{"id":3104,"date":"2026-04-10T12:28:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=3104"},"modified":"2026-04-10T12:29:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:29:19","slug":"speaker-julie-menin-council-members-encourage-new-yorkers-to-join-participatory-budgeting-vote-week-to-shape-22-million-in-capital-funding-for-community-improvements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2026\/04\/10\/3104\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaker Julie Menin, Council Members Encourage New Yorkers to Join Participatory Budgeting Vote Week to Shape $22 Million in Capital Funding for Community Improvements"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Saturday, April 11 through Sunday, April 19, New Yorkers ages 11 years old and up can vote online or in person at poll sites in 22 participating Council districts<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

NEW YORK, NY<\/strong> \u2013 Today, Speaker Julie Menin and the New York City Council kicked off Participatory Budgeting (PB) Vote Week, encouraging New Yorkers who are 11 years old and up to make their voices heard by voting for projects to improve their communities. From April 11 to April 19, New Yorkers can vote online<\/a> or in-person at voting sites in the 22 participating City Council districts to decide how $22 million in capital funding will be spent in the city\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 city budget. New Yorkers will be able to choose projects focused on improving neighborhood schools, parks, libraries, and other public spaces.  <\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting Vote Week is proof that the best ideas for our neighborhoods come from the people who live in them,\u201d said Speaker Julie Menin<\/strong>. \u201cWhen New Yorkers have a direct say in how public dollars are spent, we get a stronger, more responsive city. I encourage everyone in a participating district, including District 5, to cast their votes this week. To every New Yorker who has made participatory budgeting a priority, thank you for strengthening our civic democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, 22 districts across Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn are participating. The following list includes participating City Council Districts:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Council District<\/strong><\/td>\nBorough<\/strong><\/td>\nCouncil Member<\/strong><\/td>\nNeighborhoods<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nManhattan<\/td>\nCouncil Member Christopher Marte<\/td>\nFinancial District-Battery Park City, Tribeca-Civic Center, The Battery-Governors Island-Ellis Island-Liberty Island, SoHo-Little Italy-Hudson Square, Chinatown-Two Bridges, Lower East Side<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nManhattan<\/td>\nCouncil Member Harvey Epstein<\/td>\nGreenwich Village, Lower East Side, East Village, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Gramercy, Murray Hill-Kips Bay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nManhattan<\/td>\n <\/td>\nSoHo-Little Italy-Hudson Square, West Village, Chelsea-Hudson Yards, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Midtown-Times Square<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nManhattan<\/td>\nSpeaker Julie Menin<\/td>\nEast Midtown-Turtle Bay, United Nations, Upper East Side-Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nManhattan<\/td>\nCouncil Member Gale A. Brewer<\/td>\nHell’s Kitchen, Midtown-Times Square, Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Central Park<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nManhattan<\/td>\nMajority Leader Shaun Abreu<\/td>\nUpper West Side, Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights, Manhattanville-West Harlem, Hamilton Heights-Sugar Hill, Washington Heights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nManhattan\/Bronx<\/td>\nDeputy Whip Elsie Encarnaci\u00f3n<\/td>\nMott Haven-Port Morris, Melrose, Concourse-Concourse Village, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville, East Harlem, Randall’s Island<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nBronx<\/td>\nCouncil Member Kevin C. Riley<\/td>\nCo-op City, Pelham Gardens, Allerton, Williamsbridge-Olinville, Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester, Wakefield-Woodlawn, Pelham Bay Park<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nBronx<\/td>\nCouncil Member Pierina Ana Sanchez<\/td>\nUniversity Heights, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, Fordham Heights, Fordham, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge-Marble Hill<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nBronx<\/td>\nCouncil Member Althea Stevens<\/td>\nMorrisania, Claremont Village, Concourse-Concourse Village, Highbridge, Mount Eden, Yankee Stadium-Macombs Dam Park, Claremont Park, Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nBronx<\/td>\nCouncil Member Amanda Far\u00edas<\/td>\nSoundview-Bruckner, Clason Point, Castle Hill-Unionport, Harding Park, Parkchester, Westchester Square<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nQueens<\/td>\nCouncil Member Tiffany Caban<\/td>\nAstoria, Ditmars-Steinway, Hallets Point, Woodside, Dutch Kills, Rikers Island, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/td>\nQueens<\/td>\nCouncil Member Shekar Krishnan<\/td>\nJackson Heights, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Woodside<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nQueens<\/td>\nCouncil Member Julie Won<\/td>\nAstoria, Woodside, Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Long Island City, Hunters Point, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Maspeth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/td>\nQueens<\/td>\nDeputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams<\/td>\nJamaica, South Jamaica, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Jamaica<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/td>\nQueens<\/td>\nCouncil Member Lynn Schulman<\/td>\nRego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill, Ozone Park (North), South Ozone Park<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/td>\nBrooklyn\/Queens<\/td>\nCouncil Member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez<\/td>\nWilliamsburg, South Williamsburg, East Williamsburg, Bushwick, Ridgewood<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
35<\/td>\nBrooklyn<\/td>\nCouncil Member Crystal Hudson<\/td>\nDowntown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37<\/td>\nBrooklyn<\/td>\nCouncil Member Sandy Nurse<\/td>\nBushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York, City Line, Ocean Hill, Brownsville<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/td>\nBrooklyn<\/td>\nCouncil Member Shahana Hanif<\/td>\nDowntown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Red Hook, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, South Slope, Sunset Park, Prospect Heights, Borough Park, Kensington, Flatbush, Ditmas Park<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/td>\nBrooklyn<\/td>\nCouncil Member Rita Joseph<\/td>\nWindsor Terrace, South Slope, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate, Borough Park, Kensington, Mapleton-Midwood, Flatbush, Parkville, East Flatbush-Erasmus, East Flatbush-Rugby,<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45<\/td>\nBrooklyn<\/td>\nCouncil Member Farah Louis<\/td>\nFlatbush, Midwood, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Marine Park, Canarsie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

New Yorkers can call or contact their Council Member\u2019s office or check their social media pages to confirm the exact hours, locations, and times of neighborhood Participatory Budgeting poll sites. Council Member\u2019s District Offices will also be used as voting sites during the week.<\/p>\n

The Participatory Budgeting proposals on this year\u2019s 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 partnership with relevant city agencies and facilitated by participating Council Members\u2019 offices.<\/p>\n

2026 marks the 15th year that the New York City Council has hosted Participatory Budgeting since the initiative began in 2011. To read more about the Council\u2019s Participatory Budgeting initiative and past results, visit council.nyc.gov\/PB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is one of the clearest ways we bring people into the decisions that shape their neighborhoods,\u201d said Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams<\/strong>. \u201cIt gives residents a direct role in identifying needs, putting forward ideas, and seeing those ideas move toward real investment.  It creates a level of transparency and engagement that people can actually experience. It makes government more accessible and ensures that the priorities we fund are informed by the communities we serve. That\u2019s how we build a budget that reflects real needs and real input from New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is one of the most direct ways for New Yorkers to play an active role in shaping the future of our neighborhoods,\u201d said Majority Leader Shaun Abreu<\/strong>. \u201cFrom improving our parks and community gardens to upgrading libraries and school buildings, we can set big priorities together. I encourage everyone in Upper Manhattan to make their voices heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time when many people feel disconnected from government, Participatory Budgeting creates pathways for residents, especially young people, to have a real role in decision making,\u201d said Deputy Whip Elsie Encarnaci\u00f3n<\/strong>. \u201cI am proud to be part of this process because it is not just about voting, it is about building a stronger, more informed, and engaged community. This work is intentional and meaningful because it ensures taxpayers have a direct say in how public dollars are spent. At its core, PB is about making sure our communities are not just heard but are truly part of the decisions that impact their daily lives. Government works best when it is shaped by the people it serves, and I am committed to making sure your voice is part of that process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is one of the most impactful ways we advance equity and community-driven investment across our city,\u201d said Council Member Kevin C. Riley<\/strong>. \u201cBy opening the process to residents as young as 11, we are creating real pathways for civic engagement and ensuring our budget reflects lived experiences. This is how we build trust, strengthen communities, and deliver investments that truly matter. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to participate in Vote Week and help shape the future of their neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re honored to bring Participatory Budgeting back to District 25 for the fourth consecutive year, empowering residents to have a direct voice in public spending,\u201d said Council Member Shekar Krishnan<\/strong>. \u201cWith the cost of living becoming unaffordable for families in Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Woodside, projects like the ones we are voting on this year ensure our communities’ resources are stronger than they\u2019ve ever been. Last year, over 1,700 people in our district voted and decided to fund incredible classroom improvements\u2014 we are proud to participate in a program that ensures the people are heard in the budget process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is one of the most meaningful ways we can bring people directly into city government and give them a real voice in how public dollars are spent,\u201d said Council Member Christopher Marte<\/strong>. \u201cThis year, our office will allocate $1 million in capital funding through this process, putting District 1 residents in a position to help decide which community projects should move forward. From the Lower East Side and Chinatown to Tribeca, SoHo, FiDi, and Battery Park City, our neighbors consistently show up with smart, practical ideas to improve the places they rely on every day. I\u2019m proud to participate in this process again this year and encourage everyone eligible to cast a vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur budget reflects our values, and participatory budgeting is a democratic process that gives everyone a real say in how we spend public dollars,\u201d said Council Member Harvey Epstein<\/strong>. \u201cWe are allocating program funding to support nonprofits providing arts, culture, accessibility, and ecology-focused programming across the district. Participatory budgeting is an opportunity to invest in community-driven initiatives that serve residents across all socioeconomic backgrounds and reflect the true diversity of our neighborhoods. This year, my office is proud to pilot a new approach: funding nonprofit-led programs that are designed by and for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory budgeting is one of the most powerful tools we have to democratize local government\u2014giving everyday New Yorkers a direct say in how public dollars are spent, while helping our communities better understand how government works,\u201d said Council Member Pierina Sanchez<\/strong>. \u201cFor the fifth year in a row, residents of the Northwest Bronx will decide how to invest $1 million in our neighborhood. Each year, we are seeing more neighbors step up as leaders, bring forward ideas, and participate in the voting process. That growth is what real civic engagement looks like. I\u2019m excited for the votes to be cast and grateful to Speaker Julie Menin for continuing to expand this work and bring more New Yorkers into decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting Vote Week is more than a process; it\u2019s our community\u2019s power in action,\u201d said Council Member Althea Stevens<\/strong>. \u201cEvery vote is a voice, and every voice helps decide the future of our neighborhoods. I urge every resident to step up, speak through your vote, and invest in the projects that will shape our community for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Council Member who represents a historically overlooked and systemically underinvested region of the Bronx, it is paramount that we not only continue to offer critical services, programming and resources year ’round but also give the people a choice in what they want to allocate their tax dollars to. This is the fifth consecutive budget cycle that I have opted in to ensure that our youth, seniors, immigrants and working families in District 18 continue to be empowered through this participatory budgeting process,\u201d said Council Member Amanda Far\u00edas<\/strong>. \u201cThe projects on the ballot this year have the potential to bring much needed improvements to schools, community gardens, transportation hubs and public parks throughout our neighborhood; and I am so excited to see what my fellow Bronxites vote to have funded this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory budgeting is the most democratic of processes. Over $1 million, to be decided and distributed directly by the people,\u201d said Council Member Tiffany Cab\u00e1n<\/strong>. \u201cAt a time when the federal government is weakening our democracy and taking away vital funding from our communities, we can strengthen it locally through tools like participatory budgeting. I look forward to seeing how the community will continue to come together during vote week to decide which of these projects ultimately get funded.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re bringing Participatory Budgeting back for Cycle 15! Our ballot this year includes ten capital projects that focus on fire safety, community gardens, and school improvements for our students,\u201d said Council Member Julie Won<\/strong>. \u201cDuring vote week, anyone 11 years or older\u2014regardless of immigration status\u2014can vote in this process and decide how our community should spend $1 million. My team will be at voting sites throughout the district and we’re excited to help you cast your votes!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting gives residents a real voice in shaping the future of their neighborhoods,\u201d said Council Member Lynn Schulman<\/strong>. \u201cFrom improving our parks and schools to investing in street safety and community spaces, this process puts decision-making power directly in the hands of the people. I encourage everyone in District 29 to take part in Vote Week from April 11 through April 19 and help decide how our public dollars are spent \u2014 because the strongest communities are the ones where every voice is heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting has been a powerful tool for civic engagement in our community since the very beginning, and District 34 has consistently led the way,\u201d said Council Member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez<\/strong>. \u201cYear after year, our residents bring forward thoughtful ideas, show up in record numbers, and make their voices heard, and we\u2019ve seen some of the highest engagement and vote counts across the city. In my district, PB isn\u2019t just a program, it\u2019s part of our fabric. Our community knows how to show up and show out, and that\u2019s what makes this process so meaningful. I\u2019m encouraged by the continued energy and leadership from our residents, and I look forward to seeing how the community shapes this year\u2019s winning projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory Budgeting (PB) gives our communities real power to decide how $1 million in public dollars are spent,\u201d said Council Member Crystal Hudson<\/strong>. \u201cPB is a critical tool for making our government more responsive, transparent, and rooted in community priorities. I\u2019m proud to support this work each year and encourage every district resident age 11 and older to take part in vote week to help shape the future of our shared communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory budgeting shows people that their government works for them, but also that they can directly effect change in their communities,\u201d said Council Member Sandy Nurse<\/strong>. \u201cFrom our eldest seniors to youth across our schools, participatory budgeting activates our neighbors to help us decide how to spend $1 million. Now as I begin my second term as District 37\u2019s Council Member, I\u2019m proud to say that we\u2019re launching our fourth cycle this year, with nine projects across educational and environmental justice on the ballot, and I can\u2019t wait to see what our community decides.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipatory budgeting in District 39 is a powerful example of local democracy in action, with neighbors coming together to directly decide how public funds are spent,\u201d said Council Member Shahana Hanif<\/strong>. \u201cThis process helps ensure that investments reflect the real needs and priorities of our communities, while building transparency, trust, and civic engagement at the hyper-local level. As one of the first districts to pilot PB, we helped demonstrate what it looks like when everyday New Yorkers are trusted with real decision-making power.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

From Saturday, April 11 through Sunday, April 19, New Yorkers ages 11 years old and up can vote online or in person at poll sites in 22 participating Council districts<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

NEW YORK, NY<\/strong> \u2013 Today, Speaker Julie Menin and the New York City Council kicked off Participatory Budgeting (PB) Vote Week, encouraging New Yorkers who are 11 years old and up to make their voices heard by voting for projects to improve their communities.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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