Want To Have A Say In What Projects Are Funded In Ditmas Park? Attend This Meeting On Thursday, June 11

What would you like to see our tax dollars fund in the neighborhood? Something for our schools? Our libraries? Maybe safety improvements to area roads?

Whatever it is, we could have the chance through participatory budgeting — but Councilman Mathieu Eugene has opted not to be part of the program that numerous other legislators participate in, including Councilman Jumaane Williams and Councilman Brad Lander.

A group of neighbors recently formed the Residents of District 40 for Participatory Budgeting, and the neighbors told us they will host an “urgent community public meeting” this Thursday, June 11 from 7-9pm about bringing participatory budgeting to our community.

The meeting will be held at BAM (30 Lafayette Street in Fort Greene). If you attend, please check in with security in the opera house lobby at 30 Lafayette Street and tell them you are attending the participatory budgeting meeting. You will then be directed to the Stanley conference room.

The neighbors wrote in an email that:

District 40 Residents HAVE TO CHALLENGE our Council Member Eugene to SIGN ON TO PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR NEXT CYCLE.

SO FAR HE HAS DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE. Time for a community petition, phone calls, press and letters.

Our goal and job is to help him say “yes!”

Please let the group know you’ll be attending by calling Carmen Mason Browne at 347-787-7124 or 917-680-9475.

For more information about participatory budgeting, see the page below, or visit the NYC Council’s participatory budgeting website.