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By Elena Hardy

Residents of District 7, which covers Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, and Hamilton Heights, are joining New York City’s annual participatory budgeting process, through which community members can provide direct input on public spending. Community members throughout the city must submit their final votes by Friday for budget allocations.

This year marks the city’s 13th cycle of participatory budgeting. During the cycle, civilians vote on how $1 million, set aside by the City Council, should be spent. A live map on the City Council website shares comments made by residents from all five boroughs of the city. After Friday, public submissions will be closed and budget delegation will begin, continuing throughout the winter.

Milo Gringlas, director of communications and public engagement for District 7 City Council member Shaun Abreu, CC ’14, said the process ensures that all voices are heard.

“Participatory budgeting, it’s really democratizing the people’s money and giving people real control over real money,” Gringlas said. “It’s an incredible process that grows civic engagement throughout the community. Anyone from 11 years old … can participate, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status.”