Open Letter to the Voters of New York City
To my Fellow New Yorkers,
I'm writing to you today with a serious concern about NYC’s Participatory Budgeting process, and I feel it's crucial to bring to light a potential disconnect between the promise of this system and its actual outcome. My experience suggests that our votes may not always translate into the meaningful change we expect.
Like many of you, I was genuinely enthusiastic about participatory budgeting, believing it offered a real opportunity for residents to directly decide how public funds are used in our neighborhoods. I dedicated significant time and effort over several months, working closely with the District 39 office, to develop a project proposal for the Brooklyn Diaper Project – an initiative designed to meet a clear need in our community. This proposal went through numerous revisions to align with the office's requirements and was ultimately presented to the voters.
And here's the crux of the issue: The Brooklyn Diaper Project won the vote. It was the community's choice for funding through this democratic process. Yet, despite this clear mandate from the residents of District 39, the project was ultimately denied funding. The reason provided, delivered only after the voting was complete, was a bureaucratic "technicality" with the funding agency. This explanation, coming after we had all cast our votes in good faith, is deeply troubling.
I cannot help but wonder whether District 39 office's initial enthusiasm and subsequent procedural roadblocks were, perhaps, a calculation to divert my diaper support towards their own constituents, rather than extending aid to the more acutely under-resourced districts within Brooklyn; I fell for an attractive chance for partnership and regret prioritizing collaboration with a district office over the broader needs of the borough.
It begs the question: How many other worthwhile projects, supported by the very people they aim to serve, have been similarly dismissed behind the closed doors of bureaucratic hurdles? How many other residents have invested their time and hope in a process that may ultimately be more about optics than genuine empowerment?
Adding insult to injury, having independently funded the hubs project to see it through, I then witnessed elected officials posing before the completed initiative, presenting themselves as if they had been instrumental in its success. I’ll leave you to decide what you think about the stark juxtaposition between their lack of authentic support through official participatory budgeting channels and their outwardly public display of support.
We, as voters, deserve a transparent and accountable system. We need to be certain that our voices are not just heard, but that they genuinely shape the decisions that impact our communities. It's time we critically examine the participatory budgeting process and demand that our elected officials ensure it truly reflects the will of the people.
Let's work together to ensure our votes lead to real and tangible change, not just a semblance of civic engagement.
Wendy Moore
Executive Director, The Brooklyn Diaper Project
A concerned New Yorker