Koslowitz nixes participatory budgeting in order to fund lingering Queens capital projects
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Councilmember Karen Koslowitz will forgo participatory budgeting this year. Eagle file photo by Walter Karling
By David Brand
Councilmember Karen Koslowitz will forgo participatory budgeting this year in order to fund lingering Central Queens capital projects in her final year in office, she said Wednesday.
Koslowitz, who is term-limited at the end of 2021, told members of Queens Community Board 6 that she will specifically fund renovations at the Rego Park and Richmond Hill branches of the Queens Public Library, as well as some projects in local schools. CB6 represents Forest Hills, Rego Park and Kew Gardens, which are also located in Koslowitz’s Council District 29.
“This year, I’m not going to do participatory budgeting at all,” Koslowitz said. “Since this is going to be my last budget, I have projects I need to take care of.”
Participatory budgeting allows councilmembers to allocate money to projects voted on by residents of their district. The money must go to physical infrastructure projects that benefit the public, last for at least five years and cost $50,000 or more.
For the past five years, Koslowitz has set aside $1 million in Council funds for community-driven projects, but the city’s current austerity budget will likely limit the amount of money she receives relative to previous years, she said
“The budget was a tough thing to do this year, having to cut many things we did not want to cut but had to cut, and we’re in a very bad way,” she said. “I don’t know how much money I will be getting from the Council for capital.”
In 2019, she provided $600,000 for bathroom renovations at six public schools and $400,000 for water bottle-filling stations at eight schools after district residents voted in favor of those proposals.
"PB is all about having local communities decide which projects they want to prioritize, as we work toward a more transparent and inclusive city government," Koslowitz said at the time.
Last year, 33 of the council’s 51 members opted in to participatory budgeting. A July study by NYU researcher Erin Godfrey found that the New York City council districts that adopted participatory budgeting allocated a larger proportion of their discretionary budgets to schools, streets and public housing and less to parks and recreation projects and housing preservation and development.
At least two councilmembers, Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, will continue to engage their district through participatory budgeting this year.
CB6 Education Chair Heather Dimitriadis said the participatory budgeting decision was disappointing but she thanked Koslowitz for her past support.
“Exceedingly sad, yet exceedingly grateful for the capital investment that has been made by the councilwoman through PB to the schools, libraries and the general safety of our community. Hoping that whomever leads D29 next shares her vision,” Dimitradis tweeted.
