Updates from District 8 in Manhattan and the Bronx
How to spend a million bucks
By Alex Robinson Mott Haven Herald Sun, 2011-11-13
Participatory Budgeting on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show
By Brian Lehrer WNYC Fri, 2011-10-21
Brad Lander, Brooklyn City Councilman (D-39), and Melissa Mark-Viverito, city council member representing East Harlem and parts of the Bronx and Upper West Side discuss their new plan to involve constituents in budget allocation.
Harlem and Upper West Side Residents to Have a Say in Budgeting Process
By Jeff Mays DNAInfo.com Tue, 2011-10-11
Residents in East Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side will have a say in how $1 million in capital funds are spent throughout their neighborhoods in next year's budget process. East Harlem City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito is one of four councilmembers trying out participatory budgeting, a process where community members get to vote on which community projects receive funding.
What Would You Do With $1 Million of the City's Money?
By Noreen Malone New York Magazine Daily Intel Wed, 2011-09-14
Not a totally hypothetical question! Four city council members have decided to engage in "participatory budgeting," meaning that they'll let their constituents help choose how to spend their districts' $1 million discretionary funds. So if you live in Brad Lander, Jumaane D. Williams, Melissa Mark-Viverito, or Eric Ulrich's districts, start spitballing.
4 Council Members, Each With $1 Million, Will Let Public Decide How It’s Spent
By Kate Taylor The New York Times Tue, 2011-09-13
Four City Council members, intrigued by experiments begun in Brazil to let ordinary citizens determine how government uses tax dollars, say they plan to allow their constituents to decide how $4 million is spent next year. Through a process known as participatory budgeting, constituents in each of the four Council districts will be enlisted to develop and choose among proposals for local capital projects like street repairs, new parks and public artworks. The money — $1 million in each district — will come out of the council members’ discretionary funds.
How to Spend $1 Million in City Money: Residents Decide
By Nat Rudarakanchana TheUptowner.org Mon, 2011-10-17
Over 120 curious uptown residents gathered last week to take part in a brief but highly-anticipated political experiment: They began deciding how to spend a sliver of the city budget in their own neighborhood.
