New York City

PBP is proud to serve as the lead technical assistance partner for a PB process that started in October 2011 in four New York City Council districts. During the first year of Participatory Budgeting in New York City (PBNYC), Council Members Brad Lander, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Eric Ulrich, and Jumaane Williams each set aside at least $1 million in capital discretionary funds for residents to allocate - a total of over $5 million.

Before the launch, PBP worked closely with the Council Members, lead community partner Community Voices Heard, and a City-Wide Steering Committee of 40 organizations, to design and plan the process. We then helped establish District Committees in each of the four districts, to plan the opening round of neighborhood assemblies and encourage local participation.

Volunteer budget delegates, selected at the assemblies, next met for 3-4 months to develop final budget proposals. In March 2012, residents in each district voted on the proposals, and the top vote-getters are being included in the city budget for 2013. In year two, we look forward to expanding PBNYC to additional council districts.