46th Ward Participatory Budgeting Gets Some Attention

When Helen Shiller was alderman of the 46th Ward, there was a keen interest in how she spent the ward's $1.3million in menu money -- and how she didn't spend it at all.  Residents attempted to file FOIA requests to find out where it went, with little to show for it.

Well, now participatory budgeting is happening in the 46th Ward, with residents deciding how to spend $1million of the ward's menu money.  Gaper's Block was there:

It's not often you hear about a Chicago alderman willingly relinquishing power.

But Ald. James Cappleman is doing just that.

Cappleman's 46th Ward is one of four wards in the city (the others being the 5th, 45th and 49th) taking part in what's known as participatory budgeting. Through participatory budgeting, ward residents -- rather than aldermen -- get the chance to decide what to do with $1 million of aldermanic discretionary funds, which are known as "menu money." The only caveat? Menu money must only be used for capital improvement projects, rather than programs or services.

According to Gaper's Block, only a dozen or so people showed up last night at Thorek to give their ideas. A dozen?  Decisions affecting the 40,000-plus people in the ward are going to be left to only a handful of residents?

There have been two meetings so far.  Three more remain.  You can see the notice here:

• Uplift High School, 900 W Wilson, 10am-noon on Saturday, October 20th
• Stockton Elementary School, 4425 N Beacon, 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, October 24
• Peoples Church, 941 W Lawrence, 7pm-9pm on Tuesday, October 30

Interestingly, we posted in March 2011:

According to the Participatory Budget Organization, eight alderman who pledged to launch participatory budgeting won on February 22nd -- including Uptown's Ameya Pawar (47th Ward) and Harry Osterman (48th Ward).  Six other advocates of participatory budgeting are in the run-off election on April 5 -- including Uptown's James Cappleman (46th Ward).

"Participatory Budgeting: In a Chicago Ward, Residents Call the Spending Shots"

Politics Daily talks money:  Who gets to decide how to spend the $1.32million in menu money that each alderman receives in ward discretionary funds:

"Participatory budgeting is a small but energetic movement through which ordinary people directly decide how a portion of their municipal budget is spent. ... Residents of the 49th – who collectively speak 80 languages, and constitute one of the most diverse communities in America – deliberated and prioritized their needs through research and data collection, and voted democratically on a series of community-improvement projects, including street resurfacing, traffic control signals, bike lanes, community gardens, and murals."

According to the Participatory Budget Organization, eight alderman who pledged to launch participatory budgeting won on February 22nd -- including Uptown's Ameya Pawar (47th Ward) and Harry Osterman (48th Ward).  Six other advocates of participatory budgeting are in the run-off election on April 5 -- including Uptown's James Cappleman (46th Ward).

Participatory Budgeting In the 46th Ward: What's Happened, What's Happening

Right before tonight's meeting about the Broadway Streetscaping (from Wilson to Gunnison) -- in the former Borders Building from 6pm to 7pm, 

StreetsBlog Chicago has an article on Chicago Participatory Budgeting, a process in which ward residents vote on what projects the alderman's $1.3 million in infrastructure "menu money" should go towards.  A handful of aldermen take part in it in Chicago (just three in 2013).

In 2012-2013, the 46th Ward participated (but won't this year), and the 47th Ward did a so on an unofficial basis.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

[L]ast year’s election in the 46th Ward, largely Uptown, was a grand slam for ground-breaking transportation projects. Residents opted to fund SherMon Plaza, a project that will connect a traffic island at Sheridan/Montrose/Broadway to the sidewalk to create a new public space, and the Leland Greenway, leading from Clark to the lakefront. They also chose to bankroll crosswalks, pedestrian countdown signals and traffic calming, and to pay for building or refreshing bike lanes on several streets in the ward. The other winning proposals were for security cameras in Sheridan Park and a left-turn signal at Sheridan/Irving Park.

Read why it's not happening in the 46th this year, and learn what's happening with the projects that were voted on last year.  If you're not in the 46th Ward, but would like your alderman to consider participatory budgeting, feel free to refer him or her to the article, which is here.

Last Chance To Opine On Spending A Cool Million

"Get Involved! Let your Voice be Heard!  Help Allocate $1 million of the Menu Money!  Alderman Cappleman wants residents of the 46th Ward to decide how $1 million of this year's menu money is spent through a process called participatory budgeting.  Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process where community members directly decide how to improve their neighborhood.  If you are passionate about economic development, improving the streets, public safety, or anything else concerning the greater good of the community, these are the meetings for you.  We look forward to seeing you there and hearing all of your great ideas."

How Would YOU Spend A Million Bucks?

Alderman James Cappleman's 46th Ward
Participatory Budgeting Assembly - Thorek Hospital
Tonight, October 17th, 7pm-9pm, 850 W. Irving Park Rd.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1 MILLION
TO IMPROVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Come to an assembly to share your ideas and
help decide how to spend your money

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING CHICAGO
REAL MONEY, REAL POWER

WFCW Block Club Meeting Tonight

Greetings 46th Ward Neighbors!

The Winona Foster Carmen Winnemac Block Club is meeting Tuesday, September 11th and everyone is invited! Please join us and learn all about Alderman James Cappleman's use of the Participatory Budget Project to help him spend/invest $1,000,000 in our 46th Ward! Neighbors from all across the 46th Ward will be encouraged to create and collaborate on projects that they would like to have funded.

Our special guest presenter is Maria Elaine Hadden, Project Coordinator for the Participatory Budgeting Project. We will be meeting at 7:00pm at the Methodist Home, 1415 Foster Ave.(1st Floor, please enter on Glenwood.)

See you there!
Randy Heite
WFCW Block Club, president

46th Ward Participatory Budgeting Ballot

If you live in the 46th Ward, we encourage you to vote for up to six of the nine proposals eligible to receive a million dollars of the ward's menu money.  This is the only week voting will be open, to all ward residents 16 and older.  Show up with an ID at the alderman's office (4544 N Broadway) Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 9am to 5pm; Wednesday 9am to 7pm; and Friday 9am to noon.  You can also vote this Saturday at Uplift High School, 900 W Wilson, between 10am and 2pm.

If there's a particular proposal you feel strongly about, send us something explaining why it should get your neighbors' votes.  We ran one yesterday about #7 (traffic calming on Leland). We'll run one blurb for each proposal.  Dazzle us!

But the most important thing is, get over to the Ward Office or Uplift and VOTE! Here's a sample copy of the ballot you'll be using:

Broadway Bike Lanes Start Installation This Week

This is something odd:  a city project happening fast!  Ald. Cappleman's newsletter today says:

"Bike lanes will be installed on Broadway from Ainslie down to Montrose within the next several days. Weather permitting, the project should take about a week. The way the bike lanes will be laid out is described below.

The process to decide this started last year when some residents submitted the proposal as a participatory budgeting item, one of the many such projects funded with use of the Ward's $1.32 million menu funds. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed a traffic study to confirm that the traffic on Broadway was light enough for the project to succeed. This project received wide support from community residents who voted to have this project take place.

I want to personally thank the many people who worked so hard to make this happen, especially the members of Bike Uptown, a great organization that remains focused on promoting "complete streets" which will enhance business development and encourage more foot traffic."

For graphics and more information about this project, check out Uptown Update's post from last week.

Broadway Goes Bikeway

A reader says, "Yowza, It's finally happening. Bike Lanes on Broadway from Montrose to at least Leland (maybe farther)."  This is the project that was due to start last November, but was delayed because of the early onset of cold weather.  (Plasticized paint doesn't stick well to pavement when it's under 50 degrees.  Oh, if only we'd known then the kind of winter we'd be having!)

You can read more about this project, with layouts of what it should look like, here.  It was voted on by residents as one of the participatory budgeting projects.

46th Ward PB Voting Results

We just found out that the results of the 46th Ward's Participatory Budgeting vote were announced via Twitter by Ald. Cappleman on Saturday.  Sorry for dropping the ball on getting this out promptly.

This is what he tweeted:

• First place for voting is Walkable 46: Repair and Refresh our crosswalks and count down timers.
• Second Place is the SherMon Plaza at Broadway, Montrose, and Sheridan
• Third Place is the Installation of Police Cameras in Sheridan Pk
• Fourth Place is the Leland Greenway Plaza at $142,000
• Fifth Place is the installation of Bike Lanes.
• And finally, Sixth Place is the installation of left turn signals at Sheridan and Irving Park. Thanks to all who voted!

Vote On How The 46th Ward Spends A Million Dollars

We've been posting about Participatory Budgeting (residents vote on how to spend a million dollars of the 46th Ward's "menu money" designated for infrastructure) forever, and now it's time to vote.  Here are the choices from Ald. Cappleman's latest newsletter:

"Voting now begins for spending $1 million of 46th Ward menu funds. These projects were formulated by many dedicated volunteers who attended many meetings to assist with the development of these proposals. To review these proposals, click here. To vote, you must show I.D. that you live in the 46th Ward and be at least 16 years of age. 

• Early Voting.  You can vote early by filling out a ballot at the 46th Ward Office during office hours from Saturday, April 27 through Friday, May 3.
• Voting Day.  Uplift High School,  900 W. Wilson Avenue, Saturday, May 4; 10AM - 2PM

ARTS
1. Music of the People.  Location: Underpass at Lawrence Red Line.
The community in collaboration with a local artist creates a detachable mural on the north wall depicting Uptown as an entertainment destination.
2. Bike Corral Sculptures.  Location: Broadway and Lawrence, Buena and Broadway, and Sheridan and Broadway.
Functional public sculptures designed by local artists that provide bicycle parking.

BEAUTIFICATION
3. Community Rain Garden. Location: Public Parkways in front of a religious institution
Installation of a public rain garden which will be maintained by a religious or not-for-profit institution. The rain garden will enhance sustainability, beautification, and storm water management in the 46th Ward.

SAFETY AND LIGHTING
4. Left Turn Signals.  Location: Sheridan and Irving Park Intersection.
The addition of two left turn signal lights at the Sheridan/Irving Park intersection for traffic turning east and west onto Irving Park, will help ease traffic congestion and aid in pedestrian safety.
5. Police Video Cameras.  Location: Sunnyside Mall Area.
Installation of two police video cameras to observe known high crime area “hot spots.” Cameras will help provide more eyes on the street and can be used as evidence when crimes occur.

STREETS AND CYCLING
6. Bike Lanes: Expand the citywide bike network to be safer when biking to the lake, store, or work!  Location: Multiple Locations.
This project contains the following types of bike lanes to help riders of all ages be safe. 
- New Bike Lanes: Leland, Broadway, Irving Park, Winthrop,and Kenmore.
- Refresh Bike Lanes: Clarendon and Wilson.
7. Leland Greenway: Safe travel and natural beauty on Leland, connecting Clark to the lakefront. Location: Leland from Clark to Clarendon.
A greenway on Leland with traffic calming, a shared bike lane, and beautiful planters with storm water control. This one mile section would be protected as a safe route to drive, bike, or walk.
8. SherMon Plaza: The redesign of Sheridan, Montrose, and Broadway to calm traffic and improve safety.  Location: Sheridan from Broadway to Montrose.
This project will paint, re-stripe and use bollards, planters, barriers, and fencing to close Sheridan from Broadway to Montrose, safely redirecting traffic for a new pedestrian space and future mini-park – SherMon Plaza.
9. Walkable 46: Repair and refresh!  Location: Multiple Locations.
Repair and refresh the 46th Ward with crosswalks, count-down timers, and traffic calming! Increase safety and walkability! Help make our streets safe and accessible for all!"

• Click here to see the project proposal details and the voting schedule.
• Click here to see the 46th Ward Ballot 2013.
• Click here to see the 46th Ward Ballot 2013 in Spanish.

The 46th Ward's office hours are Saturday 9-noon; Monday & Tuesday, 9-5, Wednesday 9-7, Thursday 9-5 and Friday 9-noon.