Ditmas Park/ Midwood/ Flatbush

Now Jumaane Williams needs your ideas on how to spend one million bucks

Jumaane Williams participatory budgeting
Councilmember Jumaane Williams lobbying Curtis Granderson to sign with his office softball team. via Facebook

Participatory budgeting is sweeping Brooklyn! Following in Councilmember Levin and Councilmember Lander’s footsteps all over brownstone Brooklyn, resident badass City Councilmember Jumaane Williams is letting East Flatbush residents get in on the fun! You’ll be guided by a facilitator in small dialogues at a Neighborhood Assembly, where you and your neighbors will decide what to do with $1 MILLION in discretionary funds. You don’t have to be registered to vote, so undocumented folks, precocious high schoolers, and people who take Russell Brand’s advice are welcome. The next Assembly is this Wednesday, October 30 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at The Flatbush Minyan, 818 East 16th Street with FREE REFRESHMENTS.

No, you can’t request $500,000 for a fleet of hoverbikes or $20,000 to pump pumpkin spice scent into a couple cars on the G line, but you CAN request some pretty significant capital improvements. Think better street lighting, bike lanes, new toilets for public schools, etc. You’ll also meet new neighbors, and who knows? Maybe you’ll find a love interest who has the same burning desire for new park benches and democracy!

Follow Rachel as she continues to get excited about participatory budgeting: @rachelevestein

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