A recent article in the New York Times (you can read it here) covers a rather new development in local governance called Participatory Budgeting. The process, which has found its way into several US and Canadian cities, began in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre in 1989. The concept has residents determine how to spend portions of public funds allocated for their districts, neighborhoods, or cities. In New York, the selected ideas have reflected the neighborhood demographics, ranging from expansion of a neighborhood’s internet access via rooftop wireless devices to a dog run to a storytelling garden in a neighborhood park.
One of the most interesting aspects of the process is its inclusivity. In New York, children as young as 14 can participate along with undocumented immigrants and formerly incarcerated individuals. Projects and ideas are put forth within the communities. There are campaigns and workshops to promote individual ideas, with the final choices being by ballot. The process has opened up the concept of local stewardship and civic engagement, especially with local government, by some individuals who often feel disenfranchised or unheard.
At our Facebook page several weeks ago we highlighted a 2014 participatory budgeting process in Boston, the city’s first effort in this area, where youth between the ages of 12 and 25 are tasked with determining how an allocation of $1,000,000 capital funds will be spent. The initiative resulted in a series of youth-focused initiatives: makeovers/updates to several parks, playgrounds, and picnic areas, an art wall project for graffiti artists, laptop computers for a group of high schools in underserved neighborhoods, security cameras in a park, and a feasibility study for a skateboard park. The 2015 process – Youth Lead the Change: Participatory Budgeting Boston – is underway now through May. More info on Boston’s program can be found here.
These efforts are introducing civic responsibility to wide ranging groups of individuals who have historically had low turnouts during elections or been ineligible to vote. IfYouWereMayor.com would like to introduce this concept to Charleston. We believe that participation and engagement by everyone can cultivate leadership, responsibility, and stewardship in our city. You can learn more about the process and how it is evolving in the US here.
