Clinton Hill and Fort Greene Residents Decide What's Funded At Participatory Budgeting Kickoff Event

CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN — If you're a resident of the 35th District and there's a project you believe deserves funding, the 2016-2017 participatory budgeting kickoff event is Saturday, Sep. 10, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Fort Greene Park.

New York City Councill Member Laurie Cumbo is hosting the event which coincides with the Community JAMboree, featuring free wellness activities for attendees including yoga, cooking demos, meditation and dance.

Now in its sixth year, participatory budgeting is growing across NYC to include a number of districts. Twenty eight districts are participating in 2016-17, same as last year, but up from 24 in 2014-15.

This is the second year that the 35th district is participating. A list of the projects that won and lost last year is available here.

Last year 67,690 ballots were cast, funding 132 projects with $38,295,700 according to the official NYC Council results. One million dollars is available for community projects in the 35th District this year.

Three upcoming public meetings in the 35th District are scheduled for September, during which project ideas can be pitched and discussed. Once the projects for the final ballot have been selected this fall, final voting by the district will take place next spring. Here's the meeting schedule:

• Meeting 1: Saturday, Sep. 10 at 12:00 p.m. at Fort Greene Park
• Meeting 2: Wednesday, Sep. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at 177 Myrtle Ave.
• Meeting 3: Wednesday, Sep. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at 1435 Union St.

Lead image courtesy of Ervins Strauhmanis/Flickr

Flyer courtesy of CM Laurie Cumbo