BY SEAN EGAN | A jam-packed crowd filled the High Line’s 14th Street Passage on the warm afternoon of May 14, eager to learn which projects were earmarked to split a cool million set aside to fund District 3’s second go-around with Participatory Budgeting (PB). Cheers greeted the announcement that five out of 15 PB ballot items — spearheaded by and voted on directly by the public — would be fully funded.
It was the highlight of Councilmember Corey Johnson’s Second Annual West Side Summit, which featured speeches from local electeds and Johnson’s own State of the District address. During the intermission, the assembled crowd was encouraged to write out community improvement suggestions at provided stations. The ideas culled from this session were then presented prior to the PB winners’ announcement, and Johnson speculated that some of the projects might even end up on next year’s PB ballot.
Just before the big moment, however, Johnson talked about a new “tracking system” available on his website (coreyjohnson.nyc), which allows community members to monitor the progress being made on 2015’s PB winners, including the popular, forthcoming 20th Street Park.
“Two-thousand people from across the district participated, and came out and voted,” Johnson announced, building up tension. “Without further ado, here are the winners of Participatory Budgeting for 2016.”
Kicking off the ceremony with the lowest vote-getter (686 cast), Johnson revealed that City Knoll Middle School (425 W. 33rd St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.) would have their new library space funded with $300,000. Johnson commented on how the new improvements will help modernize the space to aid in students’ learning, and commended the hard work of Victoria Armas, the school’s principal, in advocating for the project.
At number four, with 790 votes, was real-time rider information at bus stops, which will be receiving $100,000.
“These electronic boards will offer real-time bus arrival times,” noted Johnson, who went on to elaborate that they would be installed at “five key bus stops,” which are to be determined “in conjunction with the Community Boards and the Department of Transportation” for maximum rider convenience.
Next, with 813 votes, was new audio/visual equipment for PS 11. The $75,000 A/V system will be installed in the school’s auditorium, and help the students fulfill their curriculum to the fullest, by facilitating presentations and student performances.
The runner-up was the renovation of Muhlenberg Public Library’s (209 W. 23rd St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.) HVAC system. While coming in second place with 858 votes, the library will receive the most money overall ($500,000). Johnson praised the library as “a community treasure,” further valued by its status as an official NYC Cooling Center — a designated place where the public can beat the heat in summer months (their current system, noted supporters of the HVAC upgrade, is just not cutting it).
Muhlenberg Library Manager Lateshe Lee noted that her patrons would be “really excited” about the win, “because they’ve been asking us about it for the past couple of weeks.” The road to success was a long one — this was the second year the library appeared on the ballot, and it was through the work of outside delegates (along with some custom bookmarks getting out the word to vote) that finally secured a win.
While acknowledging that it won’t be put in place this summer, Lee nonetheless expressed her enthusiasm about being able to better serve visitors, by providing enhanced comfort to those who participate in the library’s many programs. “We’re ecstatic that we got it,” she said.
The number one vote-getter (with a commanding 1,083) was then announced: new trees for District 3. According to Johnson, $100,000 will be devoted to planting “dozens and dozens and dozens” of trees all throughout the district, and that his office would be working with block associations, community boards, and the public in order to determine the best places to put the new trees and tree guards.
Victoria Armas. Courtesy Office of Councilmember Corey Johnson.
Then, in a surprise move, Johnson announced that in addition to the top five, he would also be devoting capital funds to another one of the ballot items: putting in a new western staircase at DeWitt Clinton Park (btw. W. 52nd & W. 54th Sts., & 10th & 12th Aves.). The current, blocked set of stairs has, according to Johnson, “created a wall over the West Side Highway,” and the councilmember has pledged $500,000 to repairing the stairs — with eyes on perhaps fixing another set in the future.
“I’d like to thank everyone who participated in our PB process,” Johnson concluded, wrapping up the Summit.
Afterwards, Armas told Chelsea Now that she was “kind of speechless” and “delighted” about the good news for City Knoll.
“It’s very moving for us to have the project be awarded,” she commented on the forthcoming library. “The kids deserve it; the community deserves it. Our community really needs something like that — a center.”
She went on to praise the process in general, highlighting the efforts of teacher Julie Taegel, and asserting that PB is “democracy in action,” which helped teach her students a valuable lesson.
