Participatory budgeting process is underway

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This month, residents will get a chance to review public projects and decide which ones should receive funds. It is the last stage in the participatory budgeting process that began last year.

Northwest Bronx Councilman Andrew Cohen’s district received $1 million for projects of residents’ choice. After several meetings, 11 projects proposed by northwest Bronxites made it to the final round. They are:

• New heating and air condition (HVAC) system at Spuyten Duyvil Library, $550,000

• New HVAC system at Riverdale Library, $550,000

• Window replacement at Mosholu Library, $300,000

• Roof replacement at Van Cortlandt Library, $300,000

• Clocks to countdown when the next bus will come at stops throughout Mr. Cohen’s district, $120,000

• Spuyten Duyvil Playground renovation, $400,000

• Wakefield Playground renovation, $400,000

• P.S. 8 Isaac Varian auditorium renovation, $450,000

• David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (M.S./H.S. 141) auditorium upgrade, $375,000

• P.S. 7 cafeteria upgrade, $200,000

• Seventy-two laptops for Spuyten Duyvil School (P.S. 24), $70,000

You can find out more details at several expos. To vote, you must live within City Council District 10 — which covers Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Van Cortlandt Village, Bedford Park, Norwood, Wakefield and Woodlawn — and be at least 16 years old. Here’s a schedule of expos and voting opportunities:

• Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: expo and voting at The Riverdale Y, located at 5625 Arlington Ave.

• Monday, April 13, 4 to 7 p.m.: voting only at Mosholu Public Library, located at 285 E. 205th St.

• Tuesday, April 14, 4 to 7 p.m.: voting only at Riverdale Public Library, located at 5540 Mosholu Ave.

• Tuesday, April 14, 7 to 9:30 p.m. expo and voting at Rambling House, located at 4292 Katonah Ave.

• Wednesday, April 15, 4 to 7 p.m.: voting only at Spuyten Duvvil Library, located at 650 W. 235th St.

• Wednesday, April 15, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: expo and voting at Amalgamated Housing’s Vladeck Hall, located at 74 Van Cortlandt Park South

• Thursday, April 16, 3 to 6 p.m.: voting only at Van Cortlandt Park Library, located at 3874 Sedgwick Ave.

• Friday, April 17, 2 to 5 p.m.: voting only at Woodlawn Public Library, located at 4355 Katonah Ave.

• Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: expo and voting at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, located at 3450 Dekalb Ave.

Voters can select more than one project. Acceptable forms of ID include a bill with a current address, a student or employee ID, a birth certificate, a Social Security Card, etc. Details are available at www.participatorybudgeting.org.

Winners are expected to be announced in late April or early May.

participatory budgeting, Andrew Cohen

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