Block Party Update + Running Task List 5/14/26

Meeting w Father Mike + Dani

• High level takeaways:
  • Community board
    • not likely to approve on Woodward
    • St Johns is probs not viable bc it's a residential street and not technically our "block" 
    • Papa M has connections w the community board and will do what he can to push it through 
    • get signatures for both streets and apply for St John if Woodward denied to shore up our odds
  • Permits
    • the more we apply for, the more eyes will be on us and the less likely we are to be approved
      • keep it simple with just block party permit, inflatables permit, and noise permit (NYPD)
      • use the space to our advantage by running permit req. events inside. this includes:
        • raffle
        • bar 
        • food (could have some food outside but might get us in trouble w DOH)
        • RC merch 
        • food ticket sales (if food outside) 
    • since we're no longer applying for vending and game of chance permits, I changed our application back to block party from block festival to minimize visibility and increase our chances of approval 
      • time limit now 9 hours 
        • setup 10a
        • start 1130a
        • end 6p
        • breakdown 7p
      • signatures required
      • lead time of submission = 60 days (block festival = 90 days) 
      • will need attendees to purchase tickets to buy food to avoid being fined (only if food outside)
  • Action Items:
    • Submit block party application- DONE 
    • Notify Papa M of submission and pass event ID 945684- DONE 
    • collect signatures from neighbors- do this asap!
      • ask businesses on the block to participate by offering fun "block party" deals, may incentivize signatures 
    • Finalize proposed budget and pass to finance for approval- in process
    • apply for NYPD noise permit- Status update Zibby? (can probably be done upon BP permit approval)
    • fill out grant application for additional funds, include in budget proposal 
      
    • build street layout 
    • build RC layout 
    • design food ticketing system (if applicable)
  • Upon Permit Approval AIs:
    • book bouncy house + dunk tank 
    • upload inflatables permit to portal 
    • design flyer
    • contact vendors:
      • mercado caracol
      • Maricela
      • Salty Lunchlady 
      • Iddy's 
      • flowers?
      • Does CSA want to table? 
      • facepainting- RC volunteers?
      • Donation asks:
        • beer, cider, NA drinks, spiked seltzer
        • raffle prize submissions