These Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights Projects Could Win $1M From City Council

BROOKLYN, NY — School upgrades, community garden renovations or sidewalk repairs and tree plantings — it's almost time for neighbors in Bed-Stuy and North Crown Heights to choose how to spend this year's participatory budget money in City Council.

Voting will begin Saturday for the $1 million in Council Member Chi Ossé's participatory budget, a program that has residents brainstorm, pitch and vote on ideas for local funding.

The vote will be the first time in at least two years the program will be used in District 36, which includes Bed-Stuy and northern Crown Heights. Ossé brought back the program when he took office at the start of the year.

This year, three school projects, one community garden project and a tree planting and sidewalk repair project are on the ballot.

Anyone who lives, works, goes to school or is a parent of a student in District 36 who is over the age of 11 can help choose which projects get a slice of the $1 million. Ballots will be available online, at Ossé's office, in local schools and at the council member's weekly Wellness Wednesday event until April 10.

Here's a look at the projects:

• Computer Laboratory Update at P368K – $60,000: Upgrade PS 368's technology lab by funding 41 Mac desktops and keyboards, 1 printer with built in scanner, and 1 smartboard for the lab.

• Filtered water bottle fountains for Bedford Academy High School – $56,000: Funding to install seven new water bottle fountains for Bedford Academy High School.

• Tree planting and sidewalk repairs in District 36 – $500,000: Funding for new trees and sidewalk repairs throughout the district.

• Water service upgrades for Edens Community Garden in North Crown Heights – $350,000: Funding to upgrade water service for Edens Community Garden, a community garden in North Crown Heights.

• Multimedia studio for MS 35 – $350,000: Funding to construct a multimedia studio for MS 35 with A/V equipment, recording interface, digital audio workstations, and studio speakers and instruments.

Here's how to vote:

Online at https://on.nyc.gov/3JSzsvg (External link)

• You must sign up for an NYC ID account.

On paper

• Ballots will be available at our office at 1360 Fulton Street, Suite 500.
• Schools will receive paper ballots for their students from our office.

In person

• On Wednesday, April 6th, we will have an in-person voting event at Wellness Wednesday where constituents can fill out a paper ballot.