It's only September, but 'tis never too early to start thinking about the next city budget. And increasingly in New York, that means it's not too early to start talking about participatory budgeting. That's the process that allows residents of some City Council districts to develop and vote on proposals for how to spend a portion of the capital funding that each Council member allocates every year. First tried in New York City in 2011 with four participating members, it will involve 27 of them in the next round.
Not everyone is convinced that participatory budgeting represents real progress toward a more inclusive democracy. The amount of money involved is relatively modest and the rules restrict the funding to one-time building and repair projects, not any ongoing programs. More important, the amount of time it takes to be fully invested in the process is considerable, favoring residents who have that kind of time to spend. In the end, decisions on the city's 11-figure expense budget and multi-billion-dollar capital budget will mostly be made the old-fashioned way: by people we elect, behind closed doors.
Still, the $32 million spent via participatory budgeting in the current budget year is not exactly chump change. Below is a list of the members participating this year and a calendar of upcoming meeting dates. Those interested in learning more about the process, click here.
Participating Councilmembers
Andrew Cohen
District 11
Bronx
Costa Constantinides
District 22
Queens
Robert Cornegy
District 36
Brooklyn
Laurie Cumbo
District 35
Brooklyn
Elizabeth Crowley
District 30
Queens
Mathieu Eugene
District 40
Brooklyn
Julissa Ferreras
District 21
Queens
David Greenfield
District 44
Brooklyn
Corey Johnson
District 3
Manhattan
Ben Kallos
District 5
Manhattan
Karen Koslowitz
District 29
Queens
Brad Lander
District 39
Brooklyn
Steve Levin
District 33
Brooklyn
Mark Levine
District 7
Manhattan
Melissa Mark-Viverito
District 8
Manhattan/Bronx
Carlos Menchaca
District 38
Brooklyn
Daneek Miller
District 27
Queens
Antonio Reynoso
District 34
Brooklyn/Queens
Donovan Richards
District 31
Queens
Ydanis Rodriguez
District 10
Manhattan
Helen Rosenthal
District 6
Manhattan
Ritchie Torres
District 15
Bronx
Mark Treyger
District 47
Brooklyn
Eric Ulrich
District 32
Queens
Paul Vallone
District 19
Queens
Jimmy Van Bramer
District 26
Queens
Jumaane Williams
District 45
Brooklyn
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Councilmember
Date
Time
Place
Andrew Cohen (District 11, Bronx)
9/29/2015
7 p.m.
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 Dekalb Ave.
Julissa Ferreras (District 21, Queens)
9/29/2015
7:00 PM
LeFrak Tenants 99-45 60th Ave, Corona, NY 11368
Mark Levine (District 7, Manhattan)
9/29/2015
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Riverstone Senior Center
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
9/29/2015
6-8pm
Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Avenue, Woodside
Costa Constantinides (District 22, Queens)
9/30/2015
7 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Astoria Houses Community Center 4-25 Astoria Blvd. Astoria, NY 11102
Robert Cornegy (District 36, Brooklyn)
9/30/2015
7 p.m.
Greater St. Stephen UCOG, 874 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn, NY 1120622
Elizabeth Crowley (District 30, Queens)
9/30/2015
6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Julissa Ferreras (District 21, Queens)
9/30/2015
6:30 PM
East Elmhurst Library, 95-06 Astoria Blvd. East Elmhurst, NY 11369
Corey Johnson (District 3, Manhattan)
9/30/2015
6:30-8:30 pm
Hudson Park Library, 66 Leroy Street
Brad Lander (District 39, Brooklyn)
9/30/2015
6:30-8:30 PM
PS 118, 211 8th St (near 4th Ave)
I. Daneek Miller (District 27, Queens)
9/30/2015
6:30-8:30 PM
New Greater Bethel Ministries 215-32 Jamaica Avenue Queens Village, NY 11428
Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn/Queens)
9/30/2015
Cooper Park Community Center, 76 Kingsland Avenue
Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn/Queens)
9/30/2015
6:30pm
PS 123, 100 Irving Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Ydanis Rodriguez (District 10, Manhattan)
9/30/2015
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Richard M. Ruzika Theater and Classroom at the Campbell Sports Center on 218th St. and Broadway
Corey Johnson (District 3, Manhattan)
10/1/2015
6:30-8:30 pm
Fulton Center Auditorium, 119 Ninth Avenue (between 17th and 18th Streets)
Karen Koslowitz (District 29, Queens)
10/1/2015
7 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Richmond Hill Library 118-14 Hillside Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11418
Donovan Richards (District 31, Queens)
10/1/2015
Beach 40th Street Community Center
Ydanis Rodriguez (District 10, Manhattan)
10/1/2015
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Nagle Y at 54 Nagle Ave. (Between Broadway and Elwood)
Helen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
10/1/2015
6-8pm
Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, 250 West 65th Street (between West End Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue0
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
10/1/2015
6-8pm
Broadway Library, 40-20 Broadway, Long Island City
Jumaane D. Williams (District 45, Brooklyn)
10/1/2015
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Flatbush YMCA, 1401 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn/Queens)
10/3/2015
1:00 p.m.
Williamsburg Community Center,195 Graham Avenue
Elizabeth Crowley (District 30, Queens)
10/5/2015
6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Serbian Association of New York, 72-54 65th Pl., Ridgewood, NY 11385
Julissa Ferreras (District 21, Queens)
10/5/2015
7:00 PM
Community Board 3 Community Board 3 Office 82-11 37th Avenue
Corey Johnson (District 3, Manhattan)
10/5/2015
6:30-8:30 pm
New Dramatists, 424 West 44th Street
Melissa Mark-Viverito (District 8, Manhattan/Bronx)
10/5/2015
6 p.m.
Woodycrest Center for Human Development 153 West 165th St. (between Ogden and Summit Avenues) Bronx NY 10452
Elizabeth Crowley (District 30, Queens)
10/6/2015
6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
PS/IS 113, 35-01 Union St,Glendale, NY 11354
Corey Johnson (District 3, Manhattan)
10/6/2015
6:30-8:30 pm
Elliot-Chelsea Community Center, 441 West 26th Street
Brad Lander (District 39, Brooklyn)
10/6/2015
6:30-8:30 PM
PS 230 - Upper School, 1 Albemarle Rd (between Dahill Rd and McDonald Ave)
Melissa Mark-Viverito (District 8, Manhattan/Bronx)
10/6/2015
4 p.m.
Betances Community Center 547 E. 146th St. Bronx NY 10455
Ydanis Rodriguez (District 10, Manhattan)
10/6/2015
6:00 - 8:00pm
Fort Washington Library - 535 W 179th St, New York, NY 10033
Eric Ulrich (District 32, Queens)
10/6/2015
8:00 PM
Our Neighbors Civic
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
10/6/2015
6-8pm
Sunnyside Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside
Elizabeth Crowley (District 30, Queens)
10/7/2015
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Oak Ridge in Forest Park, 1 Forest Park Dr, Woodhaven, NY 11421
Mathieu Eugene (District 40, Brooklyn)
10/7/2015
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 pm
St. Paul's Church - 157 St. Paul's Pl. Brooklyn, NY 11226
Karen Koslowitz (District 29, Queens)
10/7/2015
7 p.m.- 9 p.m.
PS 139, 93-06 63rd Drive, Rego Park, NY 11374
Melissa Mark-Viverito (District 8, Manhattan/Bronx)
10/7/2015
6 p.m.
Mitchel Community Center - 210 Alexander Ave. Bronx NY 10454
Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn/Queens)
10/7/2015
6:30pm
Diana H. Jones Senior Center, 9 Noll Street, Brooklyn, NY
Helen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
10/7/2015
6-8pm
Goddard-Riverside Community Center, 593 Columbus Avenue (between West 88th and 89th Streets)
Karen Koslowitz (District 29, Queens)
10/8/2015
7 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Forest Hills Jewish Center, 106-06 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375
Steve Levin (District 33, Brooklyn)
10/8/2015
5:00 p.m.
Independence Community Center, 114 Taylor Street.
Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn/Queens)
10/8/2015
6:30pm
Learners and Leaders, 378 Seneca Avenue, Ridgewood, NY
Ydanis Rodriguez (District 10, Manhattan)
10/8/2015
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Washington Heights Library, 1000 Saint Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10032
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
10/8/2015
6-8pm
Long Island City Library, 37-44 21st Street, Long Island City
Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn/Queens)
10/9/2015
1:00pm
Roundtable Senior Center, 1175 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Carlos Menchaca (District 38, Brooklyn)
10/10/2015
10:30 am- 12pm
Sunset Park Recreation Center, 7 Ave. at 43rd Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11232
Carlos Menchaca (District 38, Brooklyn)
10/11/2015
12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), 526 59th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220
Julissa Ferreras (District 21, Queens)
10/12/2015
6:30 PM
Langston Hughes Community Library, 100-01 Northern Blvd. Corona, NY 11368
Ydanis Rodriguez (District 10, Manhattan)
10/13/2015
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Dyckman Houses, 3732 10th Avenue
Eric Ulrich (District 32, Queens)
10/13/2015
7:45 PM
Community Board 9
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
10/13/2015
6-8pm
Woodside Houses Community Center, 50-19 Broadway, Woodside
Mark Levine (District 7, Manhattan)
10/14/2015
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Franciscan Community Center
Helen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
10/14/2015
4-6 p.m.
Riverside NYPL, 127 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 65th and 66th Streets)
Mark Treyger (District 47, Brooklyn)
10/14/2015
6:00 PM
YMCA 2980 West 29th Street Brooklyn NY 11224
Donovan Richards (District 31, Queens)
10/15/2015
Ocean Bay Community Center
Eric Ulrich (District 32, Queens)
10/15/2015
7:00 PM
Woodhaven Residents Block Association
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
10/15/2015
6-8pm
Ravenswood Houses, 35-40 21st Street, Long Island City
Mark Treyger (District 47, Brooklyn)
10/19/2015
6:00 PM
PS 205 6701 20th Avenue Brooklyn NY 11214
Eric Ulrich (District 32, Queens)
10/20/2015
7:00 PM
102nd Precinct Community Council
Jimmy Van Bramer (District 26, Queens)
10/20/2015
6-8pm
Jacob Riis Settlement House, 10-25 41st Avenue, Queensbridge
Mark Levine (District 7, Manhattan)
10/21/2015
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
St. Michael's Church, 255 West 99th St.
Helen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
10/22/2015
6-8 p.m.
Hargrave House, 111 West 71st Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues)
Carlos Menchaca (District 38, Brooklyn)
10/23/2015
6-8 pm
Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks Street
Helen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
10/24/2015
2-4 p.m.
St. Agnes NYPL, 444 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 81st and 82nd Streets)
Mark Treyger (District 47, Brooklyn)
10/26/2015
6:00 PM
PS 216 350 Avenue X Brooklyn NY 11223
Melissa Mark-Viverito (District 8, Manhattan/Bronx)
10/28/2015
6 p.m.
Little Sisters of the Assumption 333 East 115th St., New York, NY 10029
Helen Rosenthal (District 6, Manhattan)
10/28/2015
6-8 p.m.
Marseilles Apartments, 230 West 103rd Street
Ritchie Torres (District 15, Bronx)
10/28/2015
Roosevelt High School Cafeteria, 500 East Fordham Road
Eric Ulrich (District 32, Queens)
10/28/2015
8:00 PM
Richmond Hill Block Association
Donovan Richards (District 31, Queens)
10/29/2015
YMCA