Bayside Will Decide How To Spend $1M Starting This Saturday

QUEENS — Residents of Queen's District 19, which covers College Point, Whitestone, Malba, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, North Flushing, and Auburndale, will vote on how to spend part of the public budget to improve their community.

The voting is the sixth one since District 19 joined the Participatory Budgeting program, which has proven successful in major cities across the nation.

Districts taking part in participatory budgeting provide the program with at least $1 million, which the public can use to fund the projects that addresses their needs. This year, District 19 residents will vote for five out of the 19 projects that will be presented on the ballot. Participating council members promise to fund projects that receive the most votes until the budget is used up.

Projects on the ballot are decided through a yearlong process of community meetings sponsored by Councilman Paul Vallone of District 19 to ensure that each member gets to voice their opinions and make informed decisions.

The projects on this year's ballot include installing solar panels at Douglaston/Little Neck Library, renovating computer labs at P.S. 209, adding an adult fitness center to Little Bay Park and placing four NYPD security cameras around District 19.

Voting will begin on March 25 and continue until April 2.

Scroll down for a full list of voting locations and ballot items.

Lead image credit: Participatory Budgeting Project

Flyer and ballot list courtesy of Councilman Vallone's office