Thursday, October 3, 2013

After great success, "Participatory Budgeting" dates for October!

Hello from CORD
This just in from Councilman Lander's Office:






Dear Community,

Two years ago, we tried something new. New Yorkers were given the power to decide how to spend tax dollars on projects in their neighborhood.

Neighborhood Assemblies
Monday, October 7th
6:30 PM
PS 230
1 Albemarle Rd.
(at McDonald Ave.)
RSVP here
Thursday, October 10th
6:30 PM
Old First Reformed Church
729 Carroll St. (at 7th Ave.)
RSVP here
Tuesday, October 15th
6:30 PM
Carroll Gardens Library
396 Clinton St. (at Union St.)
RSVP here
That idea, Participatory Budgeting, has been a huge success. Thousands of neighbors have given ideas, joined committees to develop proposals, and come out to vote. Based on your votes, we’ve funded 15 projects. And, even more importantly, we’ve seen a new excitement for local democracy.

The New York Times called it “revolutionary civics in action.” And now participatory budgeting has spread to nine City Council districts across the city.

The third year of Participatory Budgeting is starting up. We have another $1 million and need your great ideas. The whole process depends on the participation of you and your neighbors.

Please bring your project ideas to one of the neighborhood assemblies in October. RSVP here for a neighborhood assembly near you. Even if you don't have an idea to submit, please come to be part of the conversation or to learn more about how you can support the process.

This year there will be more ways to give your ideas than ever. In addition to the big “neighborhood assemblies,” we will also have more targeted meetings for seniors, teens, and in other languages. If you want to have a conversation about project ideas with your community group, church, or block association, please invite us! Just send an email to lander@council.nyc.gov.

Feel free to send in your ideas by email, phone, or in the mail. Soon, we will launch a website where you can post your ideas and see your neighbors’ suggestions.

Want to relive the excitement? Check out this award winning video about Participatory Budgeting in New York City.

The projects you voted for are already having an impact in our community. This summer, many streets in our district were greener thanks to new street trees funded through Participatory Budgeting. And in Kensington, residents are showing that they understand that the participation doesn’t end when the project is completed - they built tree guards and organized tree care days to keep their neighborhood foliage safe and healthy. Click here for a list of all projects that have been funded through Participatory Budgeting, and where they stand on the road to completion.

Brad

PS: We are going to need a lot of help with the assemblies and the whole process. If you would like to volunteer, either to help spread the word about the assemblies or to facilitate one of the breakout groups at an assembly (or if you can help with something else), please email me at lander@council.nyc.gov.

Serving the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope,
Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, and Kensington
456 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor * Brooklyn, NY 11215 * 718-499-1090

CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:
(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns