By Naeisha Rose
Residents throughout Queens, including those in District 27 who are represented by City Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans), have until Sunday to make sure their voices are heard for their area’s Participatory Budgeting Week.
Participatory budgeting allows residents to vote on which infrastructure projects will be funded by their Council member’s budget allocation by up to $1 million.
Voting kicked off Saturday and residents in District 27, which covers Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Addisleigh Park and Springfield Gardens, have a chance to participate at different locations.
Ballots will be available in English, Bengali, Creole and Spanish, and if individuals want to show their support for the initiative WHAT INITIATIVE – EXPLAIN -on social media. they can use the hashtag #PB27 and #PBNYC.
In District 27 constituents can vote Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Miller’s office, which is located at 172-12 Linden Blvd. in St. Albans. Other locations will be open on different days.
Residents as young as 11 years old will be eligible to participate by visiting their local polling site, by completing an online ballot or using a LinkNYC kiosk.
“LinkNYC once again demonstrates that technology is a powerful tool for public good,” said Samir Saini, commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. “We’re honored to work with the Council to put democracy at New Yorkers’ fingertips. This year, more than 1,500 Link kiosks present that many more opportunities for residents to vote for the neighborhood projects that matter the most to them. I look forward to introducing New Yorkers to even more ways the Link platform can be used to foster civic innovation within our great city.”
To learn more about the process Queens residents can visit www.council.nyc.gov/pb/.
Some of the other sites in District 27 include PS 360 in St. Albans (Tuesday), Cambria Heights Library (Wednesday), Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center (Thursday), PS 176 in Cambria Heights (Friday) and Roy Wilkins Recreation Center (Saturday) in St. Albans.
“We are very excited to engage all facets of our community, and empower citizens in this manner, including those previously disenfranchised,” said Miller. “This is an opportunity to give all individuals, especially our young people, a chance to become stakeholders, and have a voice in the enhancement of our community’s capital investments. There is no greater vehicle galvanizing local communities today than participatory budgeting.”
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
