New York City is experiencing a new kind of democracy. Through Participatory Budgeting, residents of four Council Districts are directly deciding how to spend around $6 million of public money. From October 2011 to March 2012, community members are exchanging ideas, working together to turn ideas into project proposals, and voting to decide what proposals get funded.
Any resident of the participating council districts 18 years of age or older can vote. More details available here.
By NBCNewYork.com, NBCNewYork.com, Tue, 2011-10-18
A New York City councilman says he has $1 million to spend -- and he wants his district members to tell him how to use it. Councilman Jumaane D. Williams, who represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, announced Sunday he is allocating $1 million from his capital budget for "participatory budgeting."