Participate in participatory budgeting! Vote on local projects

Councilmember Corey Johnson is once again offering voters the chance to do participatory budgeting on a range of projects in his District 3.

If you could allocate the budget for Council District 3, what would your priorities be? Well, now you have a chance to weigh in on how you would spend at least a portion of that funding — in the district’s second annual round of participatory budgeting.

Between Sat., March 26, and Sun., April 3, residents of District 3 — which is represented by Councilmember Corey Johnson and covers the Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen — can vote on a range of projects, from parks and education to arts and transit. Anyone who is at least 14 years old and a district resident can vote.

There are 15 projects in all, and individuals are allowed to select up to five.

People can vote, for example, for a green roof at the new 75 Morton St. middle school for $200,000.

Also on the “ballot” is the renovation of the historic field house at Downing St. Playground for $250,000.

Other choices include real-time bus-arrival information at five key bus stops around the district, or new street trees throughout District 3 — both for $100,000.

Voters can also back the renovation of the basketball court at Gertrude Kelly Playground, at W. 17^th St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., for $350,000.

Other items include a range of park and school improvement projects north of W. 14^th St.

Residents can vote at any one of seven “poll sites”; however, the sites are open on different days, so be sure to check the schedule first.

participate 2 — There are seven different places residents can vote. This year, online voting is also an option.

This year, there will also be a pilot program for online voting. If you are unable to make it to the polls and want to vote online, call 212-564-7757 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or send an e-mail district3@council.nyc.gov . Johnson’s office will register you, then send you a form for voting. You can also register in person at a poll site to vote online.

Johnson’s office will verify online voters’ residency in the district through their own office database of district constituents and other means.

“We’re not worried about widespread P.B. voter fraud,” said Erik Botcher, Johnson’s chief of staff. “Even when you vote in person, if you don’t have ID, you can sign an affidavit.”