Longtime District Manager Matt Cruz is saying goodbye to Bronx Community Board 10 after nine years of serving the community.\n<\/p>\n
Cruz is leaving the board to become Director of Policy at the New York City Department of City Planning, bringing an end to nearly a decade overseeing one of the city\u2019s most active community boards.<\/p>\n
Since taking on the role, Cruz said he is particularly proud of initiatives that improved residents\u2019 quality of life, including the launch and continued success of the Throggs Neck ferry service, efforts to stop a proposed drug treatment facility from opening next to Lehman High School, improvements to parks and green spaces, cleaner streets and increased police coverage throughout the district.<\/p>\n
Community Board 10 encompasses Co-op City, City Island, Throggs Neck, Country Club, Zerega, Westchester Square, Pelham Bay and Waterbury-LaSalle. Cruz said the board serves residents who have carved out a \u201cslice of suburbia\u201d within New York City and are deeply invested in preserving their neighborhoods\u2019 quality of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are the most demanding community, probably in the city of New York, but for good reason,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cThey have something that many neighborhoods want, and they\u2019re doing their best to protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n
His career in public service began in the office of former Council Member Jimmy Vacca, who previously served as Community Board 10\u2019s second district manager. He later worked at the Department of Buildings before joining the board.<\/p>\n
Along the way, Cruz developed a passion for urban planning, which he viewed as the intersection of local government, municipal service delivery and land use. Inspired by district managers who knew how to engage communities and hold city agencies accountable, he earned a master\u2019s degree in urban planning from Hunter College.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always had a curiosity about civic government, and I think I\u2019m a product of someone who wants to show you that government can work on your behalf,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson praised Cruz\u2019s leadership and service to the district.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He is a committed and dedicated public servant who worked closely with his Chairperson to make informed decisions and always put the work above politics. Even-tempered, diplomatic, compassionate, and fair are just a few words I would use to describe him and his leadership during his tenure at Bronx Community Board 10,\u201d Gibson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were lucky to have him and grateful for his service to our City Island, Co-op City, Edgewater Park, Pelham Bay, Throggs Neck, Westchester Square,\u00a0 Waterbury Lasalle, Silver Beach, and Zerega communities. Although he will be tremendously missed, we also wish him all the success in his next chapter and look forward to seeing all that he will do in his new role.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Community Board 10 Chair Joseph Russo said the board is working with the Bronx Borough President\u2019s Office to find Cruz\u2019s successor. A search committee composed of three board members will interview candidates over the coming weeks, with the goal of appointing a new district manager by September when board meetings resume.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt\u2019s been a great representative for the community and a great communicator,\u201d Russo said. \u201cIt leaves very large shoes to fill in a very short period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Cruz is moving on professionally, he said he plans to remain active in the community he calls home, though he intends to step back from community board matters for a time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is home forever for me,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cBeing district manager is the professional honor of my life.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will never be another position where I get to talk to so many people, get yelled at, and then, at the end of the conversation, have them shake my hand and thank me for my service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reach Marina Samuel at msamuel@schnepsmedia.com. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram!<\/a><\/p>\n