RVT: What does our neighborhood need?

(by Alexis M.)

Now is our chance to have a real impact in our neighborhood. How? Through Participatory Budgeting (PBNYC). We, like other (but not all) residents of New York City, are being asked by New York City Council to help them decide how to spend money in our neighborhoods. Fortunately for us, our City Council member Shaun Abreu is participating in Participatory Budgeting. As you walk around our neighborhood, do you find yourself thinking, why don’t “they” do this or that? Well, in this case “they” is us and instead of thinking “because we live uptown” now’s our chance to do something about it!

How Would You Spend $1 Million in Your Community?

If you have thoughts to improve your community, visit the Online Idea Map and submit an idea to improve public spaces such as schools, parks, streets, libraries and more! PBNYC funds physical infrastructure projects in public spaces that cost at least $50,000 and have a lifespan of at least 5 years.

We can suggest better tree guards and trees planted in the tree pits on both sides of 139th Street and 140th Street and along Riverside Drive. We can suggest more computer stations, computers, laptops, associated equipment and furniture for our local New York Public Library on 145th Street. We can suggest modern computer, technology and science labs and/or air conditioning for our local public schools. We can suggest beautification projects for our neighborhood! What have you seen downtown that we need up here?

Check out the results of previous Participatory Budgeting cycles (Cycle 8 and prior cycles). See which projects have already been suggested, funded and not funded, in our District 7. See what other kinds of projects have been suggested, funded and not funded “downtown” (check Districts 3, 5, and 6) and in other City Council districts. Notice what was funded “downtown” and demand it for our district!

See the kinds of projects that are being suggested this cycle on the Online Idea Map. You can add suggestions through November 15, 2024. Learn more about what types of projects qualify for funding and tell City Council what you think by attending a virtual or in-person information session. (Here’s the link for the virtual session on 11/9, 12pm.) The key to getting what we want is to participate!