26th district participatory budgeting winners announced
Locals gathered at LIC Bar on Wednesday night as Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer announced the winners of the 26th district’s participatory budgeting.
On the ballot were 27 projects, which Van Bramer said had been chosen after hundreds of ideas were submitted to receive a portion of the $1 million to be allocated. Nominated projects spanned the district and ran the gamut from public school facility fixes to making libraries handicap accessible. 26th District voters were able to cast three votes.
“We talked to literally thousands of your neighbors,” Van Bramer said. “We discussed several projects, we asked people—what would you like to see in your neighborhood? What do you need?”
At 7pm, Van Bramer announced the three winning projects as a new $500,000 bikeway in Long Island City, a $55,000 van for the Jacob Riis Settlement House for seniors and $500,000 worth of upgrades to the playgrounds at the Queensbridge Houses.
Council Member Van Bramer then surprised his constituents by announcing an additional 5 projects would be receiving funding, bringing the total amount to $1,530,000.
A rundown of the final winners:
1. Long Island City Bikeway – $500,000
2. Jacob Riis Settlement House Senior Van – $55,000
3. Five Playground Upgrades in the Queensbridge Houses – $500,000
Additional projects funded by Council Member Van Bramer:
· Accessibility Improvements for Sunnyside Library – $50,000
· Accessibility Improvements for Woodside Library – $50,000
· Woodside Reforestry – $200,000
· Real Time Passenger Bus Countdown Clocks (Districtwide) – $100,000
· Technology Upgrades for PS/IS 78 in Long Island City – $75,000
