Queens pols unveil winning participatory budgeting projects
/
City Councilmember Shekar Krishnan was one of several Queens electeds to host a participatory budgeting process this year. Photo via City Council
By Ryan Schwach
Queens is getting the money this year through participatory budgeting, with several projects being selected this week in nine City Council districts, an increase from only three last year.
Participatory budgeting, the city process that allows everyday New Yorkers to propose, nominate and vote on projects through their local City Council office wrapped up this week, and projects from school upgrades to park improvements were recently approved by local voters.
Nine Queens City Councilmembers decided to participate in the process this year including Councilmembers Tiffany Cabán, Linda Lee, Jennifer Guiterrez, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Won, Nantasha Williams, Adrienne Adams and Lynn Schulman. Last year, only Cabán, Adams and Gutierrez participated.
The voting process, which took place online from Saturday, March 25 to April 2, was open to all New Yorkers older than 11 years old.
On the whole, Queens’ nine participating officials is more than both the Bronx and Staten Island, which didn’t have a single councilmember participate.
In Cabán’s district, capital projects include tree plantings, and upgrades for three schools, including I.S 141 in Steinway, P.S 70 in Astoria and Long Island City High School.
I.S. 141 is getting water fountain upgrades, P.S. 70 is getting upgrades to its bathrooms and LIC HS is getting work done on its electrical system.
On her expense budget, Cabán’s office is working to get more produce into schools, food distribution and more trash bins and pickup service along with DSNY.
"I couldn't be more proud that thousands of District 22 residents, workers, and students came together in this inspiring exercise of direct democracy,” Caban said in a statement. “Our Participatory Budgeting process started with a set of 'Citizens' Assemblies' where a broad swath of constituents did a deep dive into what makes us feel most safe. Months later, the outcome is funding for these amazing winning projects. No one knows what delivers community safety better than the community itself."
Councilmember Lynn Schulman is participating for the first time as a council member, but participated in PB as a member of the council speaker’s staff both under Melissa Mark-Viverito and Corey Johnson.
This year, she said there were five projects on her ballot and three were selected.
The voters of Shulman’s District 29, which encompasses Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill, approved sanitary and age appropriate student bathrooms at P.S. 174, new P.S. 220 water fountains and tree pits on Yellowstone Boulevard.
“Participatory Budgeting is a great way for residents young and old to participate in their democracy,” Shulman said to the Eagle. “I especially enjoyed seeing children vote for their first time and learn about civic engagement. I look forward to seeing these projects implemented and encourage anyone that wants to get involved in the process next year to reach out to our office.”
Councilmember Shekar Krishnan was also new to the process and represents Elmhurst and Jackson Heights in District 25. He had 2,362 residents cast their vote for five winning projects.
"I was proud to bring Participatory Budgeting to the residents of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst for the first time ever," said Krishnan. "With more than 2,000 votes, collected online and at 7 poll sites supported by more than a dozen volunteers, it was a huge success.”
Krishnan’s District 25 will get new trees and guards for sidewalks, a $202,000 project that received the most votes.
Elmhurst Hospital will receive a portable X-ray machine for its ER, the second place project that will cost $180,000.
Both the second and third floors at P.S. 149 will get bathroom renovations and P.S 89 will get a hydroponic science lab, which will both cost $450,000 and $175,000 respectively.
“The diversity of the winning projects is a true reflection of the diversity of our community, ranging from new trees and tree guards, to an X-ray machine for children at Elmhurst Hospital, to a hydroponics lab and two much-needed bathroom renovations for our schools," Krishnan said.
Adams told the Eagle that her projects would be announced in the coming months.
“New Yorkers spent months brainstorming and refining proposals to improve our communities, and now, residents will be able to vote for their favorite projects to be funded in the city budget,” she said in a statement in March.
“Participatory Budgeting empowers local residents to get involved in their communities and decide how public dollars are spent to strengthen our neighborhoods,” the speaker added. “I thank every New Yorker who has contributed to this process, and I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to vote for their top projects.”
