Participatory Budgeting in New York City

A pilot project to involve community members in direct decision making during the NYC budget process

2011-2012 Pilot Initiative in NYC

District 8, Manhattan Melissa Mark-Viverito (D)

Around $6 Million TOTAL!

District 39, Brooklyn Brad Lander (D)

District 45, Brooklyn Jumaane Williams (D)

The Rockaways & Broad Channel District 32, Queens Eric Ulrich (R)

How does PB fit into the traditional budget process?

Mayor CITY City Council
Capital Budget Funds

Council Member
Council Member Develops Proposals in Consultation PROCESS PB with Community

Council Member Chooses Proposals

Council Member Submits PB Proposals

Community Votes on Proposals

Community Designs Proposals

Who are the key players?

Community Decision-Makers District Residents
Vote on Projects

Organizers and Support Council Member Offices Community Voices Heard

Community Engagement Lead

Citywide Steering Committee

Design and oversee overall process

Budget Delegates
Develop concrete project proposals out of community ideas

District Committees
Implement and manage the process locally

The Participatory Budgeting Project

Technical Assistance Lead

District Stakeholders
Propose Projects

Research & Evaluation Team

Citywide Steering Committee

District Committees

Participatory Budgeting Cycle in NYC

Research & Evaluation

2. Delegate Meetings
(Nov-Feb)
develop proposals

3. Neighborhood Assemblies II
(Feb & Mar)
get community feedback

Neighborhood Assemblies Round I: October & November

Online Engagement

Budget Delegate Meetings November - February

Neighborhood Assemblies Round II February & March

Outreach & Mobilization

Arts, Culture & Media

Campaigning for Projects

Participatory Budgeting Vote

Large-Scale Voting Events

Small-Scale Mobile Voting Sites

Announcements & Celebrations

Major Takeaways: Year 1

Power was given back to the people Nearly 8,000 more people across the 4 districts participated throughout the cycle New players were incorporated into civic life Community members developed new skills, leadership and expertise Connections were built across race, class and community

Things to Improve Upon: Year 2

Further develop governance structure for PB process Streamline process to reduce cost and time required Enhance targeted outreach before first round Neighborhood Assemblies Improve outreach to non-English speakers Integrate more arts, culture, and media Utilize technology (e.g. SMS texting, predictive dialing, etc.) to increase scale Incorporate more traditional GOTV techniques

Whats Next? Participatory Budgeting Expansion

Launch of Brooklyn College PB process Re-commitments from 4 original Council Members Commitments from 2-4 additional Council Members Discussions with City Agencies (e.g. NYCHA) Discussions with Mayoral & Council Candidates Exploration of utilization of PB with expense funds Exploration of how participatory decision-making can be incorporated into other processes

Eye on the larger city budget

Participatory Budgeting in NYCs District 8

East Harlem/ South Bronx/ Manhattan Valley

Video