Spanning 40 neighborhoods, participatory budgeting allows New Yorkers to directly decide how to allocate public funds City Hall – 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.“Participatory budgeting helps engage New Yorkers with the Council by empowering community residents to make decisions about how City funds are spent,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I’m 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.”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’s districts attended neighborhood town halls to identify community priorities and develop project proposals.“I’m 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,” said Council Member Brad Lander.“Participatory 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,” said Council Member Levin. “The 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’m 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.”“With Participatory Budgeting, my office was able to engage the community on a more personal level,” said Council Member Richards. “It 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!”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. “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,” said Council Member David Greenfield. “That’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.”“I was proud to be the first elected official from Queens to give my constituents a real say in how their money is being spent,” said Council Member Eric Ulrich. “Today, I’m 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.”“Participatory 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,” said Council Member Mark Weprin.“It has been truly inspiring to watch the 38th District community engage in their first inaugural year of participatory budgeting,” said Council Member Carlos Menchaca. “My 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. “As one of the first Council Members to implement Participatory Budgeting, I’m 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,” said Council Member Jumaane D. Williams. “They 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’s 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.”“Participatory budgeting empowers residents directly to make decisions about how at least a million dollars gets spent in their neighborhoods,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “Voting 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.”“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,” said Sondra Youdelman, Executive Director, Community Voices Heard, Lead Community Engagement Partner for Participatory Budgeting NYC, Co-Chair of the Citywide Steering Committee. “It’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.”“With tens of thousands of people engaged in PBNYC, this is by far the largest participatory budgeting process in North America,” said Pam Jennings, Project Coordinator, The Participatory Budgeting Project. “The 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.Until April 6, district residents 16 years of age or older can cast votes for up to five projects at the following locations:District 5, Ben Kallos: (Midtown East, Upper East Side, El Barrio, Roosevelt Island)Wednesday, April 2nd, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM92nd Street Y1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128Thursday, April 3rd, 12:00 PM – 7:00 PMLenox Neighborhood Houses (basement)1773 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10029Friday, April 4th, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PMCarl Schurz ParkEast 86th Street & East End Ave, New York, NY 10028Saturday, April 5th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PMStanley Isaacs Senior Center, Room 61700 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128District 8, Melissa Mark-Viverito:(East Harlem/El Barrio and Mott Haven in the Bronx)Council Speaker Mark-Viverito’s District Office (Through April 6)105 E. 116th Street, New York11am-5pmWednesday, April 2nd:Community Voices Heard (CVH), 115 E. 106th Street, New York11am – 5pmSCAN La Guardia, 307 E. 116th Street, New York4-8pmMercy Center, 377 E. 145th Street, Bronx3pm-7pmMott Haven Community Center, 375 E. 143rd St, Bronx8am-12pmMillbrook Houses, 201 St. Ann’s Ave, Bronx5:30pm-8pmThursday, April 3rd:Union Settlement, 237 E. 104th Street, New York8:30am-1pmMercy Center, 377 E. 145th Street, Bronx9am-1pmHighbridge Life Center, 979 Ogden Ave, Bronx10am-2pmAbraham House, 340 Willis Ave., Bronx10am- 2pmFriday, April 4th:Millbrook Houses, 201 St. Ann’s Ave, Bronx9am – 1pmCorsi Senior Center, 307 E.116th St., New York9am -1pmSaturday, April 5th , 9:30am – 2:30pmAbraham House in the Bronx340 Willis Ave, New York 10454Sunday, April 6th , 12:00pm – 5:00pmSCAN LaGuardia in East Harlem307 East 116th St, New YorkDistrict 23, Mark S. Weprin (Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Queens Village, Glen Oaks, Douglaston, Bayside, Hollis):Wednesday, April 2:Council Member Weprin’s District Office (Through Friday)73-03 Bell Boulevard, Queens 10 AM-6 PMGlen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike 2:30 PM- 6:30 PMNorth Shore Towers 272-48 Grand Central Parkway 11 AM-3PMThursday, April 3, 2014:District Office 73-03 Bell Boulevard 10 AM-6PMHilltop 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 – 6PMFriday, April 4, 2014:District Office, 73-03 Bell Boulevard 10 AM – 6 PMBayside Senior Center 221-15 Horace Harding Expressway 10 AM – 2PMRed Mango 61-47 188th Street 3 PM – 6 PM Saturday, April 5, 2014:Cross Island Y 238-10 Hillside Avenue 11 AM – 3 PMDistrict 31, Donovan Richards (Arverne, Far Rockaway, Bayswater, Edgemere)Far Rockaway Library1637 Central Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691Through Friday, April 4th, 11am – 1pm and 4pm – 7pmSaturday, April 5th, 10:00am – 5:30pmFar Rockaway High School (Far Rockaway Educational Campus)8-21 Bay 25th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691Wednesday, April 2nd and Thursday, April 33rd 10am – 1pm (students only)Council Member Richards’ Rockaway Office1931 Mott Avenue, Suite 406, Far Rockaway, NY 11691Through Friday, April 4th, 9am – 5pmDistrict 32, Eric Ulrich (Rockaway Beach, Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Neponsit, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Woodhaven)Councilman Eric Ulrich’s Office, 93-06 101st Avenue, Ozone Park, NY 11416Through Friday, 9am-5pmSaturday, 10am-1pmWoodhaven Residents Block Association Office, 84-20 Jamaica Avenue, WoodhavenThrough Thursday – 4 PM – 8 PMFriday and Saturday – 10 AM – 4 PMRichmond Hill Block Association, 110-08 Jamaica Ave, Richmond Hill, NYFriday- 12pm-5pmWednesday, April 2, 2014
7:00 AM-4:00 PMRockaway Park Office7:00 PM-9:00 PM Colony Theater in Breezy Point500 Bayside Avenue at NYC Build it Back MeetingThursday, April 3, 20149:00 AM-9:00 PM
Rockaway Park Office7:00-9:00 PM
Rockaway Knights of Columbus 333 Beach 90th StreetFriday, April 4, 20149:00 AM-5:00 PM
Rockaway Park OfficeSaturday, April 5, 201410:00 AM-3:00 PM
Rockaway Park OfficeDistrict 33, Stephen Levin (Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights)April 2nd10AM – 6PMGreenpoint Library107 Norman AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11222Councilmember Levin’s District Office410 Atlantic AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11217April 2nd9AM – 3PMCadman Towers101 Clark StreetBrooklyn, NY 11201April 2nd8AM – 9:30AMPS 110124 Monitor StreetBrooklyn, NY 11222April 2nd2PM – 7PMOpportunities for a Better Tomorrow25 Thornton StreetBrooklyn, NY 11206April 3rd1PM – 8PMGreenpoint Library107 Norman AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11222April 3rd10AM – 6PMCouncilmember Levin’s District Office410 Atlantic AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11217April 3rd9AM – 3PMCadman Towers101 Clark StreetBrooklyn, NY 11201April 3rd8AM – 9:30AM / 2PM – 7:30PMPS 110124 Monitor StreetBrooklyn, NY 11222April 4th9AM – 3PMCadman Towers101 Clark StreetApril 4th8AM – 10AMPS 837 Hicks StreetBrooklyn, NY 11201PS 16157 Wilson StreetBrooklyn, NY 11211April 4th10AM – 6PMGreenpoint Library107 Norman AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11222Council Member Levin’s District Office410 Atlantic AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11217April 5th10AM – 4PMBerry Street Houses71 South 10th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11249April 5th12PM – 5PMGowanus Houses420 Baltic StreetBrooklyn, NY 11217April 5th10AM – 5PMBK FleaKent Avenue at North 7thBrooklyn, NY 11249April 5th9AM – 1PMPS 16157 Wilson StreetBrooklyn, NY 11211April 5th8AM – 2PMMcCarren Farmer’s MarketUnion Avenue & Driggs AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11222April 5th10AM – 5PMGreenpoint Library107 Norman AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11222April 6th12PM – 5PMWyckoff Gardens280 Wyckoff StreetBrooklyn, NY 11217April 6th12PM – 5PMIndependence Towers114 Taylor StreetBrooklyn, NY 11249April 6th11AM – 4PMMcGorlick Farmer’s Market129 Russell StreetBrooklyn, NY 11222District 38, Carlos Menchaca (Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood & parts of South Slope, Borough Park, Gowanus)Through April 6th8AM – 7PMCouncil Member Menchaca’s Office5601 5th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11220April 2nd3PM – 7PMOpportunities for a Better Tomorrow783 4th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11232April 2nd9AM – 2PMFamily Support Center6025 6th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11220April 3rd3PM – 7PMMiccio Center110 West 9th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11231April 3rd1PM – 6PMTurning Point5220 4th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11220April 4th3PM – 7PMOutside HSBC8th Avenue & 61st StreetBrooklyn, NY 11220April 5th12PM -5PMSunset Park Library5108 4th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11220Red Hook Initiatives767 Hicks StreetBrooklyn, NY 11231Sunset Park Recreation Center7th Avenue & 43rd StreetBrooklyn, NY 11232April 6th12PM – 5PMCouncil Member Menchaca’s Office5601 5th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11220Red Hook Initiatives767 Hicks StreetBrooklyn, NY 11231N Train Station – 8th Avenue Stop8th Avenue & 61st StreetBrooklyn, NY 11220District 39, Brad Lander (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, parts of Borough Park)Through April 3rd7:30AM – 8PMCouncilmember Lander’s District Office456 5th Avenue3rd FloorBrooklyn, NYApril 5th10AM – 7PMCarroll Gardens Library396 Clinton StreetBrooklyn, NY 10002Old Stone House336 3rd StreetBrooklyn, NY 11215PS 230 Lower School425 McDonald AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11218April 6th10AM – 5PMCarroll Park HouseBeth Jacob Day Care1371 46th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11220Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace1224 Prospect AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11218Park Slope Armory YMCA361 15th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11215District 44, David Greenfield (Borough Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst)Councilman Greenfield’s District Office4424 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204Through Wednesday, 9am – 6pmThursday, 9am – 9pmFriday, 9am – 4pmCommunity Board 125910 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219Through Thursday, 9am – 5pmFriday, 9am – 4pmCommunity Board 112214, Bath Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214Through Friday, 9am – 5pmMidwood Development Corp416 Avenue M Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11230Through Thursday, 9am – 5pmFriday, 9am – 2pmBorough Park Jewish Community Council4912 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219In addition, voting will be held at the four Brooklyn Public Library locations serving the district:• Midwood Branch (975 E. 16th Street) – Tuesday 1:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.• Ryder Branch (5902 23rd Avenue) – Friday 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.• Kensington Branch (4207 18th Avenue) – Wednesday 1-4 p.m.District 45, Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, parts of Midwood)March 31st – April 4th11AM – 7PMCouncil Member William’s Office4517 Avenue DBrooklyn, NY 11203March 29th – April 6th12AM – 7PMFlatbush GardensMailing Room AreaBrooklyn, NY 11210March 31st – April 4th10AM – 4PMGlenwood Senior Center5701 Avenue HBrooklyn, NY 11234March 29th and April 5th11AM – 6PMTilden High School5800 Tilden AveBrooklyn, NY 11203March 31st – April 4th7:30 AM to 3:30AMPS. 2084801 Avenue DBrooklyn, NY 11203March 29th – April 6th12AM – 6PMVanderveer Park Methodist Church3114 Glenwood RoadBrooklyn, NY 11210March 31st – April 4th8AM – 4PMMidwood Senior Center4815 Avenue IBrooklyn, NY 11234March 31st – April 4th10AM – 5PMRugby Public Library1000 Utica AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11203##