Brooklyn Residents Vote on How to Allocate $1 Million of Taxpayer Funds

By Yehudit Garmaise

For the first time, New Yorkers from all five boroughs are getting a say on how and where to spend $5 million of the city’s budget, which exceeds $100 billion.

Thanks to “participatory budgeting,” until June 25, New Yorkers, 11-years-old and older and regardless of immigration status, can choose which yearlong programs in their neighborhoods and boroughs will receive $1 million public funding, per borough.

While 11-years-old may sound young to decide how to spend public funds, one longtime New Yorker said that 6th graders are likely to be open-minded and creative in their approach to spending public funds.

“Kids are learning new things every day and are less cynical, while their parents might have preconceived attitudes about what city programs can potentially do,” said one New Yorker.

Maybe kids could learn about “Direct Democracy,” in which majorities make decisions and not only elected officials, before considering the different programs and then heading as a group to go vote, she said.

In Brooklyn, where 39 programs are proposed, the four projects that get the highest number of votes will each receive $250,000.

No programs are based in Boro Park, but in nearby Sunset Park, voters can choose to vote to direct funding to “Conversation Classes for English Language Learners,” “Mental Health Awareness Workshops,” or a “Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement Program.”

In Flatbush, the following programs are offered: “Affordable Healthcare Forum,” “Flatbush Youth Council Learning Program,” “Housing Assistance for Pregnant Mothers,” or “Housing Support for Populations in Need.”

Boro Park residents can cast their votes by heading to the Brooklyn Public Library at 1265 43rd St. or by logging onto https://cecpb.decision21.org/the-peoples-money-2023.