BUDGETING IN R’WOOD Neighborhood Participates In Funding Process For First Time the instrument. The overarching goal of the process is to increase community involvement in budgeting decisions, it was noted. “Public budgets are your money,” Farkas said. After a lawmaker chooses to allocate a certain amount of money, neighborhood assemblies are held, which will begin in September and run through November; then delegate meetings to develop proposals on what projects the community wants funded will run through February; project expos to explain the various projects will be organized through March; and a vote will be collected from March through April. Members of the community 16 years of age or older are eligible to vote, and will be given a list of five projects to choose the ones they want funded. The process is now used in 1,500 cities and towns, with nine council district’s last year, and 23 this year, Farkas stated. CB 9 District Mgr. Calling It A Career “I have overseen many projects too numerous to mention here and worked with four Borough Presidents, dozens of legislators, commissioners, District Managers and their staff,” Carey told Board 9 members in a resignation letter mailed earlier this month. “In my 35 years of service to this great city with very little exceptions, I loved every minute.” Carey became Board 9’s district manager in 1979, serving under five mayors (Ed Koch, David Dinkins, Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio) and four Queens borough presidents (Donald Manes, Claire Shulman, Helen Marshall and Melinda Katz). Her retirement will take effect on Oct. 1. Throughout her tenure, she followed through on service requests made throughout Board 9’s confines, which include Kew Gardens, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven. In recent years, she also advocated against proposed reductions in city funding for local community boards. Carey also fought against the removal of the controversial Civic Virtue statue near Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens, and is part of an effort to have the restored statue returned there. The last 12 months weren’t particularly kind to Carey, as last September, several Board 9 members—including its chair, James Coccovillo—sought to relieve her of her duties. Carey was ultimately placed on probation to work out problems with technology and Council members allocate a portion of discretionary funds to the process––Reynoso chose to earmark $1 million, but can choose to increase that number. The meeting last Wednesday represented the infancy of the process, Ava Farkas, director of community organizing for Reynoso’s office, said.At the session, volunteer sign-up sheets and a presentation on how participatory budgeting works were distributed so residents could get involved, and learn more about by Noah Zuss Residents attended a participatory budgeting info session at the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council (GRYC) on Wednesday, Aug. 13 to engage in the process that allows individuals to choose which capital projects to fund in their district. This fourth session––held at the GRYC Summerfield Street headquarters––was organized by City CouncilMemberAntonio Reynoso to engage the community and educate residents on the process that will determine how to spend $1 million in discretionary funds. This year marks the first time the process will used in the district, which covers Ridgewood south and west of Myrtle and Forest avenues and parts of Bushwick East Williamsburg and Williamsburg. -SEE BUDGET ON PG. 26- H. Beach Cookout For Local Vets Here’s A Glimpse Of What’s In This Week’s Times Newsweekly... LOCAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS RIDGEWOOD: Rezoning Plan Includes Affordable Apts..........Pg. 1 MASPETH: Ridgewood Man Killed In Hit-And-Run...................Pg. 1 WOODHAVEN:WRBA Decries Persisting Eyesore...................Pg. 1 CORONA: Pols Help Giveaway School Supplies............Photo, Pg. 1 RIDGEWOOD: Façade Falls Apart At Home..................Photo, Pg. 1 RIDGEWOOD: Area’s First Participatory Budget Hearing........Pg. 3 KEWGARDENS: CB 9 District Manager To Retire.....................Pg. 3 HOWARD BEACH: Barbecue To Salute Local Vets........Photo, Pg. 3 RIDGEWOOD: Local Lawmaker Supports Times Editorial; Wants Sanitation Dept. To Clean Fresh Pond Road........................Pg. 4 CYPRESS HILLS: Assembly Candidates In Debate..................Pg. 6 SUNNYSIDE: Man Busted For Manhattan Stabbings................Pg. 6 ELMHURST: Cuff ManWho Stabbed Girlfriend, Self..................Pg. 8 MASPETH: PoliceWarn About Playground Prowler.................Pg. 8 OZONE PARK: Driver Charged With Bias Crime For Recent Hit-And-Run Truck Attack.......................................................Pg. 10 MASPETH: ECCA Revs Up For Good Causes...........Photos, Pg. 15 CORONA: Slashing Suspect Remains At Large..........................Pg. 18 REGO PARK: ThiefWanted For Elevator Robbery...........Photo, Pg. 18 FRESH MEADOWS: Looking To Provide Greater Opportunities For Women-Owned Businesses.....................................................Pg. 19 HOWARD BEACH: Big Band Concert Tonight............................Pg. 19 RIDGEWOOD/BUSHWICK: Hospital Health Fair..............Photo, Pg. 19 RIDGEWOOD: Street Fair Brings Out Big Crowd............Photo, Pg. 19 RIDGEWOOD: Night At The Opera At Plaza.....................Photo, Pg. 27 QUEENS & BROOKLYN BOROUGH-WIDE NEWS NewAppointees To Queens Library Board Of Trustees.............Pg. 10 Local Lawmaker Attends Kiwanis Club Gathering..........Photo, Pg. 10 Audit Finds Efficiency In Queens Tree Pruning Pgm.................Pg. 18 City’s Economy Experiencing Fast Growth.................................Pg. 27 Families Enjoy Summer Block Party Fun Across Bushwick, Glendale, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill And Ridgewood.....................Photos, Pgs. 22-23, 25 City Expands Program To Curb Gun Violence............................Pg. 53 COLUMNS & LISTINGS Pat Buchanan...................Pg. 4 Letters To The Editor.......Pg. 4 104th Precinct Blotter....Pg. 11 112th Precinct News......Pg. 11 Business Beat................Pg. 17 Transit & Traffic News...Pg. 18 It’s In Queens!................Pg. 20 Community Calendar....Pg. 20 Crossword & Sudoku....Pg. 20 TV Listings.....................Pg. 21 Social Security News.....Pg. 27 Sports.............................Pg. 58 SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIMES NEWSWEEKLY! SEE PAGE 55 For More NewsAnd Information, Follow Us On Twitter @timesnewsweekly & Visit www.timesnewsweekly.com 3 • TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 Carey Set To Retire This October by Robert Pozarycki After more than three decades on the job, Community Board 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey will step down from her post this fall, the advisory body announced Monday, Aug. 18. Local veterans feasted on fine grilled fare during a barbecue that State Sen. Joseph Addabbo threw outside his Howard Beach office last Saturday afternoon, Aug. 16. The senator holds the cookout for area veterans annually as a gesture of gratitude for those who served through the years in defense of the nation. Addabbo is pictured with some of the guests who enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and live music. (photo: Chris Bishop) -SEE CAREY ON PG. 26-
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