Participatory Budget Voting Starts Today

A reminder to those living in the 39th District that Councilman Lander's office will be holding Participatory Budget voting today through April 7th. This is an opportunity for area residents to have a say in $1 million in discretionary funds that have been set aside to improve our neighborhood. Early voting is available April 2nd - 4th at Councilman Lander's office on 5th Avenue, and this weekend at various locations. Voters can select up to five projects, and funding decisions will be made based on which projects receive the most votes. You can prepare yourself by looking at the sample ballot and brief videos for each proposal.

This is a great way to speak directly to local elected officials about the issues that affect our communities. Councilman Lander's website runs through the top projects from 2012 and progress that has been made on them; last year 7 projects were ultimately funded, with most scheduled for completion this year. Several others identified by the voting process but not in the top 7 have also been pursued, with several already complete.

So without further ado, here are this blog's five recommendations for PB 2013:

1. Hicks Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements ($350,000). Given the racetrack nature of the northbound side of Hicks Street - two lanes with virtually zero clearance to either side - and the limited visibility afforded by the fencing over the BQE, this should be a top priority. Growth on the Columbia Street side of the BQE has meant - and will continue to mean - more pedestrian traffic between the Waterfront and Carroll Gardens. Ideally this side of Hicks would be cut down to one lane (as it already has on the southbound side) but absent that, improving pedestrian visibility and making physical changes such as curb extensions can go a long way toward improving pedestrian safety and avoiding potential tragedies. 

2. 3rd Street Green Corridor ($170,000). With the new Whole Foods under construction and the Lightstone Project set to move ahead, permeable surfaces are at a premium along the Gowanus Canal. This project would install enhanced planting boxes along 3rd Street between Bond and 3rd Avenue, adding much needed storm runoff diversion and enhancing a bleak but growing corridor. Plus, all that green will go nicely along side the 20,000 square-foot rooftop farm at Whole Foods.

3. Hamilton/Van Brunt Community Plaza ($205,000). This project gets added urgency from the fact that DOT will be reconfiguring this mess of an intersection - meaning there is limited time to add pedestrian-friendly amenities. A plaza here could serve as a catalyst for community activity on the Waterfront/Red Hook boundary and would tie in nicely with the current and future extensions of the Brooklyn Greenway running along Van Brunt.

4. Ocean Parkway Pedestrian Safety Improvements ($300,000). As with Hicks Street, this would address a dangerous stretch of roadway, adding new crosswalks, signage, stop lines, and curb extensions. 

5. Groundswell Community Mural Project Media Upgrade ($40,000). This is a very inexpensive investment that can reap huge dividends by helping at-risk youth find creative outlets. It helps that the work produced by Groundswell's artists adds an element of beauty to our communities that everyone can enjoy.