City Hall, NY – Today, Speaker Adrienne Adams and the New York City Council announced the winning proposals of the 2022-2023 Participatory Budgeting cycle. During the voting period, which took place from March 25^th until April 2^nd, more than 60,000 New Yorkers voted to allocate nearly $32 million in capital funding for local improvements to schools, parks, libraries and other public spaces across 29 Council Districts in New York City. This 2022-2023 cycle is the Council’s first as a legislative body since the start of the pandemic.

Participants were able to vote online or submit traditional paper ballots to their local Council offices. Of the votes cast for this cycle, 57% were paper ballots and the remaining 43% were online votes. Voting ballots were available in English and 20 additional languages. Voting in Participatory Budgeting is open to all residents of participating districts who are 11 years of age and older.

“Participatory Budgeting fosters civic engagement and empowers New Yorkers to contribute ideas to improve their neighborhoods,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “During this year’s cycle, the Council’s first since the start of the pandemic, more than 60,000 residents voted on their favorite projects to help allocate nearly $32 million in capital funding. I am grateful to all of my Council colleagues who participated in Participatory Budgeting, budget delegates who brainstormed and refined funding proposals, and all New Yorkers who took part in this year’s successful process. I congratulate all of this year’s winning proposals, which will strengthen our communities, and I look forward to the next Participatory Budgeting cycle!”

For the 2022-2023 cycle, 29 Council Members facilitated Participatory Budgeting in their districts. Voters in all districts chose to allocate funding towards improving schools, libraries, and other public spaces. Below are the winning projects for each district:

“This year’s participatory budgeting cycle has been an astounding triumph, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed schools, nonprofits, and government partners for their instrumental role in fostering widespread civic engagement,” said Council Member Julie Menin. “Every vote counts in Participatory Budgeting and I am proud to raise my commitment to nearly $2 million to fund three supplementary projects within our district. I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to sustain this momentum into the future.”

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

“Participatory budgeting is inclusive democracy in practice. When people, especially our youth, have a voice in civic affairs — and an actual hand in allocating public funds — they are increasingly engaged in the governing process and more deeply connected to their neighbors and neighborhoods,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu. “The people have spoken. Now, I am so proud to follow through on their proposals to broaden investments in health, hygiene, and wellness. We will be renovating the basketball courts at NYCHA Grant Houses, repairing the bathrooms at P.S. 145, and transforming the gym at P.S. 165. Thank you to everybody that participated!”

“District 10 had overwhelming support for parks and education projects. 1,311 votes later, we are proud to announce that we are funding five of the eight projects that made it onto the ballot,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “Three schools in the district will receive technological upgrades, one school will undergo bathroom renovations to make them ADA accessible, and a Washington Heights dog run will be renovated. We applaud the efforts of our delegates who worked tirelessly throughout the process to move projects forward, and to our constituents for voting and engaging in the civic engagement process.”

“I am happy to celebrate the commencement of New York City Council’s Cycle 12 of Participatory Budgeting. This initiative is a true testament to fostering opportunities for community members to play an integral part of our City’s budgeting process,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “From the youth to our older adults, I thank all participants for their leadership, showing their communities that their votes truly do count. The voting results of this year’s Participatory Budgeting cycle echo the direct needs of the communities we serve. I encourage this partnership that cultivates civic engagement across New York City.”

“Civic engagement supports and uplifts all voices, and with Participatory Budgeting, we are empowering residents to vote on projects they want to see in their neighborhood,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez. “My district selected three projects, expanding STEM education to our youth, supporting our libraries through technology upgrades, and adding additional cameras to support public safety. Without their voices, none of this would have been possible.”

“For the second year in a row, the Northwest Bronx directly determined how to spend $1 million in city tax-payer funds in our neighborhood,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “This decision was made with the support of our local organizers, from parent leaders to student volunteers who dedicated their time to collect over 800 votes. The power lies with the people. Thank you, Speaker Adams, for leading the participatory budget process and bringing the public into the decision-making process.”

“The participatory budgeting cycle was a great opportunity to strengthen the community partnerships, but more importantly to increase youth civic engagement in District 16,” said Council Member Althea Stevens. “As this year we prioritized Youth Center Projects, we were able to get young people excited about the governmental process through outreach as they were able to be a part of the future investments of their community.”

“Participatory Budgeting is key to ensuring our communities have their voice heard in their local budget process and to ensure our neighbors see their tax dollars at work through an active approach to city procurement and implementation processes,” said Council Member Amanda Farías. “I was proud to host my district’s first ever Participatory Budgeting cycles in my last two budgets, and was proud to see that over 1,000 people voted for their top projects! I have been able to fund critical school construction projects and services for our students that have been overlooked for years, as well as beautifying and keeping our community clean! Thank you to Speaker Adrienne Adams for prioritizing funding to PB this year and to all our voters in Council District 18 who advocated for their projects.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of the thousands of neighbors who came together in this inspiring exercise of direct democracy,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “From our initial ‘Citizens’ Assemblies,’ at which neighbors dove deep into what makes us feel truly safe, to our pop-up poll sites, to the eventual winners, this process clarified that when we determine our public safety priorities, we invest in the community, rather than merely ramping up policing and incarceration. No one knows the needs and hopes of our community better than the community itself, and the winning initiatives could not be more worthy, exciting, and meaningful.”

“As we uplift the well-being of our neighborhoods and strengthen community engagement with our civic process, I am proud to work with fellow residents to improve our district through Participatory Budgeting,” said Council Member Linda Lee. “Participatory budgeting is a hands-on process that allows the community to decide which impactful projects receive funding to enhance the quality of life of families across the city. I am grateful that District 23 was enthusiastically involved in the voting process as we work together for the betterment of our communities.”

“I was proud to bring Participatory Budgeting to the residents of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst for the first time ever. With more than 2,000 votes collected online and at 7 poll sites supported by more than a dozen volunteers, it was a huge success,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. “The diversity of the winning projects is a true reflection of the diversity of our community, ranging from new trees and tree guards, to an X-ray machine for children at Elmhurst Hospital, to a hydroponics lab and two much-needed bathroom renovations for our schools.”

“Funding our schools continues to be one of my top priorities and these three winning projects will bring much needed technology upgrades, bathroom renovations, and lighting to our students,” said Council Member Julie Won. “We brought 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. Thank you to my team and District 26 community partners for a successful PB cycle. Idea collection for the next round of PB starts soon. Our office will share information on how our neighbors submit ideas for improvements you want to see in our community and opportunities to volunteer.”

“With an inspiring 1,277 votes received in District 27, we are forging a path towards a future where community-led decision-making brings forth greater equity, transparency, and positive change,” said Council Member Nantasha Williams. “As residents and workers of our district, we hold the collective power to shape a hopeful tomorrow through this incredible local initiative!”

“Participatory Budgeting is a great way for residents young and old to participate in their democracy,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman. “I especially enjoyed seeing children vote for their first time and learn about civic engagement. I look forward to seeing the winning projects implemented and encourage anyone that wants to get involved in the process next year to reach out to our office.”

“Participatory budgeting gives Brooklynites a say in how we invest in our communities,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “This year, District 33 prioritized capital projects focused on climate justice. Neighbors put forward some great ideas! The winning projects will fund new street trees in every neighborhood, green infrastructure in Greenpoint, and improved green space in NYCHA Gowanus Houses.”

“I have facilitated Participatory Budgeting in District 34 as a staff member for multiple cycles since 2015, and I can attest to the incredible long-term positive impacts it has 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 ours. I couldn’t be more proud that District 34 garnered the most votes this year of any participating district and look forward to the next cycle!”

“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 is such a special experience from start to finish. And now that we’ve wrapped this year’s PB cycle, it’s so heartening to see that thousands of New Yorkers chose to participate, bolstering our city’s civic participation and casting their ballot for the improvements they want to see in their communities.”

“Participatory Budgeting allows us to see what matters to New Yorkers on a grassroots level in our communities and is a great way to get New Yorkers of all ages civically engaged,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “Neighbors in the 40th Council District participated and voted on projects that were important to them by working with local community-based organizations to get the word out. Participatory Budgeting empowers us to bring New Yorkers who keep this city moving into the decision-making process of implementing change in our city.” 

“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. Voters in my district expressed their priorities in voting for projects connected to public safety, beautification, and recreation for the youth. I am proud to extend this civic opportunity to the communities in my district and I am looking forward to see these projects come into fruition.”

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