So-called participatory budgeting, in which residents vote on spending projects in their wards, started in the U.S. in Chicago, but its growth has stalled.
It's also a really wonderful way to get pedestrian safety improvements installed. CDOT really does not love prioritizing pedestrians right now. But alders can order specific infrastructure from them using menu funding. Because pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is liked more by people, wards with participatory budgeting usually have higher amounts of pedestrian infra and safe streets. :D
I FUCKING LOVE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
It's also a really wonderful way to get pedestrian safety improvements installed. CDOT really does not love prioritizing pedestrians right now. But alders can order specific infrastructure from them using menu funding. Because pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is liked more by people, wards with participatory budgeting usually have higher amounts of pedestrian infra and safe streets. :D