Brooklyn – Councilman David G. Greenfield is inviting all Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst residents to take part in the ongoing participatory budgeting initiative in the 44th Council District, which allows all citizens ages 16 and older to vote on how $1 million in government funds will be spent on specific projects right in their neighborhood. Residents can get involved in this exciting experiment in open government by attending an upcoming expo on Wednesday, February 27th at P.S. 205, located at 6701 20th Avenue, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. to learn more about each project that will appear on the final ballot in April.

Over the past few months, volunteer budget delegates from around the community have been reviewing all of the neighborhood improvement projects submitted by residents. This review includes coming up with a cost estimate for the project and checking to make sure that it is feasible and allowed under New York City’s regulations and restrictions for public funding. At Wednesday’s project expo, residents can view informational displays about each project and provide input on ways to revise and improve the ideas before the final vote, which will be held at locations around the district during the first week of April. All eligible district residents, from high school students to senior citizens and everyone in between, are urged to attend the expo and then vote on their favorite project this spring.

In all, Councilman Greenfield has allocated $1 million in next year’s city budget to fund the top project selected from each of the district’s three neighborhoods, Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst. This will ensure that each area portion of the district benefits from this exciting experiment in open government.

“It has been very exciting to hear all of the residents’ creative and insightful ideas over the past few months to improve their block or neighborhood. The upcoming project expo is a great chance for everyone in Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst to learn more about the projects that will appear on the final ballot in April and decide which one they want funded with the million dollars I have aside for this initiative. I hope that many residents will take advantage of this unique opportunity to decide exactly how capital funds are spent here in the 44th Council District,” said Councilman Greenfield.

Some of the projects that have been suggested by residents and will be on the final ballot include the resurfacing of various streets across the district that are in great need of repairs, installing security cameras at schools, houses of worship and other vulnerable sites, adding pedestrian countdown clocks to dangerous intersections, implementing traffic calming measures near a neighborhood public school, and other ideas to improve safety and quality of life locally.

Contact Councilman Greenfield’s district office at (718) 853-2704 for more information about Wednesday’s project expo or participatory budgeting.

(YWN Desk – NYC)