Coney Island

How to spend $1 million: Treyger seeks ideas from residents

October 23, 2014 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Councilmember Mark Treyger is inviting residents of his district to come up with ideas on which capital projects they would like to see funded. Photo courtesy Treyger’s office
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Councilmember Mark Treyger has an enticing proposition for his constituents. He is offering them the chance to say how $1 million in city money should be spent in their community. It’s all part of the city’s participatory budgeting process, which is now underway.

Thanks to participatory budgeting, average New Yorkers get the opportunity to have their voices heard when it comes to municipal budget matters. Residents get to propose capital projects and then vote on the best projects for the council district. In the past, residents have voted to install street lights, fix up parks and purchase computers for schools.

Treyger, a Democrat whose council district includes parts of Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Coney Island and Sea Gate, is inviting residents to attend neighborhood assemblies to hear about proposed projects, come up with ideas of their own and then vote for their favorites.

Treyger, who has already hosted one neighborhood assembly, will hold two more on Oct. 27 in Coney Island at Liberation High School (2865 W. 19th St.) and on Nov.10 in Bensonhurst at I.S. 281 (8787 24th Ave.). The sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. Residents can attend whichever is most convenient for them, Treyger said.

Treyger, a freshmen council member, said that as a former high school civics teacher, he was eager to have his constituents involved in participatory budgeting. In fact, one of his first decisions after taking office in January was to bring participatory budgeting to the 47th Council District, which he represents. His goal is to bring residents into the budget decision-making process.

The ideas suggested at the neighborhood assemblies will be reviewed with the relevant city agencies, and ones that meet the requirements for capital funding will be included on a final ballot for residents to vote on this spring.

“This is a great chance for you to get involved in local government and have a real say in how your tax dollars are reinvested back in our community. Nobody knows a neighborhood better than the people who live there, so I am very excited to hear your ideas at the upcoming assemblies. I truly believe that government works best when the public is involved, and this is a unique opportunity for residents to take part in this important conversation and suggest ways to improve their neighborhood,” Treyger said.

For more information, call Treyger’s office at 718-307-7151.

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