BY SEAN EGAN | For the second year running, it’s time for the residents of Council District 3 to vote for their favorite Participatory Budgeting ballot items. Adopted in 2015, the Participatory Budgeting process allows members of the community, ages 14 and up, to propose projects that would improve the community — and then vote on the top five they would like to see accomplished. Winning Participatory Budgeting items are paid for with capital funds allocated by Councilmember Corey Johnson (the top vote-getter is fully paid for, with projects greenlit until the allocated amount of $1 million has been distributed).
The 15 projects on this year’s ballot are divided into six categories: Education, Environment, Park & Recreation, Transit, Youth, and Arts, Culture & Community Facilities. Voting takes place Mar. 26–Apr. 3, at six area facilities (early voting was available to those who attended a Mar. 22 Community Expo, held at PS340, where various project sponsors made the case for their particular ballot item).
There’s no shortage of efforts and initiatives worth your vote. One such project is Item 12 — a proposal to replace the dysfunctional HVAC cooling system in the NYPL’s Muhlenberg Library (209 W. 23rd St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.).
“At the moment, the system that we’re using is not really adequate to cover the entire branch. We’re a three-floor branch,” explained the Muhlenberg manager, Lateshe Lee, who describes issues with keeping a consistent temperature throughout the building. This is particularly troubling, as the branch functions as an official NYC Cooling Center.
“We let people sit all day if they need to, or just come in briefly and take a rest from the heat,” she elaborated, noting that it provides relief to the homeless population, as well as making the many programs for adults and kids more enjoyable.
Other public spaces being put to a vote include renovations to two basketball courts, as well as improvements to DeWitt Clinton and Chelsea Parks.
School improvements are also well-represented this year. Lab MS, Lab HS, and Museum High are seeking both gym and bathroom renovations, while the new 75 Morton Street middle school is looking to build a green roof.
As reported in Chelsea Now last year, the recently opened City Knoll Middle School (425 W. 33rd St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.) is in desperate need of a library for its students, and is looking to the Participatory Budgeting process for help.
“There’s lots of empty shelves,” said Principal Victoria Armas. “We’re looking to renovate the space with updated bookcases, furniture, lighting. and technology. We’d like some desktop computers, definitely, with some digital libraries on them for us to use, as well as opportunities for kids to do research, which is an important part of our curriculum.”
PS11 (320 W. 21st St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) is also looking to Participatory Budgeting, in order to secure a new Audio/Visual (A/V) system.
“It just doesn’t properly function on a regular basis,” said Michael Walsh, who is on the board of the PTA. “We’re an arts-based elementary school, so the kids do a lot of performing and a lot of music, theater, and dance.” Walsh also noted that the school’s current programming happens only because of parents who lend out their own personal equipment.
“As an institution, we can’t always rely on the fact that we’re going to have a parent who has that kind of stuff,” said Walsh. “This is an attempt to make ourselves self-sustaining.”
Still, while everyone has their own project they are most invested in, all can agree the Participatory Budgeting is a worthwhile and useful program, no matter how voting turns out. Armas described the process as a “wonderful experience” and “true democracy,” while Walsh called it “an amazing thing.”
“I think it’s great, honestly. It gives people an opportunity to see what’s needed throughout the community,” asserted Lee. “There [are] just a lot of projects that are on [the ballot] that you wouldn’t know about if it wasn’t for Participatory Budgeting. And it gives us a voice, you know, a vote on the things that we think are important.”
For more info, text PB03 to 212-676-8384, call 212-564-7757, send an email to pbnyc@council.nyc.gov, or visit council.nyc.gov/pb.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING BALLOT ITEMS
PARK & RECREATION
ITEM 1: Grounds Renovation at Elliott-Chelsea Houses ($500,000) | Add new playground fencing, renovate walkways, and revitalize garden and grassy areas. Project would be designed to budget, and priority areas would be determined in conjunction with the RA leadership. (425 W. 25th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.)
ITEM 2: Repair/Reopen Staircase at DeWitt Clinton Park ($500,000) | The southwest entrance staircase is crumbling and has been closed for years. Repairing this entrance will make the park accessible to visitors and easier for children to enter on 12th Ave. (W. 52nd St. & 11th Ave.)
ITEM 3: Renovation of Historic Field House at Downing Street Playground ($250,000) | Restoration towards the Downing St. playground’s historic field house and bathrooms to make them wheelchair accessible. (1 Downing St., at Sixth Ave.)
ITEM 4: New Fitness Equipment for Chelsea Park ($180,000) | New fitness units, including safety surfacing, seating and drinking fountain replacement. (W. 27th St. & 10th Ave.)
EDUCATION
ITEM 5: New Audio/Visual System for PS11 ($75,000) | A new Audio/Visual System in the auditorium of PS11. The school needs a working A/V system to fulfill its curriculum requirements for students. (320 W. 21st St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.)
ITEM 6: Bathroom Renovation Phase 2 — Lab MS, Lab HS, and Museum High ($560,000) | Phase 2 renovations will make needed repairs to bathrooms on upper floors, addressing health and hygiene concerns for the school community. (333 W. 17th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.)
ITEM 7: Gym Renovation — Lab MS, Lab HS and Museum High ($300,000) | Gym improvements with exploration to build more communal space will address broken bleachers, difficult to operate scoreboard, flooring to support aerobic activity, and create more educational space. (333 W. 17th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.)
ITEM 8: A New Library for City Knoll School ($300,000) | Technological and construction updates to create a library space at City Knoll School. This project will help engage students and prepare them for the skills needed in the 21st century. (425 W. 33rd St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.)
ITEM 9: A Green Roof for 75 Morton Street School ($200,000) | Build a green roof on the new middle school coming to 75 Morton St. This would provide new physical and educational opportunities for students. (75 Morton St., btw. Greenwich & Hudson Sts.)
TRANSIT
ITEM 10: Real Time Rider Information at Bus Stops ($100,000) | Electronic boards to display real time bus arrival information at five key bus stops, offering convenience for riders. The proposed locations will be subject to feasibility analysis by the Department of Transportation. (District-wide)
ITEM 11: More Turnstiles at C/E 50th St. Station ($135,000) | Install two additional turnstiles at the entrance/exit of the C/E 50th St. uptown platform. More turnstiles will ease congestion and reduce wait times for passengers at this entrance/exit. (C/E Subway Station at W. 50th St. & Eighth Ave.)
ARTS CULTURE & COMMUNITY FACILITIES
ITEM 12: Cool Muhlenberg Library. Renovate HVAC System ($500,000) | Replace the building’s HVAC cooling unit to ensure that the branch can continue to serve as a cool space in the summer months, which includes serving as an official NYC Cooling Center. (209 W. 23rd St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.)
YOUTH
ITEM 13: Renovate the Basketball Court at Chelsea Park ($350,000) | The basketball court needs to be improved for the safety and enjoyment of the community. This project would repave the court and install new rims. (W. 27th St. & 10th Ave.)
ITEM 14: Renovate the Basketball Court at Gertrude Kelly Playground ($350,000) | Renovate the basketball court and adjacent sidewalk at Gertrude Kelly Playground. (W. 17th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.)
ENVIRONMENT
ITEM 15: New Trees for Council District 3 ($100,000) | Plant new trees and install tree guards on blocks with few or no trees throughout District 3. (District-wide)
VOTING LOCATIONS AND TIMES
Councilmember Corey Johnson’s District Office (224 W. 30th St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves. Suite 1206). Mar. 28– Apr. 1, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Columbus Library (742 10th Ave., btw. W. 50th & W. 51st Sts.). Mar. 26 & Apr. 2, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Greenwich House Music School (46 Barrow St., btw. Bedford & Bleecker Sts.). Mar. 26– 27 & Apr. 2–3, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Hudson Guild Elliott-Chelsea Community Center (441 W. 26th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.). Mar. 26–27 & Apr. 2–3, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Hudson Guild Fulton Senior Center (119 Ninth Ave., btw. W. 17th & W. 18th Sts.). Apr. 2–3, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
The LGBT Center (208 W. 13th St., btw. Seventh & Greenwich Aves.). Mar. 26–27 (in Room 101) & Apr. 2–3 (in Room 110), 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
