically at the Street Activity Permit Office website, www.nyc.gov/sapo. A nonrefundable fee is charged.
Previously, community groups submitted block party applications to their local community board office. Since the Street Activity Permit Office required such applications to be directly sent to it rather than local community boards, observers said, the number of block parties in the area seems to have dropped.
Even so, the Times Newsweekly has tabulated over 60 block parties in its coverage area (Queens Community Boards 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 and Brooklyn Community Board 4) which are scheduled to take place this July, August and September. According to community board representatives, many of the applications are pending the final approval of the Street Activity Permit Office.
The Times Newsweekly plans to continue its summer tradition of sending photographers to visit local block parties and take large group photos of families, friends and neighbors gathering together on their street for a good time.
Block party organizers who wish to request coverage of their event are encouraged to send their information to the Times Newsweekly by calling at 1-718-821-7500 or emailing info@timesnewsweekly.com.
