Want A Say In How Your Tax Dollars Are Spent? Attend Councilmember Brad Lander’s Participatory Budget Meetings
What would you like to see funded in the 39th Council District (which includes parts of South Slope)? Something for the libraries? The schools? Transportation?
If you live in the district, you’ll be able to vote on how to allocate $1.5 million in capital funding in our neighborhoods (as part of a program called participatory budgeting) – but before that vote, there are a series of meetings you can attend to discuss what projects you’d like to vote on.
“The PBNYC process gives New Yorkers the power to decide how to spend tax dollars in our neighborhoods,” Councilman Brad Lander, who represents the 39th Council District, said on his website. “Over the past three years, thousands of you have given your ideas, researched needs, developed proposals, and come out to vote. Based on your votes, we’ve funded 22 great projects throughout the 39th Council district — from libraries to schools to parks to safer streets.”
Projects that have been funded through participatory budgeting in the past included an outdoor plaza for John Jay, safety and greening improvements along 4th Avenue, new bathrooms at PS 124, computers for children and adults at the Windsor Terrace Library, and more.
“Momentum for participatory budgeting is growing,” Lander continued. “This year, there are 23 districts across NYC (up from four when we started) taking part in PBNYC. Cities around the country are joining in. And I am proud to be increasing my commitment to $1.5 million.”
Lander, whose district also encompasses Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, and Borough Park, will hold six “issue-based” participatory budget meetings through the end of the month. Each meeting will be held from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
- Streets and Transit on Tuesday, October 14 at the City Transit Museum (Boerum Place & Schermerhorn Street). RSVP here.
- Kensington Neighborhood Assembly on Thursday, October 16, at PS 230 (1 Albemarle Road). No RSVP required.
- Parks and Environment on Monday, October 20 at Prospect Park’s Picnic House (95 Prospect Park West). RSVP here.
- Arts, Community and Culture on Wednesday, October 22 at ReelWorks (540 President Street, #2F). RSVP here.
For more information about participatory budgeting in the 39th Council District, you can visit Lander’s website here.