More Good News from Chicago
The run-off municipal election in Chicago on April 5th brought into office at least two more Aldermen who have pledged to launch PB in their ward: James Cappleman (46th Ward) and Deborah Silverstein (50th Ward). Michelle Smith (43rd Ward) and John Arena (45th Ward), who also came out in support of PB, are leading in […]
"Government can't solve budget battles? Let citizens do it."
Daniel Altschuler and I co-published an opinion piece today in The Christian Science Monitor: Government can’t solve budget battles? Let citizens do it. In recent weeks, Americans have watched budget battles tear apart Congress and state governments. This may be just the beginning. As states and cities across the country confront staggering budget shortfalls, they […]
Springfield, Mass: "Real decisions about real money"
Amherst College’s Center for Community Engagement has published an article on the possibilities for PB in Massachusetts: ‘Real decisions about real money’: Participatory budgeting for Springfield? On Monday, April 11, Springfield and area residents, nonprofits, and local representatives are taking what could be the first step towards implementing “participatory budgeting” (PB) in Springfield… read more
PB Featured at Politics Daily
Alison Fairbrother recently published a great article updating the PB developments in Chicago and elsewhere, on the national news site Politics Daily – “Participatory Budgeting: In a Chicago Ward, Residents Call the Spending Shots”
Chicago Election Results
Chicago’s municipal elections this Tuesday delivered good news for participatory budgeting. Joe Moore won the 49th Ward in a landslide with 72% of the vote, after barely winning in a runoff last election. Amongst the other candidates who pledged to launch PB in their wards, 8 won office: 1st Ward: Proco “Joe” Moreno 5th Ward: […]
PB candidates in Chicago elections
Chicago is holding municipal elections on February 22nd, and participatory budgeting is on the ballot, indirectly at least. Alderman Joe Moore, who launched PB in Chicago’s 49th Ward, is up for re-election. Following Moore’s lead, many other alderman candidates are also calling for PB. A few examples: – Valerie Leonard, 24th Ward – Emily Steward, […]
New Videos on Participatory Budgeting in Argentina & Brazil
The Bertelsmann Foundation has posted short videos (in English) describing the seven finalists for the 2011 “Vitalizing Democracy” Prize. 158 democratic innovations from around the world were submitted, and three of the finalists are cases of participatory budgeting. Each case also uses technology in innovative ways, for SMS-voting, internet voting, electronic ballots, or online forums. […]
Cincinnati's 40k Challenge
There’s a new participatory budgeting initiative in Cincinnati’s Price Hill neighborhood. The 40k Challenge, run by the organization Price Hill Will, is inviting community members to decide how to spend $40,000. Starting with a public meeting in December 2010, organizers are asking people to generate project ideas and proposals for four themes: business & entertainment, […]
Talk at Columbia
For those in the New York area, I’ll be speaking at Columbia University’s Lectures in Planning series next week: Talk: Participatory Budgeting in the US: Public Control Over Public Money Speaker: Josh Lerner, The Participatory Budgeting Project February 15, 1:00PM Avery Hall 114 Faced with huge budget crises and low public trust, governments are increasingly […]
USA Today: Participatory Budgeting Builds Community
USA Today sings the praises of participatory budgeting, as part of a series on community involvement: One of the boldest exercises in citizen involvement is playing out in Chicago’s 49th Ward. Every ward receives $1.3 million a year to spend on roads, sewers and other infrastructure. Alderman Joe Moore let residents choose exactly where they […]
