Every fall brings so much to be excited about. The start of the new school year, the glorious foliage displays, the World Series, pumpkin pie. But nothing excites me more at this time of year than the start of the next cycle of Participatory Budgeting (PB), the process by which you help decide how City Council money is spent in our neighborhoods. This fall, now that vaccination rates are up and we are beginning to rediscover coming together with neighbors and friends, it’s a great time to start thinking about the ideas that will help us continue working together to support our parks, schools and essential community programs.

So today I am thrilled to announce the start of idea collection for Cycle 11 of the City Council PB process or PBNYC. This cycle, my office with the support of the Civic Engagement Commission, spearheaded the creation of a new unified City Council Participatory Budgeting digital platform.

This new site provides greater transparency and access to each step of the PB process, from idea collection to ballot creation to voting. Once you are on the site you can read more about the history, goals and principles of participatory budgeting, view the timeline for Cycle 11, or sign up to be a PB volunteer. You can suggest new ideas, comment or like existing ones, and vote once the ballot is finalized under the guidance of Councilmember Elect Shahana Hanif next spring.

Anyone can submit an idea, but to comment on ideas and vote for your favorites you will need to sign in (or create) an NYC.ID account (the same account needed to access many City services such as Fair Fares and SNAP through HRA or afterschool programs through DYCD) which you can create here if you don’t have one.

So please check out the new site and submit your ideas by December 10. We want to hear the ideas you have for projects that address needs in our communities. It could be a capital project such as improvements to a school, park, street or other public space. Or your idea might be for a program such as community classes, open streets, or a public art project. Our District 39 PB delegates are already waiting to take your ideas, research them, and start putting together proposals for ballot projects.

And if you are interested, please don’t forget to volunteer to help. This is a special year as we transition to the leadership of Shahana Hanif in District 39. Participatory budgeting this year will transition as well, and we need the support of volunteers to make this happen!

Our District Committee is planning live and virtual events where you can also come to learn more about PB and submit your ideas. Stay tuned for more information on those events. I look forward to seeing you there.

Brad