The People's Money in action (Civic Engagement Commission)

Not everyone knows this about Mayor Eric Adams: he is the first Mayor in the City of New York to give every New Yorker, ages 11 and up, regardless of citizenship, a direct say in how to spend a part of the city budget. This is New York City’s first citywide participatory budgeting program, run by the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC), and it builds on the Mayor’s legacy of supporting participatory budgeting in schools and Council districts in Brooklyn.

Here are four key reasons for New Yorkers to participate:

First, citywide participatory budgeting prioritizes the lived experience of every day New Yorkers, and it lets residents lead on solutions to the most pressing problems in their communities.

Community voice has been central for each step of the process. Over 12,000 New Yorkers came together in small groups to generate more than 4,000 proposals for solutions to problems such as public safety, youth development, and mental health. A volunteer group of New Yorkers then came together in assembly committees to carefully review these ideas and they created ballots for each borough and each of the 33 equity neighborhoods designated by the city as hardest hit by COVID-19.

Now, New Yorkers are invited to choose which proposals they want to see in their boroughs and neighborhoods. The funding for implementation will go back into the community, to organizations that will complete the winning projects. 

Second, the program is grounded in dignity and equity for groups that deserve more voice in decision making, and better service from government.

The CEC divided Mayor Adams’ commitment of $5 million across the boroughs based on poverty level and population size. It also gave $50,000 to each of the 33 equity neighborhoods, so that residents will vote on projects both for their neighborhood and their borough. Partnerships with community-based organizations will ensure that youth, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, public housing residents, justice-impacted individuals and families, faith communities, and people who self-identify as LGBTQIA receive special outreach.

Paper ballots are available for those who may not have access to vote online. Translated ballots are available for New Yorkers with limited English proficiency. And there are no geographic barriers to participation by borough, council district or neighborhood.  

Third, New Yorkers will see fast results of their engagement.

Once the vote period is completed by Sunday, June 25, projects receiving the most votes will be announced in July for each borough and the 33 neighborhoods. Community-based organizations will lead the implementation phase and complete winning projects by June 30, 2024. 

And finally, it’s a moment to celebrate that our democratic system works.

The reason New York City is implementing participatory budgeting citywide is because voters asked for it in 2018 as part of the charter revision process. New Yorkers wanted a direct voice in shaping the city budget, and they were confident in their own ability to influence critical spending decisions.

Paying close attention to moments when democracy is working is important because democracy is a living, breathing relationship between people and government; giving attention to the successful parts of the relationship will help democracy to flower and thrive.  

To participate in citywide participatory budgeting, go to on.nyc.gov/pb to vote online.

You can also vote on a paper ballot at in-person voting sites around the city such as local libraries and community organizations.

Encourage your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors to also vote. Participatory budgeting is for you, and when you add your voice, you will help make inclusive democracy even more real.

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Dr. Sarah Sayeed is Chair & Executive Director of the New York City Civic Engagement Commission. On Twitter @SarahSayeedNYC & @NYCCEC.