Tonight, Make Suggestions For Projects You’d Like Councilman Jumaane Williams To Fund In The Neighborhood

Councilman Jumaane Williams will kick off his participatory budgeting cycle at the Clarendon Road Church (3304 Clarendon Road) from 6pm to 8pm tonight. During the meeting, you’ll be able to learn more about participatory budgeting – a program that Council members can choose to implement in their districts that allows constituents to directly vote on projects they’d like to see funded in their area.

Tonight’s event, which is open to the public, will be led by participatory budgeting volunteers and will give neighbors a chance to discuss community needs and brainstorm project ideas to nominate. Eventually, after a series of meetings, neighbors living in Williams’ district will be able to vote on the projects, for which the lawmaker has allocated $1 million.

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.

“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,” Williams said in a press release. “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.”

A second participatory budgeting meeting for Williams’ district is scheduled for November 12 from 6:30pm to 8:pm in the Glenwood Houses Community Center (5816 Farragut Road) and will give volunteer budget delegates an opportunity to learn about the budget process, project development, and key spending areas.

For more information about participatory budgeting, you can visit the city’s website here. You can also contact Naiya Stewart, a participatory budgeting fellow for Williams’ district, by emailing pb45district@gmail.com or calling (718) 629-2900.