Spend $1 Million In UES Funds: Participatory Budgeting Returns

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Want more trees? Better libraries? Improved public schools? Or perhaps another million dollar idea for how to improve the Upper East Side?

Here's your chance to weigh in, as Upper East Siders get to decide once again how $1 million in city money should be spent.

Participatory budgeting is back for another year courtesy of City Council Member Julie Menin, whose constituents in District 5 can now submit proposals online for projects that they deem worthy of getting funded by Nov. 1.

After the deadline, city agencies will evaluate each proposal, and Menin's office will work with community leaders to narrow down the ideas to create a ballot that will go up for a vote.

Potential projects must benefit the public, cost at least $50,000, and have a lifespan of at least five years.

The process had such an impressive turnout in the 2022 cycle — a 140 percent increase over the prior year — that Menin committed even more money to fund the projects chosen by the neighborhood.

When Ben Kallos represented the district in 2021, only 534 residents voted on how to spend $1 million. Compared to the 2022 cycle, that's a nearly 735 percent difference.

"I'm truly enthusiastic to embark on another cycle of Participatory Budgeting," Menin said. "Our office's second annual PB initiative was a resounding success, boasting robust community engagement with nearly 4,500 constituents casting their votes."

Proposals must be within Menin's district, which covers Yorkville, Roosevelt Island, and parts of Lenox Hill and East Harlem. Neighboring Upper East Side Council Member Keith Powers has not announced any participatory budgeting program this year.

The winning projects announced in the spring included 30 new trees in the district ($150,000), new security systems for P.S. 198 and P.S. 77 ($450,000), lighting upgrades for Stanley Isaacs Park ($420,000), nearly 100 laptops and other technology upgrades for M.S. 114 ($105,232), P.S. 217 bathroom renovation ($300,000) and 33 new security cameras for Holmes Towers ($500,000).

To submit your idea by the Nov. 1 deadline, or to check out other ideas in the neighborhood and around the city, click here.