Tonight: Attend A Participatory Budgeting Meeting With Councilman Jumaane Williams

While neighbors have been disappointed that Councilman Mathieu Eugene isn’t involved in the city’s participatory budgeting program, which allows constituents to directly vote on projects they’d like funded, community members will still get a chance to have a say on what projects they’d like to see funded in the area at Councilman Jumaane Williams’ second participatory budgeting meeting tonight from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

The meeting will be held at the Glenwood Houses Community Center (5816 Farragut Road), and the event will give community members an opportunity to learn about participatory budgeting, discuss needs for the area, and brainstorm project ideas to nominate for the final vote.

Only people living in Williams’ 45th Council District will be allowed to vote on the projects, but anyone is welcome to attend the meetings and suggest projects. Funded projects do not necessarily have to be within Williams’ district – but, of course, they’ll need to be important enough to the constituents living there for them to consider green-lighting them.

From a press release issued by Williams’ office:

I am excited that the people of District 45 have continued to show their support for participatory budgeting, and look forward to a fourth successful year,” said Council Member Williams. “PB has been an empowering form of open democracy which has not only gained momentum within our own neighborhood, but has continued to expand citywide. For the past three years, PB has served as a great tool to build up school infrastructures and fund capital projects District 45 constituents find most important. As we enter our fourth year, I look forward to seeing more people getting involved so that these projects continue to improve our community, for example, with sanitation efforts, in very real ways.

Projects that have been funded in the 45th Council District in the past include hundreds of thousands of dollars for security cameras, the addition of a curb extension on Linden Boulevard, and desktops, laptops, Smart Boards, and more technology for students. You can see a complete list of the projects here.

For more information about the program in general, you can watch this video:

For additional information, contact the District 45 participatory budget fellow Naiya Stewart by emailing pb45district@gmail.com or calling 718-629-2900.

Williams’ third participatory budgeting meeting is scheduled for November 17 from 6-8:30pm at the Flatbush YMCA (1401 Flatbush Avenue).

What projects would like to see funded in Williams’ district? If Eugene was participating, what would you like to see in his area?

Photo via PBNYC.