Council Member Brad Lander discussed participatory budgeting that has been implemented in New York City's 39th district. Participatory budgeting allows community members to directly decide how to spend part of a public budget through a democratic process. In the first year over 6,000 voters and 250 budget delegates were involved in the district's participatory budgeting process. It identified community project ideas and funding priorities through neighborhood assemblies and delegate meetings. While challenges remain, participatory budgeting has deepened civic engagement and trust in government by giving residents a direct say in budget decisions.

1. Participatory Budgeting
In New York City
Council Member Brad Lander
New York City, 39th District
Livable St. Louis Conference
October 26, 2012

2. BEFORE CITY COUNCIL

3. BRINGING ENGAGEMENT INTO OFFICE
 Supporting community organizing
 E-communications & social networking
 Interactive online tools
 NYC City Council Progressive Caucus

4. PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
Community members directly determine how to spend part of
a public budget.
• Decision-making (not consultation)
• Ongoing process, not one-time contest
• Inclusive and deliberative
First launched in Porto Allegre, Brazil in 1989.
Now in 3,000+
cities around the
world … but only
just reaching the
United States.

5. Participatory
Budgeting
In New York City

6. Neighborhood
Assemblies
(Oct-Nov)
identify community needs,
brainstorm proposals
Delegate
Implementation Leadership Meetings
& Monitoring development, (Nov-Feb)
of projects research & research & develop
evaluation proposals
Community Present ideas to
Vote the community
(March) (Feb)

7. Neighborhood Assemblies

8. Neighborhood Assemblies

9. Neighborhood Assemblies

10. Budget Delegates

11. Budget Delegates

13. District 39, Year 1:
864 Project Ideas
219 Eligible
Projects
20 Proposals on
Ballot
7 Received
Funding

14. Voting

16. Voting

17. Voting

18. Voting

19. WINNING PROJECTS

20. “REVOLUTIONARY CIVICS IN ACTION”
• Over 6,000 voters, 250+ budget delegates
• Many newly active or disenfranchised
• 33% of neighborhood assembly participants & budget delegates
said they had never before worked with others in their
community to solve a problems
• 61% think our democracy needs a lot of changes (vs. 33% of
general population).
• Racially, ethnically & economically diverse

21. CHALLENGES & QUESTIONS
• Extremely time-intensive
• Outreach to diverse populations is challenging
• Legislative districts are not communities
• Very little money
• Challenging to link to
• broader budget issues
• other frames for community planning
• equity framework
• Relationship between elected officials, neighborhood
leaders, supporting organizations is complex

22. “REVOLUTIONARY CIVICS IN ACTION”
• Deep participation
• Renewed sense of trust in government
• Deep sense of stewardship of public realm
• Seen as both inclusive & efficient
• Pushed within & across City agencies
• Opened a dialogue on neighborhood planning
• Developed new leaders
• Doubled from 4 to 8 City Council members for FY2013
… and hopefully beyond

23. Participatory Budgeting
In New York City
Council Member Brad Lander
New York City, 39th District
Livable St. Louis Conference
October 26, 2012