Participatory budgeting is back, enabling New Yorkers in eight districts to spend approximately $1 million of their council member's discretionary funds on whatever they want! As long as what they want is more along the lines of parks and bus clocks than diamond-encrusted fishing lures.
Voting will take place in eight districts through Sunday, April 7th. Participating council members include Melissa Mark-Viverito (Dist. 8), Stephen Levin (Dist. 33) Brad Lander (Dist. 39), Mark Weprin (Dist. 23), Jumaane Williams (Dist. 45), David Greenfield (Dist. 44), Eric Ulrich (Dist. 32) and Dan Halloran (Dist.19), whose district will still be participating, despite Tuesday's dramatic arrest. (We called to check!)
The concept of participatory budgeting first arrived on Earth in Brazil, and later, Chicago. New York City politicians jumped on the bandwagon in 2011, and its popularity has only grown since. If you're unsure whether your district is involved in participatory budgeting, click here to take a look at a handy reference map.
