#PBBuffalo Project Expo & Voting Kickoff!
Participatory Budgeting (PB
) Buffalo is kicking off its very first vote in the City of Buffalo and we need you to attend!
Participatory Budget (PB) is a different way to manage public money. It is a democratic process in which community members, like you, decide how to spend part of a public budget. PB gives ordinary people real decision-making power over real money. Residents brainstorm project ideas, volunteers develop ideas into project proposals, residents then vote on proposals, and the projects with the most votes get funded by the city. It’s real decision making power over real money!
PB is already working in over 1,500 municipalities around the world. It includes everyone in the community – especially those who are often excluded from the political process or feel disillusioned with current political structures and institutions. Community organizations and residents of the city of Buffalo want more transparency and decision making power in how money is spent in our city. On May 19th, 2015, the Buffalo Common Council announced that PB will officially be coming to Buffalo through a pilot program with $150,000 in the City’s 2015-2016 Budget! Because the funding was not large enough to be used City –wide, the PB Buffalo Steering Committee voted to pilot PB in one Council District; the Masten District.
In November 2015, the PB Buffalo Steering Committee held 6 General Assemblies where over 100 attendees generated ideas for how this funding could be spent. Budget Delegates, volunteers who are responsible for turning ideas from General Assemblies into concrete detailed projects that can be placed on a ballot for the people to vote on, have been working hard vetting over 600 ideas.
Now the vote is in the hands of Masten District residents.
Join PB Buffalo Steering Committee members, Budget Delegates, Councilmember Wingo, Council President Pridgen, Councilmember Rivera as we kickoff voting at the Delavan Grider Community Center on Monday, March 21st from 5:00-8:00pm! Budget Delegates will share information on the projects up for election on the PB Buffalo Ballot, as well as share more information about what PB is.
If you’re a resident of the Masten District or a student enrolled in the Masten District age 14+, bring proof of residency (examples include a utility bill, photo ID with your address, or a student ID) and get ready to vote! If you’re a resident of the City of Buffalo, join us to learn more about how you can advocate for PB in your Council District next year.
Additional voting sites will be available at various locations throughout the Masten District the week of March 22nd– 26th. For an updated list of voting locations and more information about PB Buffalo, visit this link:Expo Voting Sites Flier , visit www.pbbuffalo.org, tweet at @PB_Buffalo, and/ or call Natasha at (716) 852-3813.
Tags: Participatory Budgeting, PB, Voting