BY SEAN EGAN | A jam-packed crowd filled the High Line’s 14th St. passage May 14 to learn which projects would share in $1 million in funds in Council District 3’s second participatory budgeting vote.
Five out of 15 “P.B.” ballot items —nominated by and voted on by the public — will be fully funded.
The announcement was the highlight of Councilmember Corey Johnson’s Second Annual West Side Summit, which also featured Johnson’s State of the District address.
“Two thousand people from across the district participated, and came out and voted,” Johnson noted.
This year’s lowest vote-getter, with 686 votes, was City Knoll Middle School, at 425 W. 33rd St., which will get $300,000 for its new library space.
Number four, with 790 votes, was real-time rider information at bus stops, for which $100,000 will be earmarked. The electronic boards, Johnson noted, will be installed at “five key bus stops” in his Village / Chelsea / Hell’s Kitchen district, to be determined “in conjunction with the community boards and the Department of Transportation.”
Next, with 813 votes, was $75,000 for new audio/visual equipment for P.S. 11, at 320 W. 21st St.
Runner-up was the renovation of the HVAC system at the Muhlenberg Public Library, at 209 W. 23rd St. Though coming in second, with 858 votes, the library actually will receive the most cash, $500,000. Johnson praised the library as “a community treasure,” with the added value of being a designated cooling center. Showing that persistence pays, this was the second year it was on the ballot.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Lateshe Lee, Muhlenberg’s manager.
The top vote-getter, with 1,083 supporters, was new trees for District 3. Johnson said $100,000 will go toward planting “dozens and dozens and dozens” of trees throughout the district. He said his office would work with block associations, community boards and the public to determine the best spots for them.
Finally, Johnson announced he would also devote $500,000 in capital funds to another ballot item: installing a new western staircase at DeWitt Clinton Park, between W. 52nd and W. 54th Sts. and 10th and 12th Aves. The current, blocked stairs have, he said, “created a wall over the West Side Highway.”
The P.B. item the 75 Morton Community Alliance backed — a green roof for the new 75 Morton middle school — just missed the cut for fifth place by a few votes. However, 75 MCA still hopes the project will get funded.
