{"id":180,"date":"2015-09-21T21:49:23","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T21:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labs.council.nyc\/press\/?p=180"},"modified":"2016-12-08T21:53:08","modified_gmt":"2016-12-08T21:53:08","slug":"speaker-melissa-mark-viverito-and-new-york-city-council-launch-2015-2016-participatory-budgeting-cycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2015\/09\/21\/180\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and New York City Council Launch 2015-2016 Participatory Budgeting Cycle"},"content":{"rendered":"

27 districts will participate in upcoming cycle to designate over $30 million<\/em><\/p>\n

New York \u2014 Today, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and New York City Council Members launched New York City\u2019s 2015-2016 Participatory Budgeting cycle \u2014 the largest and fastest-growing Participatory Budgeting process in the United States. This year, New Yorkers in 27 Council Districts will collaboratively decide how to distribute over $30 million to local capital projects through a year-long process of neighborhood assemblies, delegate meetings, project expositions, and community voting. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe New York City Council is proud to lead the largest participatory budgeting process in North America, a truly grassroots and democratic tool that engages New Yorkers and invests in our communities. Participatory Budgeting enfranchises diverse New Yorkers \u2014 from immigrants with limited English proficiency, to young people, to lower-income workers \u2014 resulting in a civic dialogue that is truly inclusive. Last year, over 51,000 New Yorkers voted for locally-developed capital projects across the city, and we look forward to building on that resounding success in the upcoming 2015-2016 cycle. New York City\u2019s Participatory Budgeting process is a model for empowered, community-based decision making across the country and around the world, and the City Council is proud to do its part to strengthen and innovate democracy,\u201d said New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.<\/p>\n

Participatory Budgeting is a grassroots process through which community residents vote to directly allocate at least $1 million in capital funding per district toward proposals developed by the community to meet local needs. Through a series of public meetings, residents work with elected officials throughout the year to identify neighborhood concerns and craft proposals to address them. Residents then decide which proposals to fund through a public vote. <\/p>\n

Participatory Budgeting in New York City has expanded from four initial City Council districts in 2011 to 27 Council Districts for the 2015-2016 cycle. In 2014-2015, 51,000 New Yorkers voted to allocate $32 million dollars for locally-developed capital projects across 24 Council Districts in New York City.<\/p>\n

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University announced the New York City Council the winner of the Roy and Lila Ash Innovations Award for Public Engagement in Government, for its efforts to \u201cengage residents from communities most often left out of traditional methods of public engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

2015-2016 Participating Districts:<\/p>\n

Andrew Cohen (District 11, Bronx)
\nCosta Constantinides (District 22, Queens)
\nRobert Cornegy (District 36, Brooklyn)
\nLaurie Cumbo (District 35, Brooklyn)
\nElizabeth Crowley (District 30, Queens)
\nMathieu Eugene (District 40, Brooklyn)
\nJulissa Ferreras (District 21, Queens)
\nDavid Greenfield (District 44, Brooklyn)
\nCorey Johnson (District 3, Manhattan)
\nBen Kallos (District 5, Manhattan)
\nKaren Koslowitz (District 29, Queens)
\nBrad Lander (District 39, Brooklyn)
\nSteve Levin (District 33, Brooklyn)
\nMark Levine (District 7, Manhattan)
\nMelissa Mark-Viverito (District 8, Manhattan\/Bronx)
\nCarlos Menchaca (District 38, Brooklyn)
\nDaneek Miller (District 27, Queens)
\nAntonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn\/Queens)
\nDonovan Richards (District 31, Queens)
\nYdanis Rodriguez (District 10, Manhattan)
\nHelen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
\nRitchie Torres (District 15, Bronx)
\nMark Treyger (District 47, Brooklyn)
\nEric Ulrich (District 32, Queens)
\nPaul Vallone (District 19, Queens)
\nJimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
\nJumaane Williams (District 45, Brooklyn)<\/p>\n

“Participatory budgeting has grown an enormous amount in just 4 years, and I’m incredibly excited to be heading into our 5th and biggest year yet of PBNYC,” said Council Member Brad Lander. \u201cThanks to Speaker Mark-Viverito, and to my 27 other colleagues who have committed to PB in such a big way. When a few of us first started this experiment four years ago we had no idea it would grow into the grass roots, community driven powerhouse of a process it is today. We’ve now seen PBNYC get thousands of previously disenfranchised New Yorkers involved in the political process and respond to critical needs in the community that were passing by without attention year after year. PBNYC gives so many New Yorkers the opportunity to get involved in government in a meaningful way, and helps develop a sense of shared responsibility and stewardship for the neighborhood. I’ve had four excellent years of funding thoughtful and often over-looked projects in my district in year’s past, and I can’t wait to see what my district votes for this cycle!\u201d<\/p>\n

“PBNYC is a powerful democratic tool that addresses real needs in our communities. It allows for greater transparency and nurtures a sense of social responsibility. The process was a great success in my district last year, and my constituents are looking forward to taking the reins of our budget again,\u201d said Council Member Julissa Ferreras.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting empower New Yorkers giving them the ability to decide where their tax dollars are spent,\u201d said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. \u201cIn Western Queens are giving the residents of the 26th District the ability to fund projects that are meaningful and will make a difference in their communities. The growth of this inclusive process is helping build a better informed, and empowered citizenry which is making our City\u2019s democracy stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Participatory Budgeting has shifted the conversation, and has transformed the way we do government in our City. In communities all over New York City, residents expect a new framework of engagement with local government because of what PB has inspired. We’ve seen what we’ve known all along–residents know what they want, and what they need. I am encouraged that in this next cycle, we will continue to shape this process in a way that activates even more people to connect to government, and to their communities in a meaningful way,” said Council Member Carlos Menchaca.<\/p>\n

We’re excited to participate in the Participatory Budgeting process again, particularly given how fruitful the first year proved to be. We saw diverse and intelligent choices made in the selection of capital projects and our district in Southeast Queens organized around them,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller. “We’re looking forward to even bigger and better things in the upcoming round.”<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is a great project because it gets the community involved in the democratic process,\u201d said Council Member Karen Koslowitz.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great chance for residents to get involved in their government and help determine how their tax dollars are reinvested back in our neighborhood. I am very excited to begin this year\u2019s process and to hear more great ideas to improve our community at the upcoming assemblies. I am especially excited as a former civics teacher to give residents of all ages a unique opportunity to become engaged and active in their community. This process relies on the public\u2019s participation and input, so I urge residents to take part and share your ideas over the coming weeks,\u201d said Council Member Mark Treyger.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is democracy in action\u201d said Council Member Corey Johnson. \u201cIt is an opportunity for residents to have an active role in improving their neighborhoods, from identifying worthwhile projects in their communities to seeing those ideas funded through a community vote. This past year we had an outstanding turnout, both in my district and citywide, and I look forward to building off that momentum and engaging more New Yorkers in this democratic process in the 2015-2016 cycle. I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for her role in expanding Participatory Budgeting across New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

“When leaders invest power in their communities, everyone wins,” said Josh Lerner, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Participatory Budgeting Project. “Participatory budgeting brings new voices into civic life, and PBNYC shows that more voices leads to better decisions and stronger communities. As we bring participatory budgeting to new budgets across North America, PBNYC serves as a shining model and a laboratory of experimentation for deepening democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I am excited that the people of District 45 continue to show their support for participatory budgeting, and look forward to a fifth successful year,” said Council Member Jumaane D. Williams. “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 four 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 this new cycle, I look forward to seeing more people getting involved so that these projects continue to improve our community in very real ways.”<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting has allowed residents in my Council district to share ideas on how to improve their neighborhood. This process gives everyone an opportunity to be hands on in regards to budgeting and proves that our communities are stronger when we work together,\u201d said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley.<\/p>\n

\u201cPB gives the power back to the people who know the district the best. I am proud to take part in the participatory budgeting which reinforces the relationship between elected officials and the communities that we serve,\u201d said Council Member David Greenfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory budgeting is an incredible opportunity to engage and empower people of all backgrounds in a Democratic process to collectively decide how we can spend $1 million to fund capital projects that will strengthen our community. It is a renewal of the belief that everyday people possess the authority to create real change in their own community,\u201d said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo. \u201cThis is an exciting time for the diverse voices of the 35th Council District to allocate real money towards real projects as a reflection of real power. The success of this endeavor relies on the full participation of our youth, seniors, and families.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOur research on Participatory Budgeting in New York City has shown that with targeted outreach, dedicated resources and a commitment to inclusivity, the PB process can and does engage diverse New Yorkers, many of whom are disenfranchised or marginalized from traditional political processes. For example, last cycle (2014-15), nearly a quarter of those who voted for a PB project reported they could not vote in regular elections. These community members work together with others in new ways, and are given the opportunity to exercise real decision making power over how public funds are spent. As the process continues to expand we look forward to seeing this community-driven civic engagement opportunity made available to an increasing number of New Yorkers,\u201d said Erin Markman, Research and Policy Coordinator, Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very excited as we begin the new Participatory Budgeting cycle,\u201d said Council Member Paul Vallone. \u201cParticipatory budgeting is a great way to get the pulse of the community and see what everyone believes city dollars and resources should be spent on. Last year\u2019s successful cycle, which garnered thousands of votes, shows the power and importance of this grassroots fueled process and I look forward to another great year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year was the first year for PB in the 34th District, and it was great to see so many residents get involved and excited about making positive changes in their community. I am really looking forward to starting round two, hearing more ideas, and funding more projects that help realize my community members\u2019 vision for where they live,\u201d said Council Member Antonio Reynoso.<\/p>\n

“It’s amazing to see Participatory Budgeting expand from our 4-district, $4 million pilot to 27 Council Districts and $35 million in just four years! Community Voices Heard is excited to have played a key role in getting PB off the ground in NYC and then helping to institutionalize it within the City Council. We applaud the Speaker and participating Council Members for their commitment to the process and for changing how governance is done in NYC. Now it’s up to the community to get involved and take advantage of the opportunity and engage! CVH’s looks forward to continuing to play our part in ensuring that the broad diversity of NYC is represented in this process,\u201d said Sondra Youdelman, Executive Director, Community Voices Heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter four cycles of Participatory Budgeting it\u2019s clear that residents of my district are enthusiastic about this opportunity for grassroots engagement and won\u2019t be running out of great project ideas any time soon. It has been an inspiring experience to see New Yorkers coming together to share their needs, aspirations and ideas and make decisions about how their government can better serve and invest in their communities. I am proud to increase my capital commitment to $1,500,000 for this cycle and I look forward to another year\u2019s worth of exciting projects,\u201d said Council Member Stephen Levin.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year over 2,000 residents voted in the Upper West Side\u2019s inaugural year of Participatory Budgeting. I look forward to starting a new round of PB and engaging even more residents on how to spend their taxpayer money,\u201d said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery member of our community deserves the opportunity to speak out and express their vision for our future. By allowing every member of our community, regardless of citizenship status or income, to vote in participatory budgeting we are empowering every member of our community to invest in our future. In order to better our school systems, make our streets safer, incentivize environmentally friendly habits, we must have every member of our community buy into, engage with, and work towards that vision,” said Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez. “With participatory budgeting, we give power to residents to develop, propose and implement the real community concerns they have yearned for.”<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting gives our communities a direct say on how the City spends public dollars and provides Council offices with an incredible tool for building relationships and engaging a broad range of constituents,\u201d said Council Member Ritchie Torres. \u201cI look forward to bringing PB back to Council District 15 for a second year and giving residents the opportunity to shape their neighborhoods through a truly democratic process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Council Member Costa Constantinides said, \u201cI am excited to bring Participatory Budgeting back to our district. The volunteer-driven program provides an extraordinary opportunity for all our residents to have a voice in our city\u2019s budget process. The process is inclusive and brings our community together. We are especially proud to allocate even more funding for this cycle to make it more engaging. I look forward to working with our neighborhood as we move forward with Participatory Budgeting activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I’m excited to take part in Participatory Budgeting for the third time. Offering constituents a chance to spend $1 million on projects they themselves choose is a rare opportunity I’m glad to take part in. We’re holding Participatory Budgeting assemblies now, and look forward to seeing which projects will be put up for a vote,\u201d said Council Member Ben Kallos.<\/p>\n

“Participatory Budgeting gives residents a chance to directly decide how to spend money to improve the district. Everyone has a chance to raise his or her voice and be an advocate for important projects,” said Council Member Mathieu Eugene. “It’s a pleasure to join the Participatory Budgeting process and I look forward to this community journey.” <\/p>\n

\u201cI am thrilled to be partaking in Participatory Budgeting for the 2015-2016 budget cycle. This innovative process will give my neighbors a direct voice in how their tax dollars are spent on projects that will address community needs. It is my hope that through this process, we will be able to give City residents more confidence in government and increase civic engagement. The more participation and higher turnout we have will ensure that our communities will benefit in the long run. I am looking forward hearing all of the terrific ideas that my neighbors will propose,\u201d said Council Member Andrew Cohen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m happy to fully embrace PB, which provides residents of my district with new opportunities to speak out and take leadership on issues they’re passionate about. The sharing and learning that is happening in every direction is so exciting,\u201d said Council Member Robert Cornegy.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory budgeting empowers local communities and strengthens the relationship between elected officials and the people they serve,\u201d said Councilman Eric Ulrich. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to this coming PB cycle and the new, exciting community projects it will bring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is an inclusive process that engages people from all walks of life to become involved in decisions that impact their neighborhoods. It’s an example of the kind of civic participation we need to create the transparent government we seek. For a second year in a row, I am excited to give my neighbors in the 7th District the chance to weigh in on how to spend $1 million of their own tax dollars,” said Council Member Mark Levine.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is civic engagement at its finest,\u201d said Council Member Donovan Richards. \u201cWe have had two great years in a row in District 31 and I can\u2019t wait to see what the Rockaway community comes up with next to help improve our neighborhood. I am also excited that the minimum age has been lowered to 12, so we can begin engaging students at an even younger age.\u201d<\/p>\n

2015-2016 Timeline:<\/p>\n

Neighborhood Assemblies: September – October 2015
\nAt public meetings in each district, community members learn about PB and discuss their community\u2019s needs. They then brainstorm project ideas and select budget delegates.<\/p>\n

Delegate Orientations: October 2015
\nVolunteer budget delegates learn about the budget process, project development, and key spending areas, then form committees.<\/p>\n

Delegate Meetings: October 2014 – December 2015
\nDelegates meet in committees to transform the community\u2019s initial project ideas into full proposals, with support from Council Member staff and other experts.<\/p>\n

Project Expos: February-March 2015
\nDelegates present draft project proposals to the community and get feedback, with which they revise the projects.<\/p>\n

Community Vote: March 2015
\nResidents vote on which projects to fund at voting sites throughout the district.<\/p>\n

Implementation & Monitoring: April 2015 onwards
\nThe Council Members submit their spending priorities to the City Council\u2019s Finance Division, including the winning PB projects, for inclusion in the City budget. Community members evaluate the process, and oversee the implementation of projects.<\/p>\n

In the 2014-2015 Participatory Budgeting cycle, approximately one in five ballots were cast in a language other than English. According to findings from the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center, of Participatory Budgeting voters surveyed:<\/p>\n

Nearly 60% identified as people of color
\nApproximately one in ten were under 18
\nNearly 30% reported an annual household income of $25,000 or below
\nMore than a quarter were born outside of the U.S.
\nNearly a quarter reported a barrier to voting in regular elections, with one in ten reporting they were not U.S. citizens
\n63% identified as female
\nNearly 20% had a high school diploma or less (of those 25 years old or older)
\nVoting in Participatory Budgeting is open to all residents of participating districts 14 years of age and older. Some districts may decide to lower the voting age to allow people under the age of 14 to vote. The sole identification requirement is proof of residency in the district, removing traditional obstacles to full civic participation, such as youth, income status, English-language proficiency and documentation status.<\/p>\n

To learn more about participatory budgeting in their communities, New Yorkers can visit the New York City Council Participatory Budgeting website at council.nyc.gov\/pb and interact with the campaign at: <\/p>\n

#PBNYC
\n@PB_NYC
\nFB: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PBNewYorkCity<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

27 districts will participate in upcoming cycle to designate over $30 million<\/em><\/p>\n

New York \u2014 Today, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and New York City Council Members launched New York City\u2019s 2015-2016 Participatory Budgeting cycle \u2014 the largest and fastest-growing Participatory Budgeting process in the United States. This year, New Yorkers in 27 Council Districts will collaboratively decide how to distribute over $30 million to local capital projects through a year-long process of neighborhood assemblies, delegate meetings, project expositions, and community voting.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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