It's time to make our voices heard
Residents of the 32nd ward want a greater say in how our tax dollars are spent.
Every year, $1.5 million in annual aldermanic menu funds are designated to improve the neighborhood infrastructure we use every day. Currently, Alderman Waguespack unilaterally decides how this money is allocated. This top-down process needs to change, especially since the Alderman's office hasn't held a traditional ward night for residents since 2013, leaving no formal channel for community input.
Participatory Budgeting would change that.
PB lets residents—who know our neighborhoods best—directly decide how part of this public money gets spent. We'd be joining the 14 other wards throughout Chicago who have been using this process for years.
Some examples of what PB funds can be used for:
- Brighter street lights
- Traffic calming measures to protect pedestrians (looking at you Ashland/Armitage/Clybourn)
- Park equipment
- School ground improvements
- Alley repavements
- ...and More!
We are urging the Alderman to adopt participatory budgeting in the ward.