Press Releases

The Civic Engagement Commission Invites New Yorkers to submit ideas for how to spend $3.5M of the city budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday October 28, 2024

CONTACT:  publicaffairs@civicengagement.nyc.gov

NEW YORK – It's the third year of The People's Money, New York City's citywide participatory budgeting process, where New Yorkers can submit ideas for projects to address community needs. Ideas can be submitted until November 22, either online or in-person at idea generation sessions across the city.

"Now more than ever, community wellbeing is deeply connected to having a voice in our democracy, it is also connected to being heard," said Civic Engagement Commission Chair and Executive Director Dr. Sarah Sayeed. "Wellbeing requires government to listen and deliver concrete results to residents. The People's Money is CEC's commitment to strengthening our democracy and building trust by having community voices at the forefront. We can't wait to hear some of your great ideas this year!"

This fall, the CEC team invites new ideas for The People's Money, New York City's citywide participatory budgeting program. For the third year, you can gather with your neighbors and community members to discuss challenges and propose solutions. New Yorkers just like you will review the ideas and help decide what will go on the ballot. Then in the spring, you will get to choose which ideas you want to bring to life. The ideas with the most votes will be implemented next year.

Using an inclusive engagement strategy, the CEC, and a diverse group of over 75 selected partner organizations, including several library branches, will be opening their doors to host idea-generation sessions throughout the city. These partners are community-based organizations with established connections in their neighborhoods, engaging their networks and coalition partners to expand the reach of The People's Money to as many New Yorkers as possible., including several library branches, will be opening their doors to host idea-generation sessions throughout the city. These partners are community-based organizations with established connections in their neighborhoods, engaging their networks and coalition partners to expand the reach of The People's Money to as many New Yorkers as possible.

"As we begin the third year of Participatory Budgeting in New York City, I'm excited to see how the Civic Engagement Commission continues to empower our communities" said CEC Commissioner Giovanni Barcenes. "This process gives all of us a real say in shaping our neighborhoods and boroughs, ensuring that public funds are spent in ways that reflect our collective needs and values. It's about making democracy more personal—creating spaces where transparency and inclusion thrive, and where we're all working together to build stronger, more connected communities."

"Partnering with the Civic Engagement Commission for Participatory Budgeting Idea Generation is exciting because it empowers our young people and communities to have a direct say in how public funds are allocated," said Sheldon Messias, youth council coordinator, The Door. "This collaboration fosters civic engagement, promotes transparency, and enhances accountability in government spending. It also encourages creativity and innovation, allowing our young people to propose projects that meet their specific needs and priorities, ultimately strengthening community ties and ensuring that resources are used effectively."

Outreach efforts will primarily be directed toward New Yorkers who have typically been left out of the democratic process. This includes a targeted partnership with organizations in 33 priority neighborhoods, as identified by the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity as most heavily impacted by COVID-19, and with specific communities, such as those with limited English proficiency, youth (11-21), veterans, people with disabilities, immigrants, NYCHA residents, older adults, the faith-based community, LGBTQIA+, and justice-impacted residents. These organizations are identified as TRIE Partners and collaborate with the CEC through the year-long capacity-building partnership. This collaboration supports the organizations in building local coalitions to engage neighborhood residents in the People's Money Phases 1 - 4 and other civic engagement opportunities.

"As part of Mayor Adams' priorities of cross-agency partnerships and giving all New Yorkers a say in how taxpayer funds are spent, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development is proud to support 'The People's Money' and our community-based partners who are implementing projects that come from this outreach," said DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard. "DYCD is also contributing to the participatory budgeting process through our Local NeighborhoodStat initiative at NYCHA complexes. The work of the Civic Engagement Commission is a perfect complement to DYCD's efforts, and I encourage everyone—especially our youth—to have their voices heard."

"TRIE has been an effective tool in gaining civic trust and building community in Bushwick," said Asenhat Gomez, director of programs, El Puente. "It serves as a way to introduce civic engagement to our community members who cannot vote and are otherwise left out of the conversation. Students are excited about the opportunity to have their voices heard and vote for things that they care about."

Last year, thousands of residents across the city participated by collectively discussing community needs and submitted nearly 2,000 ideas, borough residents then evaluated those ideas for the borough ballots. Ultimately New Yorkers ages 11 and up voted on projects that will directly impact their communities, and you can learn more about this process through our 2024 Annual Report. In August, the CEC announced the funded programs from the second year, which are currently in their implementation phase. These programs address community needs such as youth development, mental health services, food access, job training, and much more. Currently, there are 20 projects implemented by implementation partners throughout the city..

"Uniting Generations: Connecting Youth and Isolated Seniors aims to create meaningful connections between youth and seniors through a variety of intergenerational activities like storytelling, social wellness activities, arts and crafts, cultural exchange evenings, tech mentorship, and even a gala at the end!," said Maria Deaquis, director, Family Enrichment Center Elmhurst & Corona "Youth volunteers help seniors with technology, and the program fosters cross-generational learning through language exchanges and health and wellness events. We will also provide transportation to help seniors stay engaged and active in the community, while promoting language and cultural competency throughout all our activities. Our vision is to not only reduce isolation but also to strengthen community ties and cultural appreciation across generations, ultimately creating a lasting impact on the well-being of our participants. This project is just one example of how PB-funded initiatives can make a tangible difference, and I'm excited to see how it evolves to meet the unique needs of the seniors and youth in our community."

This year, the CEC releaseda video of the participatory budgeting process to easily explain the different phases to New Yorkers. Additionally, a social media campaign was implemented in collaboration with partners to maximize the reach and inform residents of the third year of The People's Money. Through aligning partners on a social media launch for the campaign, the CEC is working to inform New Yorkers of the civic process, regardless of where they are. Idea Generation sessions will be held until November 22, through in-person workshops to engage New Yorkers with the process.

Residents will also be able to submit ideas via the CEC's online platform, participate.nyc.gov.

This new cycle of The People's Money process will run in four phases:

Phase 1: Idea Generation

October 10 – November 22, 2024: New Yorkers submit ideas online or in-person for projects that can address community needs.

Phase 2: Borough Assemblies

January – February 2025: Ballots are developed by Borough Assembly Committees who evaluate submitted ideas against equity criteria.

Phase 3: Voting

April – May 2025: New Yorkers vote online or in-person at a vote site in their neighborhoods.

Phase 4: Project Implementation

June 2025 – July 2026: Winning projects are announced, funded, implemented, and monitored.