Participatory Budgeting Cycle 8 Begins!

BROOKLYN – Cycle 8 of the New York City Council’s Participatory Budgeting has officially begun!

Participatory budgeting (PBNYC) is a city program that allows residents to vote on $1 million to $1.5 million in projects developed by community members. PBNYC gives New Yorkers the opportunity to gather, brainstorm, research, develop, and vote for projects that improve their neighborhoods.

How Does Participatory Budgeting Work?

• Community members brainstorm ideas at local assemblies and decide what types of projects are needed in their neighborhoods.
• Volunteers work with experts in developing full project proposals to present to the community at a project expo.
• The community then votes! Residents aged 14 and up are eligible to vote, either online or at locations throughout their district.
• The projects with the most votes share the funding! The projects are then implemented over the next few years.

Anybody can submit a proposal idea for their community district. Ideas must be for “capital” projects that focus on physical infrastructure for the public’s benefit. Categories include cultural and community facilities, green infrastructure, housing, parks, public health/safety, school programs/improvements, services for seniors and youth, streets and sidewalks, and transit.

Learn more about Participatory Budgeting here. Want to volunteer? Click here.

You can submit your idea online here. Note: the deadline to submit ideas for your district is Friday, October 5.

Several Council Members have already started hosting neighborhood assemblies where attendees can learn more about the participatory budgeting process, brainstorm with neighbors, and submit ideas for this year’s ballot.

See below for a list of all the Brooklyn Districts participating in PBNYC Cycle 8 and any upcoming, scheduled neighborhood assemblies.

Stephen Levin, District 33 (Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg)

Thursday, October 11, 7pm to 8:30pm
Independence Community Center, 114 Taylor Street, Williamsburg

Tuesday, October 16, 6:30pm to 8pm
St Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights

Antonio Reynoso, District 34 (Bushwick, Ridgewood, Williamsburg)

Wednesday, September 26, 6:30pm
Brooklyn Public Library, Bushwick Branch, 340 Bushwick Avenue, Bushwick

Thursday, September, 27, 6:30pm
Brooklyn Public Library, Dekalb Branch, 790 Bushwick Avenue, Bushwick

Monday, October 1, 6:30pm
Borinquen Plaza Tenant’s Association Room, Bushwick

Thursday, October 4, 6pm
Ridgewood Library, 20-12 Madison Street, Ridgewood

Laurie Cumbo, District 35 (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant)

Wednesday, September 26, 6pm
Friends of Crown Heights, 1491 Bedford Avenue, Crown Heights

Monday, October 1, 6pm
Brooklyn Academy of Music
BAM Fisher (in the Leavitt Workshop space), 321 Ashland Place, Fort Greene

Robert Cornegy, District 36 (Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights)

The Council Member’s office is working on confirming dates for early October. Contact Shawn Francis at sfrancis@council.nyc.gov for more info.

Carlos Menchaca, District 38 (Red Hook, Sunset Park, Greenwood Heights and portions of Windsor Terrace, Dyker Heights, and Boro Park)

Red Hook Pop-Ups
Wednesday, October 3 (3 locations)
Red Hook Justice Center, 88 Visitation Place, 10am to 12pm
Coffey Park, 85 Richards Street, 1pm to 4pm
Miccio Center, 110 West 9th Street, 4pm to 6:30pm

The Neighborhood Assembly for all of District 38 is planned for the week of October 8 at the Council Member’s Sunset Park office, 4417 4th Avenue. We will update once the date is confirmed.

Brad Lander, District 39 (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Boro Park)

Wednesday, September 26, 6pm to 9pm
PS 230
1 Albemarle Road, Kensington

Mathieu Eugene, District 40 (Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Park, and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens)

Alicka Ampry-Samuel, District 41 (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Ocean Hill-Brownsville, East Flatbush, Crown Heights)

Wednesday, September 26, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Brooklyn Collegiate, 2021 Bergen Street, Brownsville

Thursday, September 27, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
PS 91, 532 Albany Avenue, Crown Heights

Friday, September 28, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
PS 5, 820 Hancock Street, Bed-Stuy

Justin Brannan, District 43 (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach)

Monday, October 1, 7pm
PS 264, 371 89th Street, Bay Ridge

Tuesday, October 2, 7pm
Knights of Columbus, 1305 86th Street, Dyker Heights

Wednesday, October 3, 7pm
Mas Youth Center, 1933 Bath Avenue, Bath Beach

Jumaane Williams, District 45 (Canarsie, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands, Midwood)

Mark Treyger, District 47 (Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend, Sea Gate)