The Mayor's Community Affairs Unit (CAU) is the direct link between the Mayor and New York's communities. CAU plays a pivotal role in improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers by working with neighborhood and civic organizations, nonprofits and various City agencies to tackle large scale issues and respond to emergency situations. Through borough directors assigned to each borough, CAU is also actively involved in carrying forward mayoral initiatives at the community level through direct contact with community boards and civic associations.

Quality of Life Initiatives
CAU oversees the following initiatives to ensuring the best quality of life for all New Yorkers:

Graffiti Free NYC is a free graffiti removal program that works to combat graffiti in communities throughout the City. CAU works closely with a team of city agencies to implement Graffiti Free NYC.
Learn how the city is working to keep New York beautiful

The Mayor's Rodent Taskforce was designed to address residential and commercial rodent problems throughout the five boroughs. The task force includes CAU, the Departments of Health, Sanitation, and Parks, just to name a few. While agencies such as the Department of Health resolve the issue, CAU works with constituents to discuss the options available to them to reduce rodent infestation.

Homeless encampments can be found throughout the City. CAU works with the Department of Homeless Services, Sanitation and other City agencies to clean up and secure sites being used for this purpose.

Illegal dumping can be a major concern for some communities. CAU works with City agencies to conduct site visits of locations reported to have illegal dumping and works to ensure these sites are cleaned and maintained. CAU conducts property research to determine ownership via the NYC Department of Finance, the Department of Buildings, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and then contacts owners to solicit cooperation in correcting conditions. In addition, CAU works with city agencies in garbage removal and to secure locations.

Those interested in learning more about these programs should call 311.

Please take a few moments to browse through our site and discover more about our work throughout the City to ensure the delivery of City services more efficiently, and to encourage community-minded people to work with us in those efforts. CAU takes pride in helping to make New York a better place in which to live and work. Please feel free to contact our office with any comments or concerns. Thank you for visiting our Web site.