NYC Civic Watch: Bronx Budget Hearing, Meridian Road, $9.1M in Buys

Bronx Community Board 5 wants to hear what the district needs from the city budget at a public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Davidson Community Center. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation is shopping for engineers for Meridian Road in Queens, and six city purchases worth about $9.1 million cleared the books.

None of it will make the evening news. All of it is how the city actually spends your money.

Bronx CB5: Bring Your Budget Wish List

The board is inviting tenant and block associations, local organizations and the community at large to submit budget requests for its Fiscal Year 2028 capital and expense budget submissions.

Translation: this is where a broken park, a missing program or a street that floods gets on the city’s radar. The hearing runs before the board’s general meeting.

One catch: the written testimony deadline is today, Monday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. Speaking in person on Wednesday is still an option.

Queens: Designers Wanted for Meridian Road

DOT is seeking proposals for total design and construction support services for Meridian Road over a stream north of the Long Island Expressway in Queens.

The job carries a 30% M/WBE participation goal. An optional pre-proposal conference is set for Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. on Zoom, and proposals are due Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. through the city’s PASSPort portal (PIN 84127P0002).

The Money Moving

Six awards totaling $9,087,995. Four went through “M/WBE Noncompetitive Small Purchase,” meaning no open bidding. The word “small” is doing some heavy lifting on a $1.5 million deal.

• $5,054,400 — Youth and Community Development: Brooklyn Prospect Charter School will run a COMPASS middle school afterschool program in Brooklyn’s Community School District 15. Selected through competitive sealed proposals from a pre-qualified list. The notice says COMPASS and SONYC together run more than 820 free programs citywide.
• $1,500,000 — Sanitation: Falcon Fire and Security LLC, fire alarm inspection and repair. M/WBE noncompetitive small purchase.
• $900,000 — Youth and Community Development: Partnership for After School Education Inc., technical assistance to help DYCD’s contracted providers develop a safe and supportive environment. Listed as a renewal.
• $832,918 — Environmental Protection: Portland Williams LLC, Seepex thickener pumps and Metrovalve check valves. M/WBE noncompetitive small purchase.
• $500,000 — Health and Mental Hygiene: ATB Party Supplies LLC, rental of tables, chairs, structures, concession and technical equipment and personnel as needed. M/WBE noncompetitive small purchase.
• $300,677 — Citywide Administrative Services: Patifco Corporation, single-ply paper towels. M/WBE noncompetitive small purchase.

What the notices do not say

The awards list no contract terms or start dates. The Health Department notice does not say which events the rentals are for, and the DEP notice does not say which plant gets the pumps.

The Meridian Road solicitation gives no construction budget or timeline.

Related coverage

• NYC Is Moving a Six-Year After-School Contract Wave Through Public Comment

Details as filed. Verify times and locations before attending.