Live In City Council District 45? Here’s Where To Cast Your Participatory Budgeting Vote This Week

Nora Whelan -


The boundaries of City Council District 45 have recently shifted, so neighbors who are now constituents of Councilmember Jumaane Williams, take heed–you have several chances this week to vote on how to spend $1 million in discretionary funds.

This year, proposed projects on the ballot include:

  • Building a greenhouse classroom at the Kurt Hahn School, creating paid internships for students in urban ecology and green infrastructure, and establishing a farmers market
  • Installing an air conditioning system to keep students cool and comfortable at PS 208
  • Upgrading technology at the Glenwood Senior Center to help local seniors keep in contact with friends and family
  • Create a rooftop culinary farm at the Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences as part of a larger project to teach students sustainability, culinary arts, health and nutrition, and urban agriculture, and to help prep them for green jobs
  • Replace non-functioning announcements system at PS 208 so school officials can properly communicate with staff and students, especially in emergencies

All residents 16 years of age and older are invited to take part, and can vote on up to five projects. The closest places to cast your vote are the Flatbush Gardens Mailroom (3301 Foster Avenue on the corner of New York Avenue) from 11am-7pm until Sunday, April 6, and Vanderveer Park Methodist Church (3114 Glenwood Road between E 31st and E 32nd Streets) from 12-6pm also until Sunday, April 6.

For more information and other voting locations, you can contact Councilmember Williams’ Director of Community Outreach, Farah Louis, at 718-629-2100 or flouis@council.nyc.gov.

If you’re a District 40 resident who would like participatory budgeting in your area next year, you can contact Councilmember Mathieu Eugene‘s office at 718-287-8762 or Meugene@council.nyc.gov. Neighbors are also welcome to suggest projects for consideration by Community Board 14, but you’ll have to wait until their next submission period rolls around.

Map via nyc.gov