Lucas --
We are coming up on the vote for Participatory Budgeting, April 14 – 19. If you haven’t already, please Pledge to Vote today.
Now is the time to start deciding which projects you want to vote for. To help you learn a little bit more about them, we’ve just updated our website with new videos featuring each of the projects on the ballot. There are projects that will affect our schools, libraries, parks, subway stations, streets, and other community spaces. Watch the videos to learn more about them.
Here is a quick rundown on 6 of the 13 projects on the ballot, which come out of the Arts, Culture & Community Facilities committee and the Education committee. I’ll tell you about the other seven projects later this week – or you can see their descriptions and corresponding videos on my website.
A/C for PS 124 Cafeteria: $200,000
Imagine eating lunch every single day in a cafeteria that’s plagued by heat from an open kitchen. That’s what the students of PS 124 have to do. The below-ground space is unbearably hot even in the spring and fall, so you can imagine what it is like when the school hosts summer programs. Help make sure the students at this school have a comfortable place to eat and learn. Learn more here.
PS 146/MS 448 Innovative Gym Renovation
Overcrowding is an issue at PS146/MS 448, and it is made even worse by the fact that the school’s gym is in such desperate need of renovations that it is basically unusable in its current state. A revitalized gym could be used by the1,400 students at BNS/BCS (many of whom are high needs) for a variety of physical fitness activities, including yoga and dance. Learn more here.
PS 179 Auditorium Renovation
The 1,000 students at PS 179 (of whom 45% are English Language Learners) want to make their decrepit auditorium functional again. This project would put in a wireless sound system, brand new curtains, and a refurbished stage – making the space much more useable for assemblies, student productions, and other school events. Learn more here.
Art in the 4th Avenue F/G Subway Station
As you’ve probably seen, the 4 th Avenue 9 th Street Subway Station is in the process of getting a new look. This project would bring in an art installation for the station, creating a neighborhood landmark, and an important symbol of our community’s support and investment in the arts. Learn more here.
Park Slope Library Storytelling Garden
With summer finally starting to peak through our never-ending winter, what could be more enjoyable than some time in the sun listening to stories or snacking on home grown veggies? This project proposes converting the Park Slope Library’s south lawn into a storytelling garden with raised beds and benches. In the sheltered hollow behind the building, the funds will construct a child-friendly micro-amphitheater for outdoor storytelling. Learn more here.
Technology for Local Arts Non-Profits
Three of our community’s most established nonprofit organizations are in need of more resources to help benefit the arts education of underserved youth. Groundswell, Reelworks, and Rooftop Films are seeking some new computers, projectors, and storage servers to help them in their mission. If this project wins, they’ll be able to serve even more students who are passionate about the arts. Learn more here.
Voting is less than 2 weeks away, so please pledge your vote. Making this small but serious commitment to voting, including planning which one of our polling sites you’ll visit, will ensure that when vote week comes up, your voice is heard. Any district resident can vote, ages 14 and up, so tell your teenage sons, daughters, and neighbors to join you at the polls.
Also don’t forget to come to our Expo and Vote Kick-Off celebration on April 14, at 6:30 PM at Camp Friendship (339 8 th Street). At the event you can see displays of each project, ask questions about the items on the ballot, and be one of the first in our district to cast your vote.
Thanks for your participation. We couldn’t do this without you.
-Brad