Help Spend $1 Million On Bed Stuy Community Projects, Schools

BED STUY, NY — Bed Stuy residents will help decide the fate of $1 million in local funding between a number of school improvement and community projects.

The participatory budgeting process allows New Yorkers age 11 and up to vote on the allocation of $1 million in the district, regardless of immigration status or voter registration.

"This year, 29 Council Members across New York City are asking residents how to spend nearly $30 million in capital funding, specifically for local improvements to schools, parks, libraries and other public spaces. [Participatory budget funds go toward] physical infrastructure projects that benefit the public, cost at least $50,000 and have a lifespan of at least 5 years," according to the city's website.

Online and in-person voting opened Saturday and will last through Sunday. Bed Stuy voters include anyone who works in, lives, goes to school in or is a parent/guardian of a student in one of two council districts that cover Bed Stuy.

Most Bed Stuy stakeholders will vote on City Council Member Chi Ossé's District 36 budget, with a small portion of northern Bed Stuy sitting in Councilmember Lincoln Restler's District 33 budget.

On The Ballot

The majority of Bed Stuy sits in Ossé's District 36. His ballot primarily includes projects for schools and some community improvements.

Schools

1. $600,000 for P.S. 305, Dr. Peter Ray, to repair bathrooms on the second and third floors.

2. $250,000 for new draping at the auditorium at P.S. 256, The Benjamin Banneker Magnet School of Architecture and Engineering.

3. $215,000 for tech upgrades at the Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance, including 200 new laptops, 10 printers and five laptop carts.

4. $184,000 for P.S. 23, Carter G Woodson Elementary School, to upgrade its water fountains.

5. $60,000 for P.S. 262, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz Elementary School, to add 25 iMacs, 2 printers and five MacBooks to its STEM/Media Center.

6. $50,000 for a mobile media lab at Bed-Stuy New Beginnings Charter School for its news program.

7. $175,000 for a hydrophonic farming space at Launch El Charter School.

Community Upgrades

1. $280,000 to plant 50 new trees throughout the district.

2. $350,000 for upgrades to the Hart to Hart Community Garden on Hart Street near Marcy Avenue.

District 33

A small part of north Bed Stuy is in Councilmember Lincoln Restler's district, District 33. On his participatory budget, two potential projects include Bed Stuy:

1. $350,000 to install a water source for the Spencer Street Community Garden Water Installation Project in Bed Stuy, where local residents grow fruit and vegetables.

2. $420,000 to plant new trees in every district neighborhood, with priority to those with excessive heat, poor air quality and stormwater runoff.

How To Vote

Bed Stuy locals can vote online using this link.

In-person voting centers will remain open through Sunday. Centers can be found at the following locations:

• Brower Park, Brooklyn Ave & Prospect Place: Sunday, 12-3 p.m.
• Herbert Von King Park, 670 Lafayette Ave.: Thursday, 3-6 p.m. & Saturday, 12-3 p.m.
• Macon Library, 361 Lewis Ave.: Tuesday, 1-3 p.m. & Wednesday 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Marcy Library, 617 DeKalb Ave.: Tuesday, 4-7 p.m.
• Wellness Wednesdays at Restoration, 1368 Fulton St.: Wednesday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• P.S. 54, Samuel C. Barnes, 195 Sandford St: Wednesday, 2-5 p.m.

Ballots can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Collective Focus Resource Hub, 1046 Broadway: Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave.: Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Office of Council Member Chi Ossé, 1360 Fulton St.: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.