District 33 and 34 announces idea planning workshops and idea map is LIVE!
Updated 10.31.23 to include NYC Council District 33 information.
NYC Council Members Lincoln Restler (NYC Council District 33) and Jennifer Gutiérrez (NYC Council District 34) announced that their districts are ready to brainstorm for the Cycle 13 of Participatory Budgeting, the process that allows community members to decide how to spend up to $1M of public funds. Ideas can be submitted online or at one of the district’s in-person events.
NYC Council District 33 is partnering with John Ericsson Middle School in Greenpoint and John Wayne Elementary in Williamsburg to hold School Community Assemblies for students, parents, teachers, and alumni of the schools to brainstorm project ideas and learn more. The district wants to focus this year’s projects on helping the schools in the community that have the highest needs.
There will be two upcoming School Community Assemblies in North Brooklyn: John Ericsson Middle School (424 Leonard Street in the Library, Room 236) on November 13, 4 p.m.–6 p.m., and John Wayne Elementary on November 14 (via Zoom). You can sign up for your school’s assembly here: bit.ly/d33schoolassembly or reach out to the district’s office for more information: district33@council.nyc.gov.
NYC Council District 34 is holding two upcoming events in Williamsburg, November 1, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Taylor Wythe Community Center (80 Clymer Street), and November 4, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Rodney Playground (on Rodney Street between South 3rd Street and Borinquen Place).
To be eligible, ideas must be capital projects for public physical infrastructure. Examples of this are new additions to classrooms or park improvements. They cannot fall under the expense project category like afterschool programs. Anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, immigration status, or voter eligibility in traditional elections can submit an idea. Ideas can be submitted at bit.ly/NYCPB24 in English or Spanish.
The process of Participatory Budgeting begins with the idea collection and volunteer recruitment phase, which we are currently in. During this time, there will be community meetings where residents can brainstorm ideas and recruit budget delegates. The delegate position is required to attend two to four meetings before the voting week. Ideas will continue to be collected throughout the year, but those collected after November 2023 will not be prioritized and may not be eligible for the current cycle.
After November 10, the Participatory Budgeting will move to proposal development. Here, budget delegates will transform ideas into proposals and select the projects that best meet the needs of the community. This process will be completed in January.
Then, March–April 14 will be the vote week phase where the proposals chosen by the budget delegates will be voted on by council district residents (11-years old and older) during a nine-day community vote. The proposals that receive the most votes will be included in the fiscal year budget.
NYC Council District 34 had the most votes compared to all the districts last cycle (Cycle 12). Six winning projects totaled over $1M and improved arts and technology in schools, tree planting, and more.
Last year, NYC Council District 33 focused its projects on making the community more resilient and helping to address the climate crisis.
Upcoming School Community Assemblies for Participatory Budgeting in NYC Council District 33:
November 13, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. at John Ericsson Middle School (424 Leonard Street in the Library, Room 236)
November 14, John Wayne Elementary (via Zoom)
You can sign up for your school’s assembly here: bit.ly/d33schoolassembly
Upcoming in-person Participatory Budgeting events for NYC Council District 34:
November 1, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at Taylor Wythe Community Center at 80 Clymer Street
November 4, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Rodney Playground (on Rodney Street between South 3rd Street and Borinquen Place)
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