Dear Friends,
“The district (38) established some best practices to be drawn on in future cycles, including: setting up vote sites in public locations with high foot traffic, partnering with community based organizations, providing translated materials, having interpretation at meetings, and ensuring that vote sites staffed by people who spoke a language other than English.”
- An Except from A People’s Budget: A Research and Evaluation Report on Participatory Budgeting in New York City, Year 3, October 2014.
The Participatory Budget (PB) “Ballot” has been finalized! That is, local budget delegates—in discussion with relevant City agencies and with my office—have identified the projects that will be up for vote during the City-wide PB Vote Week to take place this spring. The pressure is on for District 38 to Get out the Vote!
Last year, our Council District was able to amass the largest number of PB voters in the City—two-thirds of whom registered ballots in non-English languages. Without a doubt, that was an incredible feat. This year, however, our mandate is larger. Our call is greater. We need to increase our voting numbers, and think strategically about how we better engage with our neighbors and friends about the proposed projects.
The process of Participatory Budgeting offers us the unique opportunity to inform—very directly—the spending power of our local government. For me, and my office, PB continues to be at the heart of our work. It guides our priorities, and shapes the decisions we make. It is up to every single one of us to make sure that the projects that most speak to our district-wide concerns are selected for funding.
Below you will find details about “Vote Week” events. I encourage anyone who is interested in participating to attend the Expo Workshops and the Outreach Training, and to sign up to Volunteer to Get Out The Vote!
I look forward to casting my ballot this spring. I hope you will join me.
In Solidarity,
Carlos |
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TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS
In anticipation of “Vote Week” (April 2015), three Outreach Trainings are being offered in Brooklyn, Queens, and a joint one for Manhattan and the Bronx. I encourage you to attend one of these sessions to learn how to get more people involved in PB, how to bring the PB message to your community, and how to engage with historically “hard to reach communities” throughout the voting process. The dates and times are as follows:
*Brooklyn*: Monday March 16th from 6-8:30 pm at St Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Callahan Center
Queens: Wednesday March 18th from 6-8:30 pm at Museum of the Moving Image, 3601 35th Avenue
Manhattan/Bronx: Wednesday March 25th from 6-8:30 pm at CUNY Grad Center, 365 5th Avenue (West 35th Street) Room 4201
Please RSVP for your attendance. To RSVP please email Mili Bonilla at mbonilla@council.nyc.gov (Indicate which training you’ll attend).
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WORKSHOPSCome and Help BUILD the final project models! Get Creative! Meet your Neighbors! Wednesday March 11th @ 6pm
Red Hook Initiative (767 Hicks Street)
Thursday March 12th @ 6pm
Sunset Park Recreation Center (7th Ave) |
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PROJECT EXPOSCome See the Details of The Projects on the Ballot!
Thursday, April 2 @ 6:30PM
MS 88- 544 7th Ave
Sunday, April 12th @ 2PM
Sunset Park High School - 153 35th Street
Wednesday, April 15th @ 6:30PM
The Red Hook Initiative - 767 Hicks Street
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SAMPLE BALLOT CLICK BELOW |  |
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PBNYC 2015 VIDEOCLICK BELOW |  |
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VOTE WEEK
April 11th - 19th
We will Launch Vote Week with The State of the District Address and Project Expo at Sunset Park High School April 12th @ 2pm!
Other Sites and Times Include: Polling Sites
(Mon - Fri 3pm to Close) - Red Hook Initiative 767 Hicks Street
- The Miccio Center 110 West 9th Street
- Office of Council Member Menchaca 4417 4th Ave
- UPROSE 166A 22nd Street
Pop Up Polling Sites
(Early Morning/Rush Hour/ Weekends) - Along 5th Ave
- Along 8th Ave
- 36th Street N/D/R Station
- 59th Street N/R Station
- 8th Ave N Station
- Red Hook Public Library
- Sunset Park Public Library
- Red Hook NYCHA Developments
- Red Hook Rec Center
- Sunset Park Rec Center
- Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
- And More!
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4417 4th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11220 718.439.9012 |
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|  | A Dream Grows in Brooklyn Join Council Member Carlos Menchaca and listen to his State of the District Address. Come hear about what we've done this past year and what we look to do together! The Event will include Children's Activities, The Participatory Budgeting Project Expo, Vote Launch and much more! #SOTD38
Sunday, April 12th @2pmSunset Park High School
153 35th Street |
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 | Food Bank for NYC and CUNY
invite you to
Free Tax PreparationSaturday March 14
10am to 4pm
Center for Family Life
443 39th Street 1st Fl
Brooklyn, NY 11232 |
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 | The Pre-K Application Period Opens
March 16thFamily Information Session
Wednesday March 25th
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Sunset Park High School
153 35 Street, Brooklyn |
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 | Chinese Language Know Your Rights - Housing and Immigration Saturday March 21
1pm to 3pm
PS 169
4305 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232 |
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 | Application Deadline: Friday, April 10th The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) provides New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with paid summer employment for up to six weeks in July and August.
TO APPLY ONLINE FOR SYEP CLICK HERE |
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 | Hurricane Sandy Business Loan and Grant Program April 30, 2015 will be the deadline for submitting documents to HSBLGP. Click here for Document Checklist. |
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 | | IDNYC provides a dynamic series of benefits to cardholders, including a free one-year membership at many of the City's leading museums, zoos, concert halls, and botanical gardens. |
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 | Finance CalendarThe Finance Calendar helps you keep track of important tax filing deadlines and important events. |
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