Queens can now vote on how to spend ‘The People’s Money’

Voting for The New York Civic Engagement Commission’s “The People’s Money” participatory budgeting program has officially begun. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

In recent years, some New York City residents could vote on how their local city councilmembers spent some of their funding through a process known as participatory budgeting. Now, all New Yorkers will be able to vote to fund neighborhood projects paid for by the city.

“The People’s Money”, the first-ever citywide participatory budgeting program organized by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission, allows all New Yorkers over the age of 11 to vote on how $5 million of mayoral funding will be spent in their own communities.

“As we work towards a more equitable city, the launch of The People’s Money represents a significant step towards inclusiveness,” said Mayor Eric Adams, who announced the project alongside CEC in September of last year. “By allowing all New York City residents to vote on how to spend $5 million of mayoral expense funding, we are empowering communities to have a direct say in addressing their needs. I encourage all eligible residents to participate in this historic participatory budgeting process and help shape the future of our great city.”

Voters will be able to vote on a ballot featuring neighborhood projects for their respective borough, and residents of 33 equity neighborhoods will also be able to vote on an additional ballot for their community.

Voting will be held online until June 25, and the projects will be implemented beginning in 2024. There will also be in-person events in each borough, with Queens’ coming on June 3 at the Queens Night Market.

There will also be paper ballots available at several locations throughout the city, including 48 in Queens at schools, libraries and cultural centers.

Prior to the The People’s Money, participatory budgeting was an optional program adopted by councilmembers, with only a handful of the Queens delegation participating, and pulled from members’ discretionary funds. However, this project utilizes expense funding, which allows for a more creative breadth of projects, the CEC says.

“Throughout The People’s Money process, the CEC has been focused on manifesting community power and meeting New Yorkers where they are at. During this voting phase we will continue our robust efforts to engage equitably with residents across the five boroughs,” said Dr. Sarah Sayeed, the chair and executive director of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission. “Participatory budgeting is a pathway into civic engagement that enables communities to move their voice into action on decisions that impact their lives.”

In 2021, the CEC launched “The People’s Money,” a $1.3 million PB process in the 33

neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19, as part of the Taskforce for Racial Inclusion and Equity

Neighborhood Initiative and in partnership with the Young Men’s Initiative. Residents decided how to spend over $40,000 in expense funding in programs and services for their neighborhood. That process continued in 2022, with the promise of citywide expansion not yet met.

But that changed this year.

According to the CEC, over 500 idea generation sessions were held across the city, to help to determine the projects for the 2023 program. There were a little over 2,000 project ideas submitted, with 39 on the ballots for the five boroughs, and several more for individual neighborhoods.

For Queens, there are nine projects on the ballot, each with a $280,000 price tag. The top three projects with the highest voting totals will be implemented.

Here are some of the programs featured on the ballot in Queens:

A youth entrepreneurs program, which will teach youth about opening and sustaining a small business by providing basic management and interpersonal skills such as budgeting, hiring, marketing, and engagement.

A program that gives self-defense training for vulnerable groups.

A project to create Spanish-language classes for non-Spanish speakers.

A public housing youth council, which is an afterschool internship and mentorship program for youth in public housing.

After school workshops on lifestyle guidance for kids to teach them about mental and physical health.

Funding to expand the World’s Borough’s multicultural events and festivals.

Assistance for new immigrants who want to continue their careers in the United States through workshops.

Job training and employment preparation programs for unhoused individuals.

Finally, support and wellness services for parents that include childbirth education classes, infant CPR/safety, mental health support and support groups.

Several Queens neighborhoods, split into nine groups, have their own ballots as well, with additional projects for their respective communities. The project with the most votes will be implemented.

The neighborhoods in Queens with additional ballots are: Queensbridge, Corona, East Elmhurst, Briarwood, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, South Jamaica, Hollis, St. Albans, Rochdale, Springfield Gardens, Queens Village, Rockaway and Broad Channel.

Voters can enter their zip code and see which ballot they may be applicable for. For instance, the Rockaway and Broad Channel ballot includes five projects each costing $50,000, including funding a violence prevention program, a Rockaways Trauma Therapy Services Center and funding for a youth drone piloting program.

All projects are available online at the CEC’s website, as are the locations where paper ballots are available.