Brooklyn, NY – First in NYC: Borough Park Community Can Decide How To Spend City Dollars

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    Brooklyn, NY – The 39th New York City Council district and it surrounding areas are about to experience a promising project in democracy tonight. Long time community activist turned Councilman, Brad Lander recently announced that over the next several months, his office will undertake an exciting initiative to put budgeting decisions directly in the hands of the people those decisions will impact most, the citizens of his district.

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    Over the coming months, residents of his district, which includes parts of Boro Park community will form committees that will turn ordinary citizens ideas into project proposals, which will get funded by NYC after being voted upon by residents of the district. This is a tremendous opportunity to voice ones concern directly to his/her elected officials. Constituents will be able to directly communicate with Councilman Brad Lander what needs to be built or repaired in their community. This project will essentially allow constituents to dictate to Councilmember Lander how to allocate $1 million in capital funding to the projects that they think are most important.

    In order to deal with the recent influx of questions on this project can work, Councilman lander will be holding an informational meeting that is open to all members of his district. The meeting which will be held tonight, at 6:30PM at Bais Yaakov of Boro Park located at 1363 46th St will explain how how citizens will play a major role in determining what projects are most important to them. This will also allow for community members to directly offer their own ideas and guidance to Councilman Lander and top staff on how to improve this experiment. When one talks about how a democracy should work, this method of funding priorities certainly expresses the imagination and creativity of officials who want to empower ordinary citizens.

    “I hope the community will join us to make this process a success.”This is their opportunity to tell me what needs to be built or repaired in the community. I am committing to let the residents of this district, allocate $1 million in capital funding to the projects that they think are most important” said Councilman Lander”.


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    17 Comments
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    SarahJ
    SarahJ
    12 years ago

    This sounds wonderful — hopefully more members of the council will do this. why shouldnt we have a say in where our money goes?!?!

    12 years ago

    I think this is a great idea finally we decide what to do with the money and maybe now it will help repair the streets

    Idontknow
    Idontknow
    12 years ago

    Good Job! Sounds like a great idea.

    whatt
    whatt
    12 years ago

    I hate to be cynical but I think this is a dangerous idea. I think the ordinary citizen is not capable of differentiating between what is necessary and what they would like, if funds are spent on certain projects they will not be available for more important projects that the layperson may not take into account.Furthermore the danger stands that certain groups might try to hijack the proposals with their agendas.
    But I assume that the councilman has thought of these issues and has set up the project in a way that will place some sort of limits on the proposels by the community.

    sasregener
    sasregener
    12 years ago

    with all due respect its all baloney. we all know who will benefit from all this. it’s all window dressing. the money will go where lander wants it to go. he has lots of favors to repay

    Idontknow
    Idontknow
    12 years ago

    This is really wonderful of Councilman Lander. We need more like him.

    Facts1
    Facts1
    12 years ago

    And this time around lets not allow Askanim and Yshiva administrators dictate where the money goes. How foolish we were when we followed there advice and voted for Bloomberg.

    We all know how they pocket the money dont credit the parents for vouchers in full, still charging them for transportation and the rest. Always crying they dont have enough. Maybe that’s true, so is everyone else.

    Let the money come directly to parents and individuals. The Mosdos get there fair share.

    Aryeh
    Aryeh
    12 years ago

    Giant, public sukkah next year anyone?

    12 years ago

    Totally PR. The role of the City Council based on the City’s Charter does NOT give the each Council member such rights and authority. It is foolish to think that one Councilman has the say as to where our funding should go. It is merely a suggestion that the community can make and then it is a mere suggestion that the Councilman can make to the Council. Nothing is happening now that didn’t take place without the woopla that the Councilman’s office is handing out.

    It makes it sound as if the Councilman has a veto power or a power to direct where the money should go.

    12 years ago

    does it really mean that we could decide or some people claiming to be in charge

    k9hara
    k9hara
    12 years ago

    What if one Bobov wants a new bais medrash?
    What if one mn wants bus stops in front of his house, but his neighbor doesn’t want?
    What if someone wants free wifi throughout Boro Park and someone else has problems with that?

    chosen-nation
    chosen-nation
    12 years ago

    FREE public gym