Voting Underway: 10 Groups Seeking $2.7M Vying for Menin’s $1M Pot of Funds
With requests ranging from a low of $105,232 to a high of $500,000, it guarantees that some of the worthy requests will be shut out this year since the ten requests in Julie Menin’s District 5 vying to divvy up her pot of $1 million already totals nearly $2.7 million.
| 26 Mar 2023 | 06:54
Councilwoman Julie Menin’s district is among those with participatory budgeting where ten groups seeking nearly $2.7 million will vie via the vote of the people for a $1 million pot of funds. Photo: District 5.
Santa Claus is coming early to local schools, nonprofits, and civic organizations as council members get ready to divvy up a $27 million pie of discretionary funding with $1 million allocated to each of the 27 council members this year.
In City Council member Julie Menin’s Upper East Side district 5–which includes Roosevelt Island and 54th to 100th Streets and bounded on the west by Second Ave--there are ten groups seeking a total of just over $2.6 million who are vying for their slice of a $1 million pie. “Participatory Budgeting is a wonderful initiative that empowers communities to have a strong voice in the funding of local projects,” Menin said.
The winners are chosen by popular vote–either via paper ballot, email or phone vote. The voting started March 25th and runs to April 2nd.
Voting is open to everyone ages 11 (or at least in 6th grade) and older who live within one of the 27 participating Council Districts, regardless of immigration status, gender, race, ethnicity, or eligibility to vote in traditional elections.
The 10 budget items below—each ranging in cost—represent the options from which voters may choose within Menin’s district. The projects with the most votes up until $1 million has been accounted for will be funded.
Who and What’s on the Good List for Menin?
New trees and tree guards for District 5. Project would include the installation of 30 new trees (with tree guards) throughout District 5. $150,000.
Lighting upgrades for Stanley Isaacs Park. The project would include installing new lighting for the park. $420,000. Stanley Isaacs Park 9595 FDR Dr, New York, NY 10128
33 New Security Cameras for Holmes Towers. $500,000. Holmes Towers 1780 1st Ave., New York, NY 10128
New Garden for P.S. 151’s rooftop play space. Rooftop Garden For Yorkville community school. Would include garden appliances like planters.$200,000. P.S. 151421 E 88th St, New York, NY 10128
Renovation of PS. 527’s indoor rooftop play space. New built-in storage or an interactive play wall with activities.$200,000. P.S. 527 323 E 91st St, New York, NY 10128
Gym pad upgrades for PS. 183. The project would include new gym pads for the Robert L. Stevenson school.$100,000. P.S. 183419 E 66th St, New York, NY 10065
P.S. 217 Bathroom upgrades. Bathroom renovations for PS. 217. $300,000. P.S. 217645 Main St, New York, NY 10044
New Security System for PS 198 and P.S. 77. New security cameras for the building that includes both PS 198 and PS 77. $450,000. P.S. 198 and P.S. 77, 1700 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128
Tech Upgrades for M.S. 114. East Side Middle School would receive 96 M1 Macbook Airs, 4 Laptop Carts, and 3 Chromebooks (Mediatek MT8183) $105,232. M.S. 114331 E 91st St, New York, NY 10128
Bathroom Upgrades for Talent Unlimited High School. Bathroom renovations for Talent Unlimited High School. $250,000. Talent Unlimited High School, 317 E 67th St, New York, NY 10065