From Saturday, March 25 to Sunday, April 2, New Yorkers 11 Years Old and Up Can Vote Online and in Person at Poll Sites in 29 Participating Council Districts in Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn

City Hall, NY — Today, Speaker Adrienne Adams and the New York City Council called on New Yorkers to make their voices heard during Participatory Budgeting Vote Week. New Yorkers can vote online or in-person all week to decide how nearly $30 million in capital funding will be spent in the Fiscal Year 2024 city budget to improve neighborhood schools, parks, libraries, and local infrastructure.  

“New Yorkers spent months brainstorming and refining proposals to improve our communities, and now, residents will be able to vote for their favorite projects to be funded in the city budget,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Participatory Budgeting empowers local residents to get involved in their communities and decide how public dollars are spent to strengthen our neighborhoods. I thank every New Yorker who has contributed to this process, and I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to vote for their top projects!”

Starting Saturday, March 25 through Sunday, April 2, New Yorkers residing in participating Council districts can vote online or in-person on Participatory Budgeting proposals to improve neighborhoods and local communities. This year, 29 districts across Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn are participating. 

Here is a list of participating City Council Districts:

New Yorkers can call or contact their Council Member, or check their social media pages to confirm the exact hours, locations, and times of neighborhood Participatory Budgeting poll sites.

The spending proposals on this year’s ballots were created by New Yorkers who attended neighborhood assemblies and budget delegate meetings throughout the fall and winter. All projects are capital budget proposals, which are significant neighborhood infrastructure investments. They were crafted and refined in conversation with relevant city agencies and facilitated by participating Council Members’ offices.

Past proposals funded by the City Council’s Participatory Budgeting initiative have included the following:

• Creating safe routes to schools by extending the sidewalk curb to enhance pedestrian safety near P.S. 159 and P.S. 51 in The Bronx ($100,000);
• Improving lighting in the park areas at the NYCHA Elliott-Chelsea Houses and Fulton Houses in Manhattan ($600,000);
• Repairing basketball court at the Queens Beach 9th Street Playground which includes upgraded lighting, basketball nets and backboards ($500,000);
• Installing real-time MTA BusTime signs, placed in areas to assist people with limited access to smartphones along S48, S53, S44, S40, and S46 bus routes in Staten Island ($200,000);
• Upgrading the public meeting room at the Gravesend Library in Brooklyn ($300,000).

2023 is the 12th year that the Council has hosted Participatory Budgeting since the initiative began in 2011, and the first since the start of the pandemic. To read more about the Council’s Participatory Budget initiative and past results, visit council.nyc.gov/PB.

“Our district has organized participatory budgeting since its launch in 2011, and I’m proud to continue in this tradition. Every resident 11 years or older can make their voice heard, regardless of their immigration status,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés. “This year’s projects include proposals to improve our schools, parks, open spaces and public services. Our ballot will also include questions so I can hear from community members like you about your priorities for the City’s budget of over one hundred billion dollars. I encourage every resident to get out and vote at our office, one of our partner voting sites, or at one of our pop-up voting sites in the neighborhood over the weekend.”

“Participatory Budgeting is a way to involve more members of the community in critical decision making that can improve our neighborhoods. Ideas that come from the grassroots can be among the most innovative and effective in affecting our quality of life,” said Council Member Gale Brewer. “Thank you to the volunteers who made this effort possible, and I look forward to seeing these projects come to life.”

“This year, District 22’s Participatory Budgeting ballots were democratically developed by a public safety-focused ‘Citizens’ Assembly,’ which spent multiple sessions deliberating over what makes them feel safest,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “It’s just another way of making sure we are putting the power directly in the hands of the people who live and work here. When we say ‘We keep us safe,’ we know that extends to public budgeting as well.”

“After eight informational sessions and countless meetings with delegates, we have eight projects on the ballot for District 10! Our delegates have been enthusiastically engaged in the process, which has helped them all understand our budget process on a granular level,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “We have made a dedicated effort to engage our schools as this is a unique opportunity for the younger members of our community to be civically engaged, and we are looking forward to preparing for vote week.”

“Participatory Budgeting is a great example of co-governance in action, and is an opportunity for neighborhoods, schools, and community leaders to advocate for the projects they want to see funded by their Council Member,” said Council Member Amanda Farías. “PB allows for people to see their tax dollars at work and gives an inside perspective to how local government works. I am proud to be hosting Participatory Budgeting for the second time in my district and look forward to funding more great community-based projects.”

“Facilitating PB in District 34 for multiple cycles since 2014 when I was a staff member, I can attest to the incredible long-term impact it has had on our communities,” said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. “Seeing the passion, creativity, and dedication of our community members in shaping their own neighborhoods through this democratic process has been truly inspiring and a labor of love. Participatory budgeting has not only resulted in tangible improvements and investments in our communities, but has also fostered a sense of civic engagement and ownership that is invaluable for communities like mine.”

“Starting on March 25th, millions of New Yorkers will have a say in how public dollars are spent. Participatory Budgeting is a beautiful experiment in local democracy, and I encourage all New Yorkers to get out there and vote,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “In my district, we’ve put forward $1.5 million to fund community-generated climate justice projects to make our neighborhoods more resilient. Through Participatory Budgeting, we can expand democracy in our City and ensure every day New Yorkers have the power to make lasting change in their community.”

“The Participatory budgeting process is an opportunity for our communities to make their voices heard and ensure that public funds are allocated where our neighbors choose,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “It’s a special process that strengthens civic participation and bolsters our democratic principles. I’m excited for the start of vote week tomorrow and can’t wait to see my community turn out to ensure our neighborhoods have all the resources they need.”

“Participatory Budgeting (PB) empowers communities to take an active role in shaping their neighborhoods and makes sure their voices are heard,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “It’s a great, grassroots way to get folks of all ages and backgrounds civically engaged. I am thrilled that my neighbors in District 40, as well as New Yorkers across 29 other districts, will once again have the opportunity to decide how to spend one million dollars in their communities.”

“From a hydroponics lab to a pediatric X-ray machine to new trees, our community knows best what we need,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. “I’m excited to launch the first ever Participatory Budgeting Vote Week in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, and to see how our neighbors decide to spend $1 million of funding from my office! Thank you to Speaker Adams for ensuring that the participatory budgeting process this year will be incredibly engaging and fun for our community—as the most diverse City Council in its history, we’re proud to make sure every voice of our district is heard!”

“There is no better way to uplift the quality of life and spur engagement with our communities than through participatory budgeting,” said Council Member Linda Lee. “From the idea-collection assemblies in the fall to the beginning of Vote Week here in the spring, we have brainstormed project proposals with neighbors so that we can create new ways to benefit the lives of residents in Eastern Queens. I am thankful for the community involvement of District 23, and I look forward to seeing how $1 million in funding will be spent for the betterment of our neighborhoods.”  

“Participatory Budgeting is a great initiative for New Yorkers to tangibly improve their neighborhoods and have their voices heard,” said Council Member Farah Louis. “This program is a unique opportunity to participate in direct democracy where New Yorkers vote on capital projects for their district. Whether your community is interested in improving schools, parks, or streets, you decide how ‘The People’s Money’ is spent. Any New Yorker ages 11 and up can watch their taxpayer dollars grow into community projects that matter most to them. It’s a great and easy way to engage with our vivacious civic process in the greatest city on Earth.”

“Since I served on the Board of Citizens Union, I have been a longtime proponent of Participatory Budgeting and am thrilled with last year’s success,” said Council Member Julie Menin. “Government must ensure that New Yorkers have civic engagement opportunities and have a voice in the budgetary process. As we approach voting week, filling out a ballot is a great way to be involved with the pulse of the community and determine the best use of city dollars.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing Participatory Budgeting to District 37,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “For the first time ever, community members will have a direct say in how to spend $1 million in capital funding to improve our neighborhoods. Over 75 projects were submitted and our 10 budget delegates moved 6 projects forward, ranging from school upgrades, to street trees, to sanitation cameras, whichever projects end up winning will have a lasting positive impact on our community.”

“As the Council Member of the 12th district, where I was born and raised, I am proud to empower my constituents with new pathways to become more civically engaged within our community. New York City Council’s Participatory Budgeting presents a unique opportunity for our constituents, as young as 11, to become a part of our city’s budgeting process,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “While we celebrate Cycle 12 of Participatory Budgeting Vote Week, I encourage all community members to come together to vote and make your voice heard in decisions for critical projects that will affect your community.”

“I am so excited for Participatory Budget vote week in District 2! PB is a unique opportunity for residents of New York City to have a voice in how actual dollars get spent in their communities,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “The projects on our ballots range from improving safety in public housing, enhancing public parks and green infrastructure, adding new recreation spaces, and upgrading technology in our education and cultural institutions. Our neighbors as young as 11 years old and older can vote, regardless of citizenship status, which makes PB one of the most inclusive ways to participate in local government. I encourage everyone to vote for their favorite projects.”

“As government officials, we should always work to increase civic participation and transparency in our governance,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “I am proud that as a first-time Council Member, I brought participatory budgeting to our neighbors for the first time, empowering them to nominate projects and vote on how $1 million in city tax-payer dollars would be used to support our neighborhoods. We are continuing the tradition this year, with nominated initiatives aimed at: improving quality of life for all residents, particularly our seniors and youth; increasing access to healthy foods; expanding technological capabilities of our libraries and schools; and even creating a hydroponic lab for our students. Through participatory budgeting, every resident has the opportunity to directly inform how and where city funds go.”

“Participatory Budgeting is a great opportunity for residents of District 29 to have a voice in how to spend $1 million dollars in capital funding to support projects in our community,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “I’m thrilled to have a number of great projects on the ballot this year. From planting new trees on Metropolitan Ave to new bathrooms at PS174, there is a project for everyone on the ballot. I encourage all eligible voters, 11 years of age and older, to come out and cast your ballot to ensure your favorite project is funded!”

“I loved bringing Participatory Budgeting to my community for the first time last year and working with so many community members to bring their ideas to life,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez. “This year Council District 13 will be voting on projects like a Hydroponic Science Lab, much-needed upgrades to the Pelham Parkway/Van Nest and Throggs Neck libraries, and district-wide beautification projects. This is an exciting time, and I look forward to seeing what projects are selected this year!”

“Participatory Budget Vote Week in the City Council is especially important because participatory budgeting provides a chance for our constituents to be deliberative about implementing changes we want to see in the community, said Council Member Nantasha Williams. “With $1 million available to us to improve our schools, parks, roadways and other public areas, I urge anybody who lives or works in the district to take part in this local initiative. Let’s make it count, District 27!”

“From increased accessibility and better lighting to bathroom and technology upgrades, I’m thrilled that every project on our Participatory Budgeting ballot is to fund our schools in District 26, said Council Member Julie Won. “Excited to bring back Participatory Budgeting this year to bring transparency to the budgeting process and allow our neighbors to decide how we as a community should spend $1 million dollars. During Vote Week, our office and community partners will host 10 events throughout our district where our neighbors can get out and vote for their favorite projects.”

###