Overview | The Process

The 2013 Voting Ballot

About PB NYC

The NYC Participatory Budgeting (PB) initiative is the largest of its kind in the U.S.  Participatory budgeting has gained acceptance around the world as an innovative strategy for increasing civic participation and community engagement. But thus far in the United States, only two cities have engaged in participatory budgeting – Chicago’s 49th Ward and Vallejo, California.

How the Process Works

The PB initiative takes place in three stages, including a series of community meetings in each district, a process for finalizing proposals and a final public vote.  Throughout the month of October, we held a series of neighborhood assemblies, where the brainstorming process began.  At these assemblies, all residents of District 8, as well as those who work and go to school in our district, were invited to help formulate some of the ideas generated in these assemblies into concrete proposals.  After a set of Project Expos in February and March, there will be a vote in April, open to all residents of District 8 over the age of 16. For more on the process, check out PBNYC’s Rulebook.

Neighborhood Assemblies

We held the following Neighborhood Assemblies in the Fall of 2012:

Thursday, September 20^th – 10 AM to 12 Noon
* Special Assembly for Seniors
SCAN La Guardia – 307 E. 116^th St (@ 2^nd Ave)

Tuesday, September 25^th – 6:30 PM o 9 PM
Frederick Douglass Center – 885 Columbus Ave (@ 104^th St)

Saturday, September 29^th – 11 AM to 1:30 PM
Draper Hall – 1880 1^st Ave (@ 97^th St)

Thursday, October 4^th – 6:30 PM to 9 PM
Millbrook Community Center – 201 St. Ann’s Ave (@ 137^th St)

Thursday, October 11^th – 6:30 PM to 9 PM
Red Oak Apartments – 135 W. 106^th St (@ Columbus)

Tuesday, October 16^th – 4:30 PM to 7 PM
* Special Assembly for Young People, Ages 14-24
Children’s Aid Society – 130 E. 101^st St (@ Lexington)

Wednesday, October 17^th – 6:30 PM to 9 PM
Harlem United El Faro Day Center – 179 East 116^th St (btwn Lexington & 3^rd)

Missed the Neighborhood Assemblies but Still Want to Submit Your Ideas?

Please visit District 8′s PBNYC website, created by Project for Public Spaces, where you can submit your ideas for how we should spend money in District 8, as well as review other submitted ideas and comment on them.

Project Expos

We held three Project Expos throughout the district to discuss the projects prior to the vote.  Click here to read more about how our Project Expos went.

Voting

Voting took place during the first week of April, 2013. Click here to view the 2013 Voting Ballot & learn more about the projects that were up for vote.

MOBILE VOTING SITES:

This year, mobile voting sites were held throughout the district.  

Monday, April 1st:

• Union Settlement (237 East 104th Street) 9 AM – 1 PM
• SCAN La Guardia (307 East 116th Street) 4 PM – 8 PM

Tuesday, April 2nd:

• Exodus Transitional Service (2271 Third Avenue) 9 AM – 12 PM
• EH Children’s Aid Center (130 East 101st Street) 5 PM – 7 PM

Wednesday, April 3rd:

• Food Pantry Location (140th Street between Willis & Brook) 11 AM  - 5 PM
• SCAN La Guardia (307 East 116th Street) 4 PM – 8 PM

Thursday, April 4th:

• Jefferson Rec Center (2180 First Avenue) 11 AM – 5 PM
• EH Children’s Aid Center (130 East 101st Street) 5 PM – 7 PM

Friday, April 5th:

• Dawning Village (2090 First Avenue) 9 AM – 5:30 PM

Who Can Vote?

Any resident of our council district 16 years of age or older can vote. Not sure if you’re in the district? Check the map or look it up on the City Council website.

What do I need to bring to the polls in order to vote?

You’ll need to bring at least one document proving current address and age, such as:

• A document with name and current address from a local, state, or US government agency such as a state driver’s license or non-driver ID, consular ID, passport, EBT card, military ID card;
• Voter registration card;
• Utility, medical, credit card bill with name and current address;
• Current lease;
• Paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W-2 statement;
• Bank statement or bank-issued credit card statement;
• Student ID;
• Employee ID;
• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or other Immigration Documentation;
• Residency Letter or Identification issued by a homeless shelter, halfway house, etc;
• Passport or other ID issued by a foreign government;
• Social Security Card or Social Security benefit statements or check;
• Employment Authorization Document;
• Medicare or other insurance document with address;
• Tax forms;
• School records (or naming the parents of children attending school and the parents’ address;
• Title to any property (automobiles, house, etc.) with address;
• Birth or marriage certificate;
• Union Membership Card.