How do you want to spend $1M in western Queens?
Van Bramer launches fi fth cycle of participatory budgeting for pet projects in area
BY BILL PARRY
The fifth cycle of
participatory budgeting
begins to wind down in western
Queens with a Project Expo at
the Sunnyside Community
Services on Saturday.
Residents are in the process
of deciding how $1 million of
the city’s budget will be spent
on capital projects throughout
the 26th Council District
which includes Long Island
City, Sunnyside, Woodside and
parts of Astoria and Maspeth.
After months of discussion
and engagement at locations
throughout the district,
community members,
in partnership with city
agencies, developed, refined,
and decided on 13 projects
from hundreds of ideas.
Now voting takes place
for the winning projects
beginning Saturday, March 30
through Sunday, April 7.
“Members of our
community have been hard at
work for months, narrowing
down hundreds of ideas
to make the final ballot,”
City Councilman Jimmy Van
Bramer said.
“I am incredibly
proud of these final
13 projects.”
Many of the projects focus on
area public schools including
a $200,000 installation of a
hydroponics science lab at
PS 150 in Sunnyside, to a
$450,000 upgrade to the stage
and lighting at the Academy
of American Studies &
Newcomers High School in
Long Island City.
The final projects list also
includes tech upgrades to the
district’s public libraries and
various improvements at
NYCHA developments.
The most expensive project
on the list is a $650,000 turf
space for the Torsney/Lou
Lodati playground on Skillman
Avenue in Sunnyside.
Community members over
the age of 11 can vote for up
to 5 projects on the ballot to
determine where the money
will be allocated. Ballots
will be available in English,
Spanish, and Bangla.
Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City.
“From renovating our
local schools and improving
accessibility at the Borden
Avenue Veterans Residence
to beautifying our public
housing and installing new
bus countdown clocks, all of
these projects are fantastic,
worthy causes that would
undeniably benefit our
neighborhoods. I encourage all
residents of the 26th District
to make their voices heard by
voting in-person at one of our
10 polling locations or voting
online. Let’s aim for record
turnout and further establish
our participatory budgeting
program as one of the most
successful in all of NYC!”
Last year, 7,100 people voted
in person and online and Van
Bramer allocated $2,579,000
for the winning projects.For
more information including
voting locations, call Van
Bramer’s district office at 718-
383-9566.
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
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TIMESLEDGER,18 MARCH 29-APR. 4, 2019 BT QNS.COM
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