BP Adams Pledges $1 Million In Participatory Budgeting Funds To 10 Council Districts
Good news for participatory budgeting (PBNYC) fans: An extra $100,000 could be coming your way for Fiscal Year 2017, thanks to a pledge by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
The money is actually one-tenth of Adams’ total pledge of $1 million for all 10 council districts whose councilmembers are participating in PBNYC this year. City Councilmembers Mark Treyger, Carlos Menchaca, and David Greenfield are among those to sign on to receive the Borough President’s funds.
Menchaca — whose district saw the highest participation in the city, pulling in almost 6,300 votes — allocated $2 million for participatory budgeting, nearly 50 percent of his discretionary capital budget, last year.
“Brooklyn is never shy in being a trailblazer,” said Council Member Menchaca. “Our boroughpresident has made history today by being the only boroughpresident to say ‘Si Se Puede’ to a more participatory democracy. I have adopted and uplifted participatory budgeting in my district since I came into office and applaud this move for Brooklyn-wide expansion of this process.”
Treyger’s district, which includes Coney Island, Gravesend, and parts of Bensonhurst, allocated $1.125 million toward participatory budgeting last year. The additional $100,000 from the Borough President will be added to the district’s total budget.
“Participatory budgeting is a great opportunity for people to get involved in local government,” said Treyger. “Residents deserve a real voice when it comes to the investment of their tax dollars in their community, because no one knows their neighborhoods better.”
Greenfield, who represents parts of Midwood, Mapleton, and Borough Park, allocated $1.07 million for participatory budgeting projects.
Adams also announced that Brooklyn Borough Hall will now be a universal voting site for all eligible PBNYC voters when voting takes place from Monday, March 28 through Friday, April 1 from 9am-5pm.
Voting at other locations will be open longer — from Saturday, March 26 until Sunday, April 3. All residents 16 years of age or older with proof of residency in a participating council district in Brooklyn will be eligible to vote at this location.
Adams described his decision as an easy one that will “bolster the voices of Brooklynites and help amplify their power to shape their tax dollars are spent in our borough.”
Greenfield expressed gratitude towards Adams for expanding participatory budgeting opportunities in his district.
“Participatory budgeting is a great way to give community members a direct say in how their tax dollars are spent,” said Council Member Greenfield. “I’m proud that thousands of my constituents have already participated.”
Other districts to benefit include those served by CMs Laurie Cumbo, Robert Cornegy, Jr., Mathieu Eugene, Brad Lander, Stephen Levin, Antonio Reynoso, and Jumaane D. Williams.