Public Invited to View, Vote on Participatory Budgeting Projects

The opinions of Boro Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst residents are welcome in the next stage of the participatory budgeting initiative in the 44th Council District. All citizens 16 and older are eligible to vote on how $1 million in government funds may be spent on neighborhood projects.

Residents can get involved in this exciting experiment in open government by attending an expo on Wednesday, February 27, at P.S. 205, 6701 20th Avenue, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to learn more about each project that will appear on the final ballot in April.

Over the past few months, volunteer delegates from the community have been reviewing the neighborhood improvement projects submitted by residents. The review involves cost estimates for the project and checking to make sure that it is feasible and allowed under New York City’s regulations and restrictions for public funding.

At Wednesday’s project expo, residents can view informational displays and provide input on ways to revise and improve the ideas before the final vote, which will take place at locations around the district during the first week of April. All eligible district residents are urged to attend and to vote later this spring.

In all, Councilman David Greenfield has allocated $1 million in next year’s city budget to fund the top project selected from each of the district’s three neighborhoods. This exciting experiment in open government ensures that each area will get a portion of the district benefits.

“It has been very exciting to hear all of the residents’ creative and insightful ideas over the past few months to improve their block or neighborhood. … I hope that many residents will take advantage of this unique opportunity to decide exactly how capital funds are spent here in the 44th Council District,” said Councilman Greenfield.

Some of the projects that have been suggested by residents and will be on the final ballot include the resurfacing of various streets that are in great need of repair, installing security cameras at schools, houses of worship and other vulnerable sites, adding pedestrian countdown clocks to dangerous intersections, and implementing traffic-calming measures near a public school.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the February 22nd, 2013 edition of Hamodia.