Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a different way to Manage Public Money, and to Engage People in Government. It is a Democratic Process in which Community Members Directly decide how to Spend part of a Public Budget. It enables Taxpayers to Work with Government to make the Budget Decisions that affect their Lives.

PB started in Four Council Districts. Now Twenty-Two City Council Members, almost Half the Council, representing roughly 3.5 Million New Yorkers, will Open their Discretionary Budgets to Public Decisions on the Allocation of $25 Million.

The New York City's Mayoral 2018 Charter Reform Commission decided to include a Ballot Measure in the November Election calling for a New Citywide PB Process. The Measure Expanded Support from a New Civic Engagement Commission.

If Voters Approve the Ballot Measure, Mayor de Blasio will launch a Major New PB Process, the Largest in the U.S.

“At a time when our democracy is increasingly under attack, we need to build up our democratic muscles,” said Bridge Alliance Member Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) Co-Executive Director Josh Lerner. “By investing in civic engagement, we can empower hundreds of thousands of residents to get more involved, to step up as leaders, and to help government make better decisions. The proposed charter revision calling for a Civic Engagement Commission and citywide participatory budgeting is a bold step in the right direction, one that can turn New York City into a global leader in democracy."

Special thanks to Council Member Brad Lander (D-39th District) for Championing the Civic Engagement Commission Proposal, and to Allies NY Civic Engagement Table, Community Voices Heard, Common Cause, Community Development Project, the PBNYC Citywide Committee, and the District 39 PB Youth Committee for advocating for PB expansion.

Question # 2: Civic Engagement Commission

This proposal would amend the City Charter to:

Create a Civic Engagement Commission that would implement, no later than the City Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2020, a Citywide participatory budgeting program established by the Mayor to promote participation by City residents in making recommendations for projects in their communities; Require the Commission to partner with community based organizations and civic leaders, as well as other City agencies, to support and encourage civic engagement efforts; Require the Commission to establish a program to provide language interpreters at City poll sites, to be implemented for the general election in 2020; Permit the Mayor to assign relevant powers and duties of certain other City agencies to the Commission; Provide that the Civic Engagement Commission would have 15 members, with 8 members appointed by the Mayor, 2 members by the City Council Speaker and 1 member by each Borough President; and Provide for one of the Mayor’s appointees to be Commission Chair and for the Chair to employ and direct Commission staff.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker