Participatory Budgeting Finalists Announced: Voting Opens March 29

Councilmember Gale Brewer has announced the seven finalists for this year’s round of Participatory Budgeting, where locals can vote to decide where $1 million in funding goes. (Multiple finalists will be chosen.)

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Here’s what’s on the ballot (all suggestions submitted by Upper West Siders–copied and pasted from Brewer’s March 20 email):

• Tree Guard Installation: Install 100 tree guards throughout the district around street tree pits to protect them from damage, support healthy growth, and enhance the streetscape. $160,000.
• Beautify Broadway Malls: Replace and repair post and chain fencing; repair rotted bench slats on the center medians on Broadway between West 81st to 92nd Streets. $200,000.
• Bathroom Upgrade: Lillian Weber School of Arts (PS84), 32 West 92nd Street. Renovate two student bathrooms to improve existing structures and usability. $300,000.
• Riverside Park Wall Repair: Restore the retaining wall at West 72nd St between Riverside Dr. / Riverside Blvd. by replacing deteriorating mortar and reinstalling missing stones to improve structural integrity and ensure safety. $100,000.
• Cooling System Upgrade: Frank McCourt High School, 145 West 84th Street. Upgrade school’s cooling system to enhance climate control, ensuring a more comfortable, safe and conducive learning environment for students and staff. $250,000.
• Gymnasium Cooling System Upgrade: William O’Shea School Complex (including MS247 and MS245), 100 West 77th Street. Install a new cooling system in the gymnasium improving comfort and safety for students, staff, and community members.  $250,000.
• Auditorium Upgrade: High School for Environmental Studies, 444 West 56th Street. Upgrade auditorium with new equipment and needed structural repairs enhancing student, staff and audience accessibility. $250,000.

Residents of District 6 (view map) aged 11 and older can vote between Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, April 6 online or at the following locations:

• Gale Brewer’s office, 563 Amsterdam Avenue (between 87th and 88th streets)
• St. Agnes Library, 444 Amsterdam Avenue (between 81st and 82nd streets)
• Riverside Library, 127 Amsterdam Avenue (between 65th and 66th streets)

More locations will be posted here.

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