Spanning 40 neighborhoods, participatory budgeting allows New Yorkers to directly decide how to allocate public funds <\/p>\n
City Hall \u2013 City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Members today released locations where New Yorkers can cast a ballot in the week-long 2014 Participatory Budgeting vote. Launched in 2011, with the goal of making budgeting decisions more transparent and to give New Yorkers a greater say in how their tax dollars are spent, Participatory Budgeting has grown to encompass 10 Council Districts, allowing New Yorkers to directly decide how allocate more than $10 million dollars for neighborhood projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipatory budgeting helps engage New Yorkers with the Council by empowering community residents to make decisions about how City funds are spent,\u201d said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have helped start this important initiative and encourage all New Yorkers in participating districts to cast their ballots for the projects they would like to see funded in the year ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last fall, residents in Speaker Mark-Viverito, Council Member Weprin, Council Member Richards, Council Member Ulrich, Council Member Menchaca, Council Member Greenfield, Council Levin, Council Member Williams and Council Member Lander\u2019s districts attended neighborhood town halls to identify community priorities and develop project proposals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to see so many of our colleagues joining in this practice of revolutionary civics in action, and am humbled by the participation of thousands of my constituents in the PB process as creative, thoughtful, and engaged stewards of our public realm,\u201d said Council Member Brad Lander.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipatory Budgeting is a unique opportunity to have a say in the future of our community and it has been great to see so many people get involved,\u201d said Council Member Levin. \u201cThe projects that have been proposed by community members will have a real impact on the lives of residents and are generating a lot of excitement. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how many votes are cast by the end of the week and to see what projects are our winning vote-getters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Participatory Budgeting, my office was able to engage the community on a more personal level,\u201d said Council Member Richards. \u201cIt was great to see neighbors reaching out to neighbors in an effort to improve the community. The process has been nothing but positive for the 31st Council district and I look forward to continuing this work next year!\u201d<\/p>\n
The projects that have received funding in the past reflect the broad needs of communities across the City and enable neighborhoods to devote resources where they are needed most. A full list of project proposals and sample ballots can be viewed www.pbnyc.org. <\/p>\n
“Nobody knows their block or neighborhood like the residents who live there, so it only makes sense to give the public more say over the city budget,\u201d said Council Member David Greenfield. \u201cThat’s why I am proud to once again bring this great experiment in open government to the residents of my district and really give them a voice in how their tax dollars are reinvested in our community. This is a great way to get involved, so I urge everyone to take advantage of this unique opportunity and cast their ballot for their favorite projects.”<\/p>\n
\u201cI was proud to be the first elected official from Queens to give my constituents a real say in how their money is being spent,\u201d said Council Member Eric Ulrich. \u201cToday, I\u2019m joined by nine of my colleagues throughout the five boroughs. This is a great chance for anyone who wants to have a voice in the decision-making process or has an idea for a project that would benefit the community to step up and get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipatory budgeting has proven to be a tremendous success in engaging and empowering local residents. I encourage everyone who is eligible to vote this week to do so,\u201d said Council Member Mark Weprin.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been truly inspiring to watch the 38th District community engage in their first inaugural year of participatory budgeting,\u201d said Council Member Carlos Menchaca. \u201cMy hope is that everyone feels welcomed as we open the doors to our city government budget. The goals are simple: empower people to craft and make decisions to spend public funds for community projects and advocate for more accountability, equity and inclusion throughout other functions of city government. <\/p>\n
“As one of the first Council Members to implement Participatory Budgeting, I\u2019m glad that, once again, residents can go to a voting booth this week and cast their votes on the projects that they think deserve city funding,\u201d said Council Member Jumaane D. Williams. \u201cThey have a direct say in the expenditure of one-million dollars, and I know that residents appreciate being able to give their input at their neighborhood assemblies and at the voting booth. The most important thing I do as a Council Member is to help pass a 70 billion dollar budget in the city council, however, it\u2019s often the thing that the public is given the least amount of information about. Participatory Budgeting allows them to be a part of the process.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipatory budgeting empowers residents directly to make decisions about how at least a million dollars gets spent in their neighborhoods,\u201d said Council Member Ben Kallos. \u201cVoting on how their tax dollars get spent allows people to support neighborhood infrastructure such as parks, schools and public housing for up to $500,000. Individuals should have a say in the decisions that affect their families, their streets and their daily lives.”<\/p>\n
“Participatory Budgeting is an exciting new wave of democracy. It gives ordinary people power to make real decisions over public money for concrete projects needed in their communities,\u201d said Sondra Youdelman, Executive Director, Community Voices Heard, Lead Community Engagement Partner for Participatory Budgeting NYC, Co-Chair of the Citywide Steering Committee. \u201cIt’s exciting to see new constituencies long alienated from our political process – low-income families, immigrants (both documented and undocumented), youth, and the formerly incarcerated – energized by what a democracy can look like that includes them.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWith tens of thousands of people engaged in PBNYC, this is by far the largest participatory budgeting process in North America,\u201d said Pam Jennings, Project Coordinator, The Participatory Budgeting Project. \u201cThe process would not be possible without the hundreds of amazing volunteers and dedicated city staff that make it tick. We are thrilled that PBNYC will double in size and impact in 2014, and that it has inspired the White House to lift up participatory budgeting as a best practice in civic engagement.<\/p>\n
Until April 6, district residents 16 years of age or older can cast votes for up to five projects at the following locations:<\/p>\n
District 5, Ben Kallos: (Midtown East, Upper East Side, El Barrio, Roosevelt Island)<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 2nd, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
\n92nd Street Y
\n1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128
\nThursday, April 3rd, 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
\nLenox Neighborhood Houses (basement)
\n1773 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10029
\nFriday, April 4th, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
\nCarl Schurz Park
\nEast 86th Street & East End Ave, New York, NY 10028
\nSaturday, April 5th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
\nStanley Isaacs Senior Center, Room 6
\n1700 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128<\/p>\n
District 8, Melissa Mark-Viverito:
\n(East Harlem\/El Barrio and Mott Haven in the Bronx)
\nCouncil Speaker Mark-Viverito’s District Office (Through April 6)
\n105 E. 116th Street, New York
\n11am-5pm<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 2nd:
\nCommunity Voices Heard (CVH), 115 E. 106th Street, New York
\n11am – 5pm
\nSCAN La Guardia, 307 E. 116th Street, New York
\n4-8pm
\nMercy Center, 377 E. 145th Street, Bronx
\n3pm-7pm
\nMott Haven Community Center, 375 E. 143rd St, Bronx
\n8am-12pm
\nMillbrook Houses, 201 St. Ann’s Ave, Bronx
\n5:30pm-8pm<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 3rd:
\nUnion Settlement, 237 E. 104th Street, New York
\n8:30am-1pm
\nMercy Center, 377 E. 145th Street, Bronx
\n9am-1pm
\nHighbridge Life Center, 979 Ogden Ave, Bronx
\n10am-2pm
\nAbraham House, 340 Willis Ave., Bronx
\n10am- 2pm<\/p>\n
Friday, April 4th:
\nMillbrook Houses, 201 St. Ann’s Ave, Bronx
\n9am – 1pm
\nCorsi Senior Center, 307 E.116th St., New York
\n9am -1pm<\/p>\n
Saturday, April 5th , 9:30am – 2:30pm
\nAbraham House in the Bronx
\n340 Willis Ave, New York 10454<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 6th , 12:00pm – 5:00pm
\nSCAN LaGuardia in East Harlem
\n307 East 116th St, New York<\/p>\n
District 23, Mark S. Weprin (Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Queens Village, Glen Oaks, Douglaston, Bayside, Hollis):<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 2:
\nCouncil Member Weprin’s District Office (Through Friday)
\n73-03 Bell Boulevard, Queens 10 AM-6 PM
\nGlen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike 2:30 PM- 6:30 PM
\nNorth Shore Towers 272-48 Grand Central Parkway 11 AM-3PM<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 3, 2014:
\nDistrict Office 73-03 Bell Boulevard 10 AM-6PM
\nHilltop Village Co-op 87-15 204th Street, The Dover Building Basement 4 PM – 8 PM North Hills Branch Library 57-04 Marathon Parkway 2 PM – 6PM<\/p>\n
Friday, April 4, 2014:
\nDistrict Office, 73-03 Bell Boulevard 10 AM – 6 PM
\nBayside Senior Center 221-15 Horace Harding Expressway 10 AM – 2PM
\nRed Mango 61-47 188th Street 3 PM – 6 PM <\/p>\n
Saturday, April 5, 2014:
\nCross Island Y 238-10 Hillside Avenue 11 AM – 3 PM<\/p>\n
District 31, Donovan Richards (Arverne, Far Rockaway, Bayswater, Edgemere)<\/p>\n
Far Rockaway Library
\n1637 Central Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
\nThrough Friday, April 4th, 11am – 1pm and 4pm – 7pm
\nSaturday, April 5th, 10:00am – 5:30pm<\/p>\n
Far Rockaway High School (Far Rockaway Educational Campus)
\n8-21 Bay 25th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
\nWednesday, April 2nd and Thursday, April 33rd 10am – 1pm (students only)<\/p>\n
Council Member Richards\u2019 Rockaway Office
\n1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 406, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
\nThrough Friday, April 4th, 9am – 5pm<\/p>\n
District 32, Eric Ulrich (Rockaway Beach, Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Neponsit, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Woodhaven)
\nCouncilman Eric Ulrich\u2019s Office, 93-06 101st Avenue, Ozone Park, NY 11416
\nThrough Friday, 9am-5pm
\nSaturday, 10am-1pm<\/p>\n
Woodhaven Residents Block Association Office, 84-20 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven
\nThrough Thursday – 4 PM – 8 PM
\nFriday and Saturday – 10 AM – 4 PM<\/p>\n
Richmond Hill Block Association, 110-08 Jamaica Ave, Richmond Hill, NY
\nFriday- 12pm-5pm<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 2, 2014 7:00 AM-4:00 PM
\nRockaway Park Office
\n7:00 PM-9:00 PM Colony Theater in Breezy Point
\n500 Bayside Avenue at NYC Build it Back Meeting<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 3, 2014
\n9:00 AM-9:00 PM Rockaway Park Office
\n7:00-9:00 PM Rockaway Knights of Columbus 333 Beach 90th Street<\/p>\n
Friday, April 4, 2014
\n9:00 AM-5:00 PM Rockaway Park Office<\/p>\n
Saturday, April 5, 2014
\n10:00 AM-3:00 PM Rockaway Park Office<\/p>\n
District 33, Stephen Levin (Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights)<\/p>\n
April 2nd
\n10AM \u2013 6PM
\nGreenpoint Library
\n107 Norman Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
Councilmember Levin\u2019s District Office
\n410 Atlantic Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11217<\/p>\n
April 2nd
\n9AM \u2013 3PM
\nCadman Towers
\n101 Clark Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11201
\nApril 2nd
\n8AM \u2013 9:30AM
\nPS 110
\n124 Monitor Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
April 2nd
\n2PM \u2013 7PM
\nOpportunities for a Better Tomorrow
\n25 Thornton Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11206<\/p>\n
April 3rd
\n1PM \u2013 8PM
\nGreenpoint Library
\n107 Norman Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222
\nApril 3rd
\n10AM \u2013 6PM
\nCouncilmember Levin\u2019s District Office
\n410 Atlantic Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11217<\/p>\n
April 3rd
\n9AM \u2013 3PM
\nCadman Towers
\n101 Clark Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11201<\/p>\n
April 3rd
\n8AM \u2013 9:30AM \/ 2PM \u2013 7:30PM
\nPS 110
\n124 Monitor Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
April 4th
\n9AM \u2013 3PM
\nCadman Towers
\n101 Clark Street<\/p>\n
April 4th
\n8AM \u2013 10AM
\nPS 8
\n37 Hicks Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11201<\/p>\n
PS 16
\n157 Wilson Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11211<\/p>\n
April 4th
\n10AM \u2013 6PM
\nGreenpoint Library
\n107 Norman Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
Council Member Levin\u2019s District Office
\n410 Atlantic Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11217<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n10AM \u2013 4PM
\nBerry Street Houses
\n71 South 10th Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11249<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n12PM – 5PM
\nGowanus Houses
\n420 Baltic Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11217<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n10AM \u2013 5PM
\nBK Flea
\nKent Avenue at North 7th
\nBrooklyn, NY 11249<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n9AM \u2013 1PM
\nPS 16
\n157 Wilson Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11211<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n8AM \u2013 2PM
\nMcCarren Farmer\u2019s Market
\nUnion Avenue & Driggs Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n10AM \u2013 5PM
\nGreenpoint Library
\n107 Norman Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
April 6th
\n12PM \u2013 5PM
\nWyckoff Gardens
\n280 Wyckoff Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11217<\/p>\n
April 6th
\n12PM \u2013 5PM
\nIndependence Towers
\n114 Taylor Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11249<\/p>\n
April 6th
\n11AM \u2013 4PM
\nMcGorlick Farmer\u2019s Market
\n129 Russell Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11222<\/p>\n
District 38, Carlos Menchaca (Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood & parts of South Slope, Borough Park, Gowanus)<\/p>\n
Through April 6th
\n8AM \u2013 7PM
\nCouncil Member Menchaca\u2019s Office
\n5601 5th Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
April 2nd
\n3PM \u2013 7PM
\nOpportunities for a Better Tomorrow
\n783 4th Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11232<\/p>\n
April 2nd
\n9AM \u2013 2PM
\nFamily Support Center
\n6025 6th Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
April 3rd
\n3PM \u2013 7PM
\nMiccio Center
\n110 West 9th Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11231<\/p>\n
April 3rd
\n1PM \u2013 6PM
\nTurning Point
\n5220 4th Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
April 4th
\n3PM \u2013 7PM
\nOutside HSBC
\n8th Avenue & 61st Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n12PM -5PM
\nSunset Park Library
\n5108 4th Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
Red Hook Initiatives
\n767 Hicks Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11231
\nSunset Park Recreation Center
\n7th Avenue & 43rd Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11232<\/p>\n
April 6th
\n12PM \u2013 5PM
\nCouncil Member Menchaca\u2019s Office
\n5601 5th Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
Red Hook Initiatives
\n767 Hicks Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11231<\/p>\n
N Train Station \u2013 8th Avenue Stop
\n8th Avenue & 61st Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
District 39, Brad Lander (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, parts of Borough Park)
\nThrough April 3rd
\n7:30AM \u2013 8PM
\nCouncilmember Lander\u2019s District Office
\n456 5th Avenue
\n3rd Floor
\nBrooklyn, NY<\/p>\n
April 5th
\n10AM \u2013 7PM
\nCarroll Gardens Library
\n396 Clinton Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 10002<\/p>\n
Old Stone House
\n336 3rd Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11215<\/p>\n
PS 230 Lower School
\n425 McDonald Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11218<\/p>\n
April 6th
\n10AM \u2013 5PM
\nCarroll Park House
\nBeth Jacob Day Care
\n1371 46th Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11220<\/p>\n
Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace
\n1224 Prospect Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11218<\/p>\n
Park Slope Armory YMCA
\n361 15th Street
\nBrooklyn, NY 11215<\/p>\n
District 44, David Greenfield (Borough Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst)
\nCouncilman Greenfield\u2019s District Office
\n4424 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204
\nThrough Wednesday, 9am \u2013 6pm
\nThursday, 9am \u2013 9pm
\nFriday, 9am \u2013 4pm<\/p>\n
Community Board 12
\n5910 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219
\nThrough Thursday, 9am \u2013 5pm
\nFriday, 9am \u2013 4pm<\/p>\n
Community Board 11
\n2214, Bath Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214
\nThrough Friday, 9am \u2013 5pm<\/p>\n
Midwood Development Corp
\n416 Avenue M Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11230
\nThrough Thursday, 9am \u2013 5pm
\nFriday, 9am \u2013 2pm<\/p>\n
Borough Park Jewish Community Council
\n4912 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219<\/p>\n
In addition, voting will be held at the four Brooklyn Public Library locations serving the district:
\n\u2022 Midwood Branch (975 E. 16th Street) \u2013 Tuesday 1:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
\n\u2022 Ryder Branch (5902 23rd Avenue) \u2013 Friday 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
\n\u2022 Kensington Branch (4207 18th Avenue) \u2013 Wednesday 1-4 p.m.<\/p>\n
District 45, Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, parts of Midwood)<\/p>\n
March 31st \u2013 April 4th
\n11AM \u2013 7PM
\nCouncil Member William\u2019s Office
\n4517 Avenue D
\nBrooklyn, NY 11203<\/p>\n
March 29th \u2013 April 6th
\n12AM \u2013 7PM
\nFlatbush Gardens
\nMailing Room Area
\nBrooklyn, NY 11210<\/p>\n
March 31st \u2013 April 4th
\n10AM \u2013 4PM
\nGlenwood Senior Center
\n5701 Avenue H
\nBrooklyn, NY 11234
\nMarch 29th and April 5th
\n11AM \u2013 6PM
\nTilden High School
\n5800 Tilden Ave
\nBrooklyn, NY 11203<\/p>\n
March 31st \u2013 April 4th
\n7:30 AM to 3:30AM
\nPS. 208
\n4801 Avenue D
\nBrooklyn, NY 11203<\/p>\n
March 29th \u2013 April 6th
\n12AM \u2013 6PM
\nVanderveer Park Methodist Church
\n3114 Glenwood Road
\nBrooklyn, NY 11210<\/p>\n
March 31st \u2013 April 4th
\n8AM \u2013 4PM
\nMidwood Senior Center
\n4815 Avenue I
\nBrooklyn, NY 11234<\/p>\n
March 31st \u2013 April 4th
\n10AM \u2013 5PM
\nRugby Public Library
\n1000 Utica Avenue
\nBrooklyn, NY 11203<\/p>\n
##<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spanning 40 neighborhoods, participatory budgeting allows New Yorkers to directly decide how to allocate public funds <\/p>\n
City Hall \u2013 City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Members today released locations where New Yorkers can cast a ballot in the week-long 2014 Participatory Budgeting vote. Launched in 2011, with the goal of making budgeting decisions more transparent and to give New Yorkers a greater say in how their tax dollars are spent, Participatory Budgeting has grown to encompass 10 Council Districts, allowing New Yorkers to directly decide how allocate more than $10 million dollars for neighborhood projects.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n