Queens leads the way in first-ever citywide “People’s Money” vote

Queens voters led all boroughs in turnout in the first-ever “The People’s Money,” selecting three projects to aid Queens residents and youth. Eagle file photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

The people have spoken. 

Nearly 50 projects totalling $5 million have been selected by “the people” as part of the city’s first-ever citywide participatory budgeting program dubbed “The People’s Money.”

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers voted in the Civic Engagement Commission’s program, the first time it's been implemented in all five boroughs. 

All city residents 11-years-old and older were eligible to vote on projects to be funded in their borough. In total, the city says there were 25,339 digital ballots and 85,032 paper ballots  for a total of 110,371 ballots citywide. Queens led the way in voting, with 33,606 ballots submitted – because New Yorkers could vote for as many projects on the ballot as they liked, there were  121,561 votes submitted by Queens residents. 

“Through this historic process, we are learning more about the needs and priorities of New Yorkers and taking steps to effect change by investing directly into our communities,” said Mayor Eric Adams in a statement. “This administration believes in the power of community voice, and by providing opportunities like ‘The People’s Money,’ we strengthen our democracy and deepen civic engagement.”

Like the City Council’s participatory budgeting program, which individual councilmembers can choose to participate in, “The People’s Money” seeks project submissions from residents, then holds a voting period and ultimately selects winning programs to be funded by the city. 

In 2021, the CEC launched “The People’s Money,” which at the time was a $1.3 million participatory budgeting process in the 33 neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19, as part of the Taskforce for Racial Inclusion and Equity Neighborhood 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 with the first-ever citywide participatory budgeting program.  

“There’s no one better to decide how the New York City budget is spent than New Yorkers themselves,” said New York City Chief Engagement Officer Betsy MacLean. “We all have an important part to play in making our beloved city work better and be better for all of us.” 

“Huge congratulations to [CEC Executive Director] Dr. [Sarah] Sayeed and the powerhouse ‘People’s Money’ team for leading this groundbreaking effort — the first of its kind so focused on equity and inclusion and at this scale,” MacLean added. “I am deeply inspired by the more than 100 community partners and over 100,000 New Yorkers who rolled up their sleeves and got in the weeds of city-making.” 

In total, 2,000 project ideas were submitted citywide. 

The 33,606 Queens residents who cast their votes for the project voted on a total of nine projects, three of which will be funded with a price tag of $280,000. Voters were encouraged to vote for as many projects as they’d like. 

The first place project was 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.

In second place was parent support and wellness services, which include childbirth education classes, infant CPR/safety, mental health support and support groups. 

The third and final project which will receive funding was after school workshops on lifestyle guidance for kids to teach them about mental and physical health. 

There was a pretty big gap between the funded projects and the rest of the pack. The fourth place project, which would have established a program to create job training for unhoused people, got 3,000 less votes than the third-place project. 

On top of the boroughwide projects, 33 neighborhoods, including nine in Queens, were considered equity neighborhoods, and voters in those areas could vote on a community-specific project to be funded. 

Over 111,000 ballots were submitted throughout the five boroughs in the first-ever citywide participatory budgeting program. Photo via the New York Civic Engagement Commission

In Queens, Briarwood voters cast ballots for a vocational training for youth, Corona picked an etiquette program for kids, East Elmhurst picked a youth arts program, a group of Southeast Queens neighborhoods picked a vocational training and job preparation program, Queens Village selected a youth drug prevention workshop, Queensbridge picked a basic necessities program for families, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park picked a mental health program for Indo-Caribbean and South Asian families, Rockaway and Broad Channel voted for a violence prevention program and Woodhaven voted for an immigration resource center. 

Of all of the equity neighborhoods in Queens, East Elmhurst participated the most with nearly 7,000 ballots submitted. 

The whole goal of the project was to help build and foster community and civic engagement, city officials said. 

“When New Yorkers speak, we listen,” said Sayeed, the chair and executive director of the CEC. “That’s what participatory budgeting is all about — active listening, empowering communities, and building civic power.”

“Since its inception, the CEC has placed equity and justice at the center of our work to build trust in democracy,” she added. “This historic process has inspired tens of thousands of new voices into the democratic process, providing a unique, accessible pathway into civic engagement, and we are incredibly grateful for the unprecedented level of participation. We will continue to partner with communities through the implementation of these exciting projects.”

According to the CEC, the next step, phase four, is to implement the projects. 

CEC says that they will work with the implementing organizations over the course of the year to ensure they are supported, projects are effectively monitored and are completed successfully. 

All projects must be completed by June 2024.