Help Decide How $2M Will Be Spent In Disctrict 38 At Upcoming Participatory Budgeting Neighborhood Assemblies

Following a kick-off meeting last week, the participatory budgeting process is underway in District 38, and there are several upcoming neighborhood assemblies where you can get involved to let Councilmember Carlos Menchaca know how you’d like to see $2 million spent on neighborhood projects.

For the second year, Menchaca is letting residents of the district — which covers parts of our area, Sunset Park, Red Hook, and Bensonhurst — decide how to spend public funds in our area through participatory budgeting. Throughout this month, residents from across the district will have the chance to share your opinions on ways to improve our parks, schools, libraries, streets, and more:

Red Hook General Neighborhood Assembly
Wednesday, November 5, 6:30-8:30pm
PS 15, 71 Sullivan Street

Red Hook Youth Neighborhood Assembly
Thursday, November 6, 4:30-6:30pm
Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks Street

General Neighborhood Assembly
Saturday, November 8, 10:30am-12:30pm
Sunset Park Rec Center, 43rd Street and 7th Avenue

Sunset Park Neighborhood Assembly
Thursday, November 13, 6:30-8:30pm
Notre Dame Hall, 526 59th Street

If you’ve got an idea now, you can share it online — some ideas already suggested in our area include air conditioning at PS 295, traffic calming at the Prospect Expressway onramp, and a dog park.

And if you’d like to get even more involved, you can volunteer as a budget delegate. Generally, what budget delegates do is develop proposals based on the ideas that residents have brainstormed for spending ideas — basically, it’s a chance to see how local government works, get a lot closer to the process, and meet other passionate neighbors.