By Mark Hallum
Participatory budgeting in the district in Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) rose again this year with 6,214 votes cast by the community to fund projects of their choosing.
At least $1 million from Vallone’s capital funds will go to four different projects as a result of the new initiative entering its third year in use by the city. Vallone’s district was highest in the city last year with a total of about 4,500 votes cast in 2016, and this year a total of $1.4 million will go to schools, libraries and crime prevention.
“The results clearly show that the district has overwhelmingly embraced the success of the participatory budgeting process. At a time when voter turnout is at a record low, we have created a way to engage our youth and youngest voters as to the power and importance of voting,” Vallone said.
PS 41 will get $500,000 for a full electrical upgrade to the 100-year-old school facility. The new components will meet modern safety standards and work more compatibly with 21st century technology.
“This is a celebration for Bayside and is completely on the heels of the parents and families of PS 41 who came together for the community,” said Joseph Ferrara, principal of PS 41. “It speaks volumes of what a community can achieve when they come together.”
Up to 1,729 votes put $141,000 in the hands of NYPD to install security cameras throughout the district to enhance crime prevention. Four Argus cameras, normally placed above intersections to capture a 360-degree view of their surroundings, just like the all-seeing beast from Greek mythology they are named for, will survey the district.
Bayside High School will receive $650,000 for 3,200 new lockers to be installed in the cafeteria and basement corridor of the school to provide each of the over 3,000 students with their own locker. The school currently does not provide lockers to students apart from a minimal amount of small-sized compartments in classrooms.
An additional $100,000 will be allocated to Whitestone Library’s technology upgrade to the meeting room, commonly used for meetings and events. High-tech Smart Boards and ADA computers will be purchased for public use.
New York City has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the nation with only 58 percent of those registered showing up at the polls, according a report released by City Comptroller Scott Stringer in 2016. Participatory budgeting is a way for the city to get residents involved in the democratic process on a grassroots level to directly affect their communities.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
