Funding initiative launched for fifth straight year
Mott Haven residents will decide how to spend $1 million in local projects for the fifth consecutive year. A gathering of several dozen assembled at a participatory budget planning meeting on Oct. 7, to discuss how to spend the funds from Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s 2017 discretionary budget.
The community is invited to attend meetings during the fall to propose projects and vote on them. The two neighborhoods in Mark Viverito’s district—East Harlem and Mott Haven— will receive $1 million each to finance the initiatives each votes to back.
Public housing, public schools and other city services, said Max Cantarero, the Council Speaker’s Director of Community Affairs.
“This gives real power over real money and it validates every voice in the community,” Cantarero said, adding he was pleased with the evening turnout and that many of the residents in attendance signed up as budget delegates.
The attendees watched a power-point presentation that explained details of the kinds of projects the money could be spent on. Projects could range between $35,000 and $1 million.
Residents then split into groups to brainstorm about issues needing attention. They included:
- Computer labs for Betance Community Center
- Air conditioning and computer equipment for P.S. 65
- Renovations at the Mitchel Community Center
- A better playground at Mitchel Houses
- Better lighting for St. Mary’s Park, Clark Park, Mill Brook Houses and Patterson Houses
- Better security for NYCHA
- More community gardens
- Lack of hot water
John Johnson, President of Mott Haven Houses, and a leading local tenant organizer, said safety for the neighborhood’s many public housing residents should be improved.
“I’m fighting for security,” Johnson said. “We need more cameras, better lighting and digital keys to get in the buildings.” Though Johnson said participatory budgeting is a strong step in the right direction, some projects can take years to be completed.
“When there’s no immediate results, people get discouraged,” said Johnson. “There needs to be instant engagement to inform people.”
Ray Figueroa, president of the New York City Community Garden Coalition, asked Cantarero about what his boss would do to manage the community’s frustration when they don’t see quick results.
“What happens when people vote, but they don’t see anything happening?” said Figueroa. Residents should have a chance at landing jobs linked to potential community projects, he said.
“There needs to be some sort of work-force development program to train local people and get them plugged into the jobs attached to these projects,” Figueroa said.
However, Cantarero replied, such measures are out of the Council Speaker’s hands because participation in the participatory budget initiative is voluntary. Still, Figueroa said he was excited about the prospects.
“I’m glad people came out to see the possibility of having real decision-making power over their tax dollars,” said Figueroa, adding that this year’s initiative has been expanded to include young people 14 and up and former felons.
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