New York City is experiencing a new kind of democracy. Through Participatory Budgeting, residents of eight Council Districts are directly deciding how to spend at least $10 million of public money. From September 2012 to April 2013, community members are exchanging ideas, working together to turn ideas into project proposals, and voting to decide what proposals get funded.
To all who voted or attended a project expo, came to an assembly or facilitated a meeting, made phone calls or door-knocked, proposed a project idea or developed one as a budget delegate--to all the participants in and organizers of this year's PBNYC process--congratulations and thank you for another year of making democracy work! We'll see you again at an assembly in September!
And if you weren't able to participate this year because your Council District isn't part of PBNYC, now is the time to organize for Participatory Budgeting in your community! Contact your Council Member or the candidates running for your district's City Council seat, and ask them if they will launch Participatory Budgeting in your district.
The PBNYC ballots are finalized - with the complete lists of projects for the vote! See the sample ballots below:
District 8 Ballot (Melissa Mark-Viverito, Manhattan/Bronx)
District 32 Ballot (Eric Ulrich, Queens)
District 39 Ballot (Brad Lander, Brooklyn)
District 45 Ballot (Jumaane Williams, Brooklyn).