#district 33

[guyanesegirlsrock]

Guyanese Lalita Etwaroo is Running for New York State Assembly in District 33 As we watch more and more women throwing their hats into today’s political arena during these highly polarizing times, Lalita Etwaroo is gearing up to challenge Democratic incumbent Clyde Vanel for a New York State Assembly Legislative seat.  Born in Georgetown, Guyana, the recent college ... http://guyanesegirlsrock.com/?p=33557

[thinksubstance]

Marianne Williamson, The Hemp Activist’s Candidate

Marianne Williamson, The Hemp Activist’s Candidate

Marianne Williamson at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center

Marianne Williamson, author and spiritual leader is running for US Congress  in my district (#33). This is ridiculously exciting to me as I have been personally touched by Marianne’s teachings.  If you’ve seen the back of my car, my lawn sign or the t-shirt I’ve been wearing, I think you’d get the point……I’m a fan! I can honestly…

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[jakeleffermanjournalism-blog]

From Brazil to Brooklyn – Participatory Budgeting Shakes Things Up

By Jake Lefferman

BROOKLYN, NY - Brooklyn residents began the process of deciding how to spend one million dollars of the public budget Thursday night.  Community residents proposed and debated projects that included environmental improvement, public safety, and technology updates.

Historic Borough Hall housed this, the first of several neighborhood assemblies.  A dozen residents divided into small brainstorming groups to share concerns and propose solutions to what they see as the most critical issues affecting their neighborhoods.

This citywide initiative, called participatory budgeting, came to New York City three years ago by way of Brazil.  First piloted in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989 the program gives community members decision-making powers over an earmarked portion of the city’s budget.  Since then, it has spread to over 1,500 countries throughout the world including New York, Chicago, and Vallejo, California according to the project’s website.   

Brooklyn City Councilman Stephen Levin said the program aims at empowering communities to decide how to spend their tax dollars and keeps the district budget transparent and accountable.  “It gives people some confidence that government is responsive and is working for them, that they can participate, and that their voice does matter,” he said.

The program is gaining momentum.  Last year, over thirteen thousand New York voters chose 45 winning projects totaling over ten million dollars in government funding.  More than 1700 projects were proposed by over 1600 residents, said outreach coordinator Benjamin Solitaire, a number organizers hope to beat this year.

Now in its second year in Brooklyn’s 33rd district, one of nine districts participating, the program relies heavily on the work of a few staff members, volunteer support, and community involvement, said volunteer Jake Karr.  Karr helped lead Thursday’s meeting along with outreach coordinator, Benjamin Solitaire, and Levin’s lead organizer, Lisa Bloodgood.

“It’s really just people in the community who are really engaged and really care about this project,” said Karr.

Facilitators Lisa Bloodgood and Jake Karr lead a community breakout session at Thursday’s meeting. Photo by Jake Lefferman.

Solitaire and Bloodgood gave a presentation on the history and goals of participatory budgeting and the rules and procedure governing suggestions.  Facilitators explained that each project must cost a minimum of $35,000 and all projects combined cannot exceed $1 million, the standard amount each city council member sets aside for his or her district.  They then divided attendants into small groups where they shared ideas about how to spend the money.

“We need up to date technology for god’s sake,” said resident Daphne Griffith, while proposing funding to purchase new computers in local schools.

“I would like to see children’s gardening programs in K through eighth grade,” said Diane Buxbaum, who suggested modeling an initiative based off Alice Water’s Edible Schoolyard Project.  “Not only does it teach children nutritional values but responsibility and how to cook.”

Others cited public safety as a concern.  “These reckless drivers should be punished for making U-turns unexpectedly without even signaling.  I’ve seen it four times this week,” Griffith said while arguing for the need for stricter traffic enforcement.

Additional suggestions included Borough Hall Plaza improvements, rooftop gardens, more trashcans in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, and soft edges along the Gowanus River. 

Last year, Levin’s district allocated over $1.7 million to public housing repair, park improvement, playgrounds, library upgrades, MTA station upgrades, and security cameras through the program.  Levin said he was pleased with last year’s turnout and expects more this time around.  “We had good participation and people got really invested so we want to make sure that happens throughout the district again this year,” Levin said.

The Councilman also said his office learned a lot from last year and is working on strategic outreach to reach more people.  “We want to see more participation from some pockets of the community who didn’t seem to participate as much last year and make sure there’s a stepped up level of participation,” said Levin.  He cited South Williamsburg, public housing developments, and the senior community.   

Volunteers and residents become involved in participatory budgeting for a variety of reasons.  Jake Karr said, “I think it’s one of the most direct ways to make democracy matter and visible and remind people that democracy is more than just going out and voting every few years.”  Karr’s interests in this program were first peaked in a course at Brown University.  The professor was a visiting instructor from Porto Alegre, where the program was piloted, and often lectured about its origins and results.

According to a World Bank case study on the program’s Brazilian birthplace, the results are mostly positive.  The study found that citizen participation in the program rose steady, from 1000 in 1990 to 40,000 in 1999.  It also notes that the budget controlled by citizens increased from 17% in 1992 to 21% in 1999 and that citizen priorities had led to the reallocation of funds to public housing, sewer and water connections, and schools.  However, the study also indicates that the program has been slow to involved members of the poorer sectors of the community, and participation drops off once a group’s demands are met. 

Councilman Stephen Levin (D-District 33) speaks with resident at Thursday's neighborhood assembly. Photo by Jake Lefferman.

At the end of Thursday’s meeting, the top six ideas were proposed to Stephen Levin, as he sat eagerly in the front row.  Citizens pitched Borough Hall Plaza upgrades, school gardens and roof gardens, tree evaluation and maintenance, sidewalk benches, and library technology improvements.  All ideas suggested by participants, however, will go to the next stage of the budgeting process, delegate meetings, where proposals will be developed from November through March.  

There will be several more brainstorming sessions, open to the public, at neighborhood assemblies throughout the month.  This process will continue until a pubic vote before the end of the fiscal year in April.

[hyperallergic]

Brooklyn Councilmember Levin's Art Agenda

Artful councilmember Stephen Levin. (image via Wikipedia)

In a recentannouncement, New York City…

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