The Participatory Budgeting (PB) vote has become one of the newer signs that spring has sprung. The seeds that planted this initiative in NYC 8 years ago show steady growth with more voters and districts participating each year. Plus the NYC voters approved citywide participatory budgeting in a landslide victory on the November 2018 ballot. The ballot measure, Ballot Proposal #2, created a Civic Engagement Commission to set up citywide Participatory Budgeting.
Meanwhile the results are in for Participatory Budgeting Cycle 8. Check out the new projects that will be coming your way in Districts 33 and 34!
District 33
Over 3600 voted in District 33’s Cycle 8 PB vote, and this was the first year Expense Projects were added to their ballot. The following are the winners in the North Brooklyn area.
Expense Projects
Make Steam/Automotive High School, 50 Bedford Avenue
Teaching Creativity with Digital Tools
$10,000 will go toward training for teachers to use 21st Century tools, design thinking, & project-based learning in our Public Schools
Williamsburgh Library, 240 Division Avenue
More Books for Williamsburgh Library
$5,000 has been allotted to purchase up to 200 more books for this library’s collection
Capital Projects
P.S. 31, 75 Meserole Avenue
New Smart Boards for P.S. 31
$225,000 will provide state of the art smart boards to upgrade the educational opportunities for these elementary school students.
Automotive High School, 50 Bedford Avenue
Make STEAM
$350,000 will increase creativity & opportunity for public school students by infusing the curriculum with cutting-edge skills & tools
I.S. 318, 101 Walton Street
Renovated Library for Better Learning
$250,000 will go toward new shelves and desks and making a better library for students to enjoy reading and studying.
Safer Pedestrian Crossings
Safety First around P.S. 380
$300,000 will provide shorter and safer crossings at 4 intersections: Wallabout Street, Lynch Street, Lorimer Street and Union Street.
District 34
1st Place: PS 414/Brooklyn Arbor, $270,000 for a 21st Century Technology Upgrade
2nd Place: Williamsburg Houses, $500k for a Playground Upgrade
3rd Place: More Street Trees for District 34, $500k
Council Member Antonio Reynoso also allotted $50k from his discretionary budget for playground upgrades and improvements at Concerned Citizens of Grove Street Garden.
Both districts applaud their collaboration with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams whose office gives $100k to each district’s PB. Also express fond gratitude to those community volunteers who donated their time whenever they could along Cycle 8’s process.
Cycle 9 begins in a couple of months. District 33 is ready to discuss your ideas for the next round of potential projects. You can submit your idea at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1CaTBYV_vWCymGdHSGQtzO5TO4n2gps5X_rvqs1EguGhGaw/viewform
The Greenline 