3. BRINGING ENGAGEMENT INTO OFFICE
Supporting community organizing
E-communications & social networking
Interactive online tools
NYC City Council Progressive Caucus
4. PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
Community members directly determine how to spend part of
a public budget.
• Decision-making (not consultation)
• Ongoing process, not one-time contest
• Inclusive and deliberative
First launched in Porto Allegre, Brazil in 1989.
Now in 3,000+
cities around the
world … but only
just reaching the
United States.
6. Neighborhood
Assemblies
(Oct-Nov)
identify community needs,
brainstorm proposals
Delegate
Implementation Leadership Meetings
& Monitoring development, (Nov-Feb)
of projects research & research & develop
evaluation proposals
Community Present ideas to
Vote the community
(March) (Feb)
20. “REVOLUTIONARY CIVICS IN ACTION”
• Over 6,000 voters, 250+ budget delegates
• Many newly active or disenfranchised
• 33% of neighborhood assembly participants & budget delegates
said they had never before worked with others in their
community to solve a problems
• 61% think our democracy needs a lot of changes (vs. 33% of
general population).
• Racially, ethnically & economically diverse
21. CHALLENGES & QUESTIONS
• Extremely time-intensive
• Outreach to diverse populations is challenging
• Legislative districts are not communities
• Very little money
• Challenging to link to
• broader budget issues
• other frames for community planning
• equity framework
• Relationship between elected officials, neighborhood
leaders, supporting organizations is complex
22. “REVOLUTIONARY CIVICS IN ACTION”
• Deep participation
• Renewed sense of trust in government
• Deep sense of stewardship of public realm
• Seen as both inclusive & efficient
• Pushed within & across City agencies
• Opened a dialogue on neighborhood planning
• Developed new leaders
• Doubled from 4 to 8 City Council members for FY2013
… and hopefully beyond
23. Participatory Budgeting
In New York City
Council Member Brad Lander
New York City, 39th District
Livable St. Louis Conference
October 26, 2012
