Participatory Budgeting Vote Results Are In

Councilman Brad Lander announced the results of the second year’s Participatory Budgeting vote — the culmination of a process that empowers New Yorkers to decide how tax dollars are spent on projects in their neighborhoods. More than 2,800 people cast their vote.

The 2013 winning projects — advertised, “How Would You Spend A Million Dollars?” — include technology upgrades and renovation of equipment at three schools, a “green corridor” of 10 new trees, improvements in traffic and pedestrian safety where Church Avenue intersects Coney Island and McDonald avenues, and upgrades to the Carroll Gardens Library.

“When I sat down to cast my ballot (yes, I vote too), it was not easy choosing five projects,” said Lander. “There were so many great ideas to improve our shared public spaces. I look forward to working with community members to continue pushing for some of the other projects that didn’t win enough votes for funding, but are clearly needed.”

Councilman David Greenfield’s district vote will be reported later this week. In all, residents from seven city council districts held participatory budgeting votes this weekend, up from four districts last year.

This article appeared in print on page D16 of the April 10th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.