Community Link: A Multi Agency Response for Quality-Of-Life Issues

Community Link works directly with local communities and business leaders to identify neighborhoods and business improvement districts throughout the city that would benefit from the creation of a Community Improvement District to help address complex and often chronic community complaints that require a multi-agency response. Community Improvement Coalitions (CICs) are interagency quality of life improvement hubs that bring together more than 20 city agencies, law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders to address a range of public safety issues, including retail theft, substance use, the mental health crisis, beautification, illegal scaffolding, unlicensed cannabis shops, and more. The initiative streamlines communication and creates a central repository to record, address, monitor, and continually evaluate complex quality of life issues that require a multi-agency response. The goal is to protect public safety and improve quality of life.

Participating city agencies include:

Fire Department of the City of New York
Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health
New York City Department of Buildings
New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
New York City Department of Environmental Protection
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
New York City Department of Homeless Services
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
New York City Department of Sanitation
New York City Department of Small Business Services
New York City Department of Transportation
New York City Police Department
Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York

Community Link Successes: Protecting Public Safety and Improving Quality of Life

Since beginning in May 2023, under the Adams administration, Community Link has already convened five community improvement coalitions throughout the five boroughs. Over the last 18 months, Community Link coalitions have responded to over 800 complaints and conducted over 600 operations to address quality of life concerns raised by the communities they serve. Community Link performs quality of life operations all over the city, including five Community Link Coalitions, major hubs that focus on particularly complex conditions. These include:

125th Street Four Cornes Initiative
110th Street Corridor
Midtown West
East 14th Street
Washington Square Park
Roosevelt Avenue
The Hub (3rd Avenue/149th Street)

Interested in our work? Here are a few success stories:

Unlicensed Moped Confiscation

The Community Link team addresses illegal and unlicensed mopeds in Queens, with a narration provided by Deputy Inspector Kenneth Gorman, who was previously the Commanding Officer of the 114 Precinct. Since 2022, there have been over 45,000 scooter confiscations.

Cleaning Up Wild Ave, Staten Island

On Staten Island, Community Link addresses a hoarder who had been piling garbage and debris on Wild Avenue for over 30 years, causing local businesses to go out of businesses. With the help of numerous city agencies, the issue was cleaned up in one day and the street is back open to the public.

Addressing Illegal Vending in Soho, Manhattan

In Manhattan's Soho neighborhood, the Community Link team addresses illegal vending by removing $65 million in counterfeit goods, with narration provided by Erin Piscopink, Executive Director of the Soho-Broadway Initiative.

Removing Derelict RV's Under Gowanus Expressway

The Community Link team addresses derelict RV’s that had been taken over by squatters under the Gowanus Expressway seeking shelter with the help of Homeless Services, FDNY, the Department of Sanitation and the 72 Precinct.

Making The Coney Island Boardwalk Safer

The Community Link team proactive reaches out to businesses on the iconic Coney Island Boardwalk to address illegal vending that had become a problem for local businesses for years. Narration provided by Danny Murphy from Alliance for Coney Island, and Maya, owner of the Brooklyn Beach Shop.

Helping Families Find Shelter

The Community Link team saw a viral video of a family with young children living in the back of a detached semi-trailer during the winter and immediately sprang into action, located the vehicle, and offered services, with narration provided by NYPD Deputy Inspector Williams.

Addressing Illegal Pedicabs in Times Square

The Community Link team addresses illegal pedicabs, in and around Times Square that were taking advantage of tourists and making the area unpleasant, with narration provided by Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance.

Contact your local Community Ambassador:

Manhattan South: Vanessa Jones-Hall Email: VANESSA.JONESHALL@nypd.org Phone: (929) 270-8412
Manhattan North: Richard Guevara Email: RICHARD.GUEVARA@nypd.org Phone: (917) 224-0613
Queens South: Hassan King Email: HASSAN.KING@nypd.org Phone: (917) 287-0698
Queens North: Jeffrey Kohn Email: JEFFREY.KOHN@nypd.org Phone: (917) 864-8073
Bronx: Kathy Morris Email: KATHY.MORRIS@nypd.org Phone: (929) 522-9578
Brooklyn South: Marie Nelson Email: MARIE.NELSON2@nypd.org Phone: (917) 803-4015
Brooklyn North: Lauren Sylvester Email: LAUREN.SYLVESTER@nypd.org Phone: (917) 943-5715
Staten Island: Jermaine Williams Email: JERMAINE.WILLIAMS@nypd.org Phone: (917) 826-6797

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