Counting Down to the End of an Era (or Three)
A new mayor and speaker in sight, time to apply for CBs, and org changes at Abundance
TL;DR: We’re launching our 2026 Community Board application process training and support program! Sign up here to express your interest, whether you’re sure you’re going to apply or just want to get more info along the way.
We’re nearing the end of an era.
A month from today, Zohran Mamdani will be the 111th mayor of New York City (or is it 112th?), and the book will be closed on the Adams era. It won’t just be Eric Adams who will see City Hall in the rearview mirror (en route to who knows where): his high school classmate, frequent sparring partner, and one-time mayoral challenger Adrienne Adams will be exiting. The current council speaker is likely to be replaced by Upper East Side councilwoman Julie Menin, who announced last week that she’d secured enough of her colleagues’ support to make her their next leader.
From the Adams-Adams years, we’ll be entering the Mamdani-Menin era. Menin is a moderate Democrat by NYC standards. (For example, she didn’t endorse the mayor-elect in the primary or the general election.) But time will tell if that means her speakership will be purely adversarial. Many of her council supporters are Mamdani endorsers and progressive caucus members; perhaps they’ll pull her in a more collaborative direction. After all, Eric and Adrienne Adams were seen as ideological fellow-travelers, but that didn’t mean they played well together.
We will be watching and sharing updates and analysis with you all as this new chapter begins!
Another exciting chapter is opening in early 2026: the next application cycle for New York City’s 59 Community Boards. (Deadlines haven’t all been announced, but applications are likely to be due in February and March.)
As we’ve written before, CBs are remarkably powerful given the small subset of residents who are appointed to serve on them. Fewer than 3,000 of your neighbors are weighing in on land use, streetscape, budget, and small business policies that shape the future for nearly nine million.
Now’s the time to join that inner circle—and we’re here to help. Express interest here!
Over the next three months, we’ll be running a training and assistance program to inform and empower you to join your Community Boards. The program will include:
CB 101 Zoom: A kickoff Zoom on Monday, 12/15, from 12-1pm to share more about what CBs are, why they matter, what it’s like to serve, and how to apply.
CB Mixer: Our January happy hour, on Tuesday, 1/13, from 6-8pm (location TBD) will bring together prospective and current CB members (and friends!) to talk in person.
Getting to Know Your Board: We’ll connect you with current members on the Board you’d apply to, so you can hear more about its unique culture and conversations. And we’ll help you identify meetings you can attend to see the Board in action.
Application Support: If you want, we’ll provide feedback on your application draft before you submit it—and we’ll share best practices for the CB application interview.
If you know you want to apply in 2026, or if you’re just curious to learn more, tell us here—and feel free to reply to this email with any questions you have right now.
While we’re on the topic of new chapters, one is starting today at Abundance New York. As you may know, Abundance New York operates primarily as a 501(c)(4) political nonprofit program, building power for the abundance movement at the city and state level. The affiliated 501(c)(3) program, the Abundance New York Fund, leads the work to educate and engage New Yorkers about local politics and policy.
As Abundance ramps up its 501(c)(3)-side programming—including, for example, the Community Board education process—I’m stepping into the role of Executive Director of the Abundance New York Fund. I’ll be focused on the resources, research, and regranting work of the Fund, as well as leading its educational and training events.
What does this mean for you? Probably not much! Catherine will be continuing on as Executive Director of Abundance New York, and she will own the political and electoral programming. So if you have thoughts about upcoming elections or policy fights, she’s the one to talk to!
And, of course, as you plan your end-of-year giving, I hope you’ll consider the Abundance New York Fund for a tax-deductible contribution. Few investments can be more impactful in shaping a better future for New York than enlarging the community of New Yorkers participating in it.
You can give here, or reply to this email to discuss a potential contribution in greater detail.
Thank you, and may the rest of your 2025 be filled with joy and meaning!