Almost half of Queens’ councilmembers have signed on for participatory budgeting when next year’s budget rolls around, making them part of the 22 members that have joined the group participating in the new process, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced.
“As we work toward a more inclusive, transparent city government, I am excited for 22 Council districts to take part in the participatory budgeting—more than doubling our participation from the previous cycle,” she said. “The expanded process will give thousands of New Yorkers a hands-on role in making taxpayer dollars work for our communities,” Mark-Viverito added.
However, the 22 are less than half of the full council’s 51 members. But Mark-Viverito was still enthusiastic about the new numbers because the participatory budgeting for 22 districts will designate over $25 million toward locally developed projects.
Proponents of participatory budgeting (PB), like Mark-Viverito, are excited about it “because it’s a process through which district residents vote directly to allocate at least in capital funding, toward proposals developed by the community to meet local needs,” the Speaker explained.
The process includes a series of public meetings where residents work directly with their councilmember for a year to identify neighborhood concerns and devise proposals to address them. Residents then cast a vote or votes to select the proposal which gets into the budget.
The Queens councilmembers that opted into the participatory budgeting process are Councilmembers Paul Vallone (D–Bayside), 19th district; Mark Weprin; (D–Queens Village), 23rd district; Jimmy Van Bramer (D–Sunnyside), 26th district; Daneek Miller (D–Cambria Heights), 27th district; Karen Koslowitz (D–Forest Hills), 29th district; Donovan Richards (D–Rosedale), 31st district; and Eric Ulrich (R–C–Ozone Park), 32nd district.
Van Bramer, the Council’s Majority Leader, stated, “The expansion of participatory budgeting to 22 districts in the city is a testament to the Council’s commitment to empowering New Yorkers and giving them the ability to decide where their tax dollars are spent.”
Referring to his own district, Van Bramer said: “For the first time in Western Queens, we will give the residents of the 26th district the ability to fund projects that are meaningful to their communities. I am proud to be a part of this historic participatory budgeting. The growth of this inclusive process helps build a better-informed and empowered citizenry, which will make our city’s democracy stronger.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the City Council and New Yorkers who will be participating in this process. Together, we will empower our communities and deliver the projects local residents vote to fund in their neighborhoods.”
Vallone stated: “I am pleased to join my Council colleagues and have always planned on carrying out an effective and well-organized participatory budgeting process that engages a wide range of residents of my district. I look forward to engaging and working with my community in the coming months, to have participatory budgeting that is successful and productive.”
Indicating that he had already tried out participatory budgeting in his district, Weprin said, “My constituents have loved the opportunity to vote on how their tax dollars are spent. I am pleased that so many of my colleagues in the City Council have embraced the participatory budgeting process, as it allows residents to play an active role in their government.”
Ulrich declared, “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 and I’m thrilled that my colleagues will be expanding participatory budgeting throughout the five boroughs. This will provide a real chance for anyone who wants to have a voice in the decisionmaking process or has an idea for a project that would benefit the community, to step up and get involved. As I have always said, this isn’t my money, it is the taxpayer’s money and they should be allowed a say in how it’s spent.”
The final Queens lawmaker to offer any comment was Richards, who stated, “A new form of democracy is sweeping New York City, and I am proud that the City Council is taking the lead in growing this process. I’m beyond excited to bring participatory budgeting back to my district this year. There is nothing like allowing the public to make decisions on how their community schools, parks, etc., should be improved.”
Good government groups hail participatory budgeting as a powerful tool to increase civic participation and community engagement, Mark- Viverito stated. The only identification requirement is proof of residency in the district; voting in participatory budgeting is open to all residents 16 years of age and older, thus removing traditional obstacles to full civic participation such as youth, income status, English language proficiency and citizenship status.
CUOMO IN A JAM: In a span of about two weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo has gone from being everybody’s darling to their whipping boy, and there is no assurance where this particular phase of his career will end, given U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s interest in Cuomo’s ill-fated Moreland Commission, which was investigating corruption in the state legislature.
It seems almost impossible that Cuomo can lose his present major objective, his re-election to a second term as governor in the November election. He’s sitting on a campaign treasury of about 35 million dollars and his main opposition from Republican Rob Astorino is virtually nonexistent, judging by a recent poll which had Cuomo ahead by 37 points, 60 percent to Astorino’s 23 percent.
That poll came shortly after the governor’s last minute settlement of the Long Island Rail Road Strike, earning him accolades from all sides—a huge pro-labor victory, also a popular victory from the LIRR’s thousands of riders, who were saved from all sorts of inconveniences of a strike.
But Cuomo’s roller coaster suddenly went into free fall at that point, when The New York Times, in its July 23 edition, printed a voluminous account of interference in the investigators’ work, beginning with Cuomo’s top aide blocking a subpoena from being served on Cuomo-friendly firms.
Political opponents like Astorino and Zephyr Teachout, who’s challenging Cuomo in the Democratic primary, skewered Cuomo, as did several spokespersons from government watchdog organizations. Cuomo defended himself, arguing he created the investigatory commission and rightfully could interfere with it when he felt it was necessary. But accusations that Cuomo blocked queries about organizations that were friendly to him were brushed over.
But, bottom line, the governor was forced to disband the commission in order to get his budget approved last April, leaving many promised reforms and corruption disclosures unanswered when the heat was applied.
Amid all the tumult, however, there were no law violations charged against the governor, and if none are subsequently made, the details will be glossed over in the heat of the campaign and little serious damage will be done to his reelection campaign. However, there are always presidential ambitions to be considered where Cuomo is concerned, and this episode that has just occurred may have to be answered in the future. Meanwhile, we await any new possible developments from Bharara.
ACKERMAN ENDORSES LIU: Former Congressmember Gary Ackerman, whose district for a long time included Northeast Queens, presently the centerpiece of the battle going on between John Liu and Tony Avella, has endorsed Liu in his fight to win the 11th district state senate seat in the September 9 Democratic primary.
Ackerman joins his former congressional colleagues, Joseph Crowley and Gregory Meeks, who are supporting Liu, and also Congressmember Grace Meng, who succeeded Ackerman and has also endorsed Liu.
In announcing his endorsement of former City Comptroller and Councilmember Liu, Ackerman declared:
“John Liu has dedicated himself to serving the people of our community. His unwavering commitment to the people of New York and his relentless work ethic make him the ideal person to bring real Democratic leadership back to District 11 and Albany. And his experience and track record as councilmember and comptroller means the people of District 11 will finally get the real results that they deserve from their senator. I’m excited to help John get to Albany, where he’ll fight to make New York a better place to work and live.”
Responding, Liu stated, “I’m proud to receive the endorsement of such a distinguished public servant who has always been a true champion for the people of Queens. With the support from leaders and community members from every corner of this district, we will take on the senate status quo and finally deliver real changes that will improve the lives of working families.
“I’ll never back down in our fight for the issues that really matter, like building and preserving affordable housing, creating good jobs, and making sure every child gets a quality education.”
Ackerman’s endorsement of Liu further accentuates the overwhelming support he has in District 11 and Northeast Queens. Last week, Crowley, Meng and Meeks, all of whose congressional districts overlay Senate District 11, joined the Liu bandwagon en masse, and their support will be invaluable to Liu.
The same applies to the many other local legislators whose districts share a part of senate District 11. They include Assemblymembers Edward Braunstein, Barbara Clark, Ron Kim, Nily Rozic, Mike Simanowitz and David Weprin; and Councilmembers Peter Koo, Rory Lancman, Daneek Miller, Paul Vallone and Mark Weprin.
By the same token, incumbent state Senators from Queens—Joseph Addabbo, Jose Peralta, James Sanders and Toby Ann Stavisky, can be expected to be available on Primary Day, September 9, to rally for Liu and to get their local political organizations involved, along with the Queens Democratic Party organization.
The Liu-Avella battle will be joined on Primary Day when registered Democrats in the 11th state senate district will vote for whom they want as the party’s candidate for state senator: Avella or Liu.
Of course, on that day, an army of Liu supporters, represented by members of labor unions that have endorsed Liu’s candidacy, will be out in force to make their final push for Liu. Also pushing for Liu will be tenants’ rights group Tenants PAC, several grass roots organizations, and the National Organization for Women PAC.
CUOMO GRANTS $127,000 TO NYS PAVILION: Governor Cuomo announced a $127,000 grant to the New York State Pavilion, which was created for the 1964 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Flushing.
The governor’s message states that the funds are to be used by the city Department of Parks and Recreation for a conditions assessment of damage to the New York State Pavilion’s cable roof structure to determine the impact of Superstorm Sandy and develop cost estimate for stabilization, basic repairs may also be undertaken.”
Cuomo’s message stated further that the Pavilion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with “national significance as a landmark of American engineering and was one of the most highly acclaimed structures” at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.
CUOMO-$5M TO REPAIR SANDY DAMAGED ‘SIGNIFICANT PROPERTIES’: Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that $5 million has been awarded to repair 14 historically significant properties that suffered severe damage during Superstorm Sandy. The funding will be used, Cuomo said, to assess, renovate and protect the landmarks so that they can be appreciated by future generations.
The properties alluded to were not named or otherwise identified, but the governor referred to them as “some of New York’s most treasured historic properties that have withstood the test of time…and are now more vulnerable to extreme weather”.
Cuomo added, “Parks, cemeteries and historic landmarks are part of the fabric of their communities, and the damage they sustained was one of the many tragedies of Superstorm Sandy.”
Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D–Queens/The Bronx) said, “As the rebuilding efforts continue for the families and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy, I’m pleased that those sites which are an integral part of our city’s history are also being given the relief they deserve. I commend Governor Cuomo and the National Park Service for their commitment for seeing through New York’s full recovery and making sure our historical landmarks will be around for generations to come.”
Congressmember Nydia Velazquez (D–Queens/Brooklyn) commented, “This funding will go a long way toward restoring these historic gems so they may be enjoyed not only today, but also for generations to come.”
MENG: NEW SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES IN QUEENS Responding to Congressmember Grace Meng’s urgings to bring another Small Business Development Center (SBDC) into Queens, La Guardia Community College announced last week that a new SBDC has been created at the Flushing branch of the Queens Library to service small businesses in Flushing.
Business advisor Xiao Yuan (Wennie) Hanson will supervise the office, which will be open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hanson will be available to assist small businesses in the library’s downstairs meeting room. Appointments are required and can be booked by calling 718-482- 5315 or by sending an e-mail to xhanson@lagcc.cuny.edu.
At Meng’s recent Congressional field hearing in Queens, witnesses testified that an additional SBDC was necessary to better serve the needs of local business owners who felt they had been underserved by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other federal programs.
The congressional field hearing, “Underserved Small Businesses: Providing Access to Federal Programs,” was held at Queens College this past March by Meng’s Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Work Forces. The hearing spotlighted the Small Business Administration’s poor outreach to local small businesses, and examined why emerging businesses, startups and minority entrepreneurs struggle to use small business assistance programs that are provided by the federal government. Among those present and testifying was Michele Chang, the SBA’s acting chief of staff and number two person at the agency.
Queens presently has two SBDC’s: one at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City and another at York College in Jamaica. Agreeing with Meng’s frequent calls for a third, witnesses said that another facility located in the vibrant northeastern part of the borough was desperately needed, and officials at LaGuardia Community College agreed.
Meng, (D–Flushing), commenting on the change, stated:
“Providing small business services at the library is excellent news for small businesses in the area. While this is not a full-fledged SBDC, it is a great first step to securing one in the future, and it will serve as an outstanding asset to local small business owners.
“I thank LaGuardia Community College for providing this valuable service, and for understanding the important needs of area entrepreneurs. I urge all small business owners to take advantage of this valuable resource to help grow their business and discover new opportunities.”
Responding, Gail O. Mellow, President of LaGuardia Community College, stated: “Congresswoman Meng is a national advocate for small businesses and an individual with a deep understanding of the daily struggles and needs of our small businesses. LaGuardia is delighted to partner with the Congresswoman to ensure that local businesses have the tools and support they need to thrive in our community.”
Expressing support for SBDCs, Jack Friedman, executive director of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, stated, “Small Business Development Centers have proven to be an effective way to help entrepreneurs learn how to access capital, market their business, and register as a minority and woman-owned business enterprise.”
Friedman thanked Meng, the Queens Library, LaGuardia Community College and SBDC, for continuing to help entrepreneurs in Queens.
Services at the library will include: One-to-one business advisement service, entrepreneurial training, assistance with access to capital, business planning, marketing and advertising, referrals for SBA guaranteed loans and other functions.
The Queens Library in Flushing is located at 41-17 Main Street.
CONSTANTINIDES GETS $1M FOR PARK UPGRADES: Councilmember Costa Constantinides announced that he allocated almost $1 million in capital member item funding for park upgrades to Moser Bulova Park in the Jackson Heights portion of his district.
The lawmaker said the upgrades will make the park “even more of a beautiful green space for the community”. Remedial work will include the removal of the bocce court, upgrading play equipment and installing a new spray shower. Constantinides said the improvements will provide “more fun for people of all ages to spend the day there and will make our district an enjoyable place for residents as well as visitors”.
Donna Raymond, president of the North Queens Homeowners Association praised the plan, saying “the planned upgrades will greatly benefit our community and make the neighborhood into a more beautiful place to live”.
Constantinides (D–Astoria) funded the park rehab project by allocating budget funds he received from the city budget. His 22nd district includes Astoria and parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.
KIM ‘DEVASTATED’ BY AIRLINE CRASHES: Expressing sorrow for the passengers whose lives were lost in the two horrific airplane crashes, and for their families, Assemblymember Ron Kim (D–Flushing) stated:
“With the recent tragedies in Malaysia, the world is paying closer attention to any type of plane-related incidents. My community has especially felt the sadness, and today we mourn again, as we learn more about Flight 222 from Taiwan that carried 54 passengers. My heart goes out to the Taiwanese community all around the world.
“This morning, an Algerian flight headed to the Sahara also went missing. It is too surreal and I can’t even imagine how all these events are happening this year.”
WEPRIN ‘OUTRAGED’ BY TREES DESTROYED: Councilmember Mark Weprin (D–Oakdale) informs us that he is “outraged to learn that five New York City trees on 48th Avenue in Bayside Hills have been unlawfully removed. Arborcide is a criminal offense, and I will be working to support the Parks and Police Departments to see that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Earlier in the week, Weprin called for a full investigation of the “White Flag” security breach on the Brooklyn Bridge. Weprin said the morning after, on his way to work at City Hall, which is in the shadow of the bridge, “I was stunned to see that the American flag to the Brooklyn Bridge had been replaced by a white flag. I strongly urge the NYPD to investigate how someone was able to bypass both patrol cars and security cameras to gain access to the bridge. New Yorkers have the right to know who is responsible and how this serious security breach could occur at such a prominent city landmark.”
GIANARIS’ STATEMENT ON POSSIBLE CITI BIKE DEAL: State Senator Michael Gianaris released the following statement regarding a possible deal to revive and expand Citi Bike.
“As news of a possible deal to revive and expand Citi Bike inches closer to becoming a reality, I renew my commitment to fighting for the inclusion of our neighborhoods in this innovative program. As a result of our hard work since Bike Share’s debut, the DOT promised to include Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside in the next phases of expansion. I will work to ensure that those promises are kept no matter the details of any coming deal. Western Queens remains home to some of the most bike-friendly neighborhoods in the city, and some of the most underserved by mass transit, making our community perfect for Citi Bike.”
Since Citi Bike’s debut, Gianaris has worked with DOT to ensure that Astoria and other Western Queens neighborhoods will be included in the program. Gianaris formally requested that Western Queens be included in any plans for future Citi Bike expansion in a letter to Mayor de Blasio and DOT in July of 2013. In August, 2013, Gianaris announced that DOT committed to including Astoria and Sunnyside in future phases of Bike Share expansion, in addition to its previous commitment to expand to Long Island City. Gianaris will continue working with DOT, community members, and local leaders to successfully bring Citi Bike to Western Queens and make these exciting plans a reality as soon as possible.
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