Participatory Budgeting 2019 Winners!

About a month ago we shared information on this year’s Participatory Budgeting process in our district. As a reminder, this is when City Council members (ours is Costa Constantinides, District 22) allocate at least $1 million from their budget for the entire community to decide where it’s spent.

Over 2,500 community members voted on 13 projects earlier this month, online and in person. And now, the results are in.

Without further ado, directly from Constantinides’s office, the projects chosen are…

• Water Bottle Refilling Stations, $285,000: This proposal applies to all elementary schools in Council District 22: P.S. 2, 17, 84, 85, 151, 171, and 234. Rapid bottle filler stations will replace existing drinking fountains within these facilities.
• Updated High Speed WiFi, $250,000: Internet connectivity at The Young Women’s Leadership School will significantly improve thanks to upgrades to the wireless system.
• Classroom Electrical Upgrades, $150,000: Eleven classrooms on the third floor of P.S. 70 will undergo electrical upgrades. This will enable the classrooms rooms to support window air conditioners.
• Astoria Library Revitalization Supplement, $250,000: This will support ongoing work to reimagine the Queens Library at Astoria branch as a 21st century learning facility, which has seen about $8 million worth of investment over the last five years. The allocation aids in more furniture, equipment, and fixtures for this historic library.
• Real Time Passenger Information, $180,000: More bus countdown clocks will be installed throughout District 22. This technology uses GPS data to notify commuters when the next bus will arrive. The Department of Transportation will chose locations based in part on public input.

Were you able to participate in voting this year? Are you happy with the projects chosen to get funding? Let us know in the comments!

And, we’ll let you know as soon as we have info on the next Participatory Budgeting cycle, which will begin this fall. That’s when you’ll be able to pitch ideas on how the money will be spent again.