Press Release

New Yorkers to set the ballot through Borough Assemblies in The People's Money

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2026

CONTACT:  publicaffairs@civicengagement.nyc.gov 

NEW YORK – The Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) has announced the launch of Borough Assemblies, the second phase of The People’s Money — New York City’s annual citywide participatory budgeting process that allows residents to decide how to spend part of the city budget. Following a robust Idea Generation phase this fall that brought in thousands of community-driven proposals across the five boroughs, Borough Assemblies — where randomly selected New Yorkers deliberate and determine which ideas advance to the ballot — will run from January 24 through February 22, 2026. 

“In November, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers made clear they want a city government that’s accountable, transparent, and competent — and that’s exactly what we’re building. In just our first month, we’ve started delivering: expanding access to free childcare, holding bad landlords accountable, and yes, even fixing that long-overdue bump on the Williamsburg Bridge,” said Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement Tascha Van Auken. “We will continue to build on programs like Borough Assemblies that reflect our North Star — that New Yorkers themselves are the engine of this work. And we’re not stopping there. We’ll keep expanding who gets a seat at the table and transforming how New Yorkers participate in their city government.” 

Borough Assemblies, one of the core innovations of The People’s Money, exemplify the highest form of democracy, placing decision-making power directly in the hands of New Yorkers. Through a civic assembly model — which the CEC is the only government agency in New York City to use — residents are not just consulted, but entrusted with shaping what ultimately appears on the citywide ballots. By bringing together a diverse group of New Yorkers to learn, deliberate, and make collective decisions about the common good, the CEC is reimagining how public funding priorities are set and who gets to set them. 

“In the face of growing authoritarianism, The People’s Money Borough Assemblies create tables where residents can bring their lived experience, learn from experts and work with government to make decisions that benefit all New Yorkers,” said CEC Chair and Executive Director Dr. Sarah Sayeed. “They help expand the circle of care, elevate the common good over self-interest and help advance our city towards equity and justice.” 

Assemblies are made up of New Yorkers selected through a random process designed to represent the diversity of each borough. Most participants meet for the first time through the Assemblies and quickly form connections as they engage in deep learning about local needs and the work of city agencies and nonprofit partners. Through facilitated dialogue and collaboration, members deliberate across differences to identify the most pressing needs in their boroughs. 

This collaborative ballot-setting process models a system of co-governance in which residents work alongside community-based organizations and city agencies to inform funding decisions. Participating agencies — including the Mayor's Office of Food Policy, the Department of Youth and Community Development, and more — provide overviews of ongoing initiatives and discuss the role of community partners, ensuring Assembly Members have the information they need to make informed decisions while preserving resident leadership over which projects move forward. The result is a ballot shaped by lived experience, grounded in community priorities, and informed by practical knowledge. 

"Our Borough Assemblies are pioneering a new approach to co-governance in this city, bringing New Yorkers together to deliberate and decide how to spend city funds for their communities,” said Director of The People’s Money Hillary Carelli-Donnell. “This approach lays groundwork that strengthens our city’s democracy. We hope this model can be used as a blueprint to advance similar strategies for co-governance citywide creating a broader ecosystem of opportunities for New Yorkers to have a say." 

Each borough convenes an Assembly that meets in-person for four five-hour sessions over a six-week period: 

• Session 1: Meet & Kick Off
  All Assembly Members come together from the 5 boroughs to start their participatory budgeting journey and learn about deliberative democracy.
• Session 2: Community Insights
  Explore the variety of tools and resources provided to understand local needs and align them with ideas submitted by New Yorkers.
• Session 3: Partner Connections
  Connect with community-based organizations on their experiences throughout the borough. Then members will review and narrow down ideas to move forward for consideration
• Session 4: Final Selection
  Collaborate and vote on the top ideas for the borough’s ballot!

Borough Assemblies mark a critical bridge between Idea Generation and citywide voting, building momentum and excitement before the public casts their ballots this spring. By making the ballot-shaping process transparent and participatory, The People’s Money demonstrates how democratic innovation can move beyond consultation toward shared decision-making — with New Yorkers setting the agenda for how their city budget is spent at every stage of the cycle. 

“Civic engagement is part of our social contract and a shared responsibility to one another, our communities, and our youth. Through participatory budgeting, New Yorkers can help decide how public funds are spent to repair, build, and strengthen our neighborhoods, parks, schools, and community centers,” said Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “DYCD will continue to support the critical work of the CEC, because when people don’t have a voice, we don’t have a community.” 

While Assembly membership for this year has already been determined, New Yorkers interested in participating next year can fill out the 2027 Borough Assembly Member Interest Form. More information about the selection process is available at participate.nyc.gov, and residents can sign up to receive updates by subscribing to the CEC’s newsletter at nyc.gov/cec.

Updates on Borough Assembly outcomes, including which ideas advance to each ballot, will be shared on participate.nyc.gov and on social media @nyccec.