Starting from today until June 12, the annual participatory budgeting project “The People’s Money” in New York City is open for voting. New Yorkers who are at least 11 years old, regardless of their immigration status and background, can participate in the voting process to choose the community projects they want to see funded by the city government.
On June 5, during the Immigrant Heritage Month, Manuel Castro, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), along with Dr. Sarah Sayeed, the Executive Director of the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC), and immigrant groups held a press conference at the Immigrant Heritage Plaza in Manhattan’s Financial District to promote the initiative. The CEC also set up outreach booths in 13 languages to introduce New Yorkers to “The People’s Money” and the voting process.
Director Castro of MOIA stated that voting is not only a way for immigrants to demonstrate their presence but also a significant symbol of community integration. Dr. Sayeed, the Executive Director of CEC, emphasized that regardless of people’s backgrounds as nurses, workers, or others, they all have the democratic opportunity to voice their thoughts.
The concept of “Participatory Budgeting” in New York City can be divided into two phases. The first phase began in 2011 when the City Council invited residents to decide how to use public funds. In November 2018, nearly a million New Yorkers voted in a citywide referendum proposed by the Charter Revision Commission, agreeing to establish and authorize the CEC to implement the annual participatory budgeting initiative, known as “The People’s Money,” using mayoral funds.
The second phase took place in September 2022, when the Mayor of New York City, in collaboration with CEC and 82 contracted community organizations, launched “The People’s Money” for the first time. Thousands of New Yorkers submitted ideas, and the 46 projects with the most votes received a total of $5 million in funding, with a focus on youth and mental health services.
This year’s voting phase will conclude on June 12, and as of June 4, over 35,000 residents have already cast their votes. This weekend, CEC, along with community organizations like “Sunnies,” a giant inflatable installation named “Mamma Sunny,” and dancing puppets, will interact with the public at the outreach booths of “The People’s Money” in Staten Island and Brooklyn Sunset Parks: (1) Family Fun Day at Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island on June 8 from 10 am to 3 pm; (2) Puerto Rican Day Parade at Sunset Park in Brooklyn on June 9 from 5 pm to 9 pm.
To vote online or learn more about the participatory budgeting project “The People’s Money,” you can visit: https://www.participate.nyc.gov/