Queens nabes get cut of the ‘People’s Money’

The Civic Engagement Commission recently wrapped up “The People’s Money,” a participatory budgeting program that will send over $1 million to neighborhoods most affected by COVID-19. Photo courtesy of the CEC

By Jacob Kaye

A handful of organizations working in Queens neighborhoods affected most by the pandemic, recently received a chunk of change known as “The People’s Money,” after New Yorkers voted on which organizations and projects deserved the funds the most.

“The People’s Money,” is the name given to the Civic Engagement Commission’s participatory budgeting process, which was run for the first time this year and focused on neighborhoods most affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The participatory budgeting process, which saw New Yorkers submit and vote on projects to be awarded the funds, will distribute $1.3 million to around 30 community based organizations throughout the city, including 9 in Queens. The organizations will work to implement youth programs, anti-gun violence programs, mental health services and food programs.

Queens neighborhoods that will get funding for “The People’s Money” programing include Queensbridge, Astoria, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, Briarwood, Flushing, Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Hollis, Queens Village, Rockaway and Broad Channel.

Though the City Council has a similar participatory budgeting program, this was the first time New Yorkers could cast ballots in the Civic Engagement Commission’s program, which began in May 2021.

“People have been really interested and excited,” said Dr. Sarah Sayeed, the chair and executive director of the Civic Engagement Commission.

“It's a new thing that's happening for some of the communities,” she added. “When I was on the ground canvassing…people were really curious, and I think people wanted to see programs that would have an impact in their community.”

Around 80 proposals were submitted to the commission for consideration from fellow New Yorkers and around 29,000 residents submitted votes.

Some of the winning projects in Queens included a community garden project in Briarwood that will be administered by the Arab-American Family Support Center, mental health workshops for South Asian parents and caregivers in Queens Village to be administered by Project New Yorker and gun violence prevention program run by Community Mediation Services, Inc. in Jackson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst.

All neighborhoods chosen for programming are areas previously identified by the city’s Taskforce for Racial Inclusion and Equity, which aims to bring an equitable approach to the city’s COVID recovery.

The Civic Engagement Commission’s participatory budgeting process varies in several ways from the City Council’s program.

It operates on a different timeline and uses expense funds instead of discretionary funds. Unlike the council’s participatory budgeting program, the Civic Engagement Commission’s program funds programming and not capital projects.

Additionally, under the council’s program, winning projects are implemented by the city whereas in the Civic Engagement Commission’s program, the projects are solely implemented by the community based organizations.

The voting phase of the City Council’s program is currently underway.

Councilmember participation in the program isn’t required and this year, three of Queens’ 15 councilmembers are participating, including Councilmembers Tiffany Caban, Adrienne Adams and Jennifer Gutiérrez.

Participation in the program waned following the start of the pandemic, when funds for participatory budgeting were axed from the city’s budget.

In January, a number of Queens councilmembers who took office for the first time at the start of the year, said they expect to participate in the program next year, citing the intensive workload required to run the program.