Tomorrow Is The Deadline To Submit Ideas Online For Participatory Budgeting

The participatory budgeting process gives New Yorkers the power to decide how to spend tax dollars in our neighborhoods.

Every year, the participatory budgeting (PB) process begins with an idea collection phase, which is facilitated by participating City Council members, like the 39th District’s Brad Lander. Each participating Councilmember allocates at least $1 million from their individual budget, which is awarded to projects decided upon by the whole community.

Members of the community were invited to partake in several local neighborhood assemblies. The final meeting took place yesterday at P.S. 230.

Perhaps you weren’t able to make those meetings. You can still provide your input for projects in our community that could be funded via PB. Please submit your ideas here by tomorrow — September 30.

Lander has been actively engaged in the process for five years. Projects which won this past year include the new “Lake Mess Monster,” an Aquatic Weed Harvester ($140,000), Teen Space at Carroll Gardens Library ($350,000), “Mobile Studios” for Artists and Orgs in Gowanus($150,000), and Curb Extension & Safer Crossing in Carroll Park ($150,000).

In addition, the Park Slope Library Reading Circle and Storytelling Garden — including literary details like a storytelling amphitheater and a statue of the children’s book character Knuffle Bunny — is in the works because of PBNYC funding.

Any resident of District 39 who is age 14 and older can vote in PB – even if you are not a registered voter. All you need is an ID (license, passport, IDNYC), a utility bill, or some other document stating your name and address.

Here’s how the PB process works:

1.) You and your neighbors come up with ideas for projects that will help our schools, libraries, parks, streets, and other shared spaces.

2.) Neighbors and elected officials work together to research the feasibility and need for each project, and finalize a list of projects to put on the ballot.

3.) A public vote is held on the projects in the Spring, and the community decides which ones will be funded.

What is Participatory Budgeting? from PBP on Vimeo.

Sixty-seven thousand New Yorkers voted this Spring on how to spend a total of $38 million via Participatory Budgeting — the highest turnout ever. This year, 32 City Council districts are participating, up from just four when PB started six years ago.

Additional reporting by Donny Levit.