Voting Opens for District 7 Participatory Budgeting Projects

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To the polls once more this June!

Residents who are 16 years of age and older have until June 27 to vote on 11 projects ranging from neighborhood events to intersection safety improvements in this year’s round of District Seven Participatory Budgeting.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar put nearly $1 million into the program, a democratic process that allows the community to set budgeting priorities and decide what projects should be funded.

District Seven residents and organizations submitted proposals earlier this year and a committee of residents appointed by Melgar reviewed the proposals to vet them for feasibility. Those with the highest score moved to the ballot for voting.

Participatory Budgeting skipped last year because of the pandemic and was replaced by District Seven Community Grants.

The will of the voters is not always served. A $25,000 project to add a flashing beacon to the Ocean and Granada avenues intersection was funded but not implemented despite initial vetting by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Another project to install decorative lighting to Unity Plaza has been long delayed.

A proposal in this year’s round must garner a minimum of 400 votes to be funded.

The Projects

Eleven projects made the cut for this year's round:

Better traffic flow and pedestrian safety at Yerba Buena Avenue and Miraloma Drive

Submitted by Monterey Heights Housing Association

We want to make it easier to cross the street, by improving the signs and crosswalk and painting. We also want to extend the concrete median to make the intersection safer for cars and people.

Add a pedestrian island at Teresita and Reposa

Submitted by Miraloma Park Improvement Club

We want to add a pedestrian island at the intersection. The island will make it easier for people to cross the street safely.

Make a parklet on Monterey Business Corridor in Sunnyside

Submitted by Sunnyside Neighborhood Association

We want to make the sidewalk in the Corridor better by putting in two benches and a planter. This will increase foot traffic and provide seating for shoppers.

More trash cans = less litter in Lakeside Village

Submitted by Friends of Lakeside Village

We want to add trash cans on the sidewalk. We think this will stop litter on the sidewalk.

Make it easier to play sports at the Commodore Sloat school

Submitted by Commodore Sloat Parents' Community Organization

We want to make it more fun for people to use the vacant blacktop in the Commodore Sloat schoolyard. We will do that by putting in benches, a volleyball net, basketball hoops and painting a baseball diamond on the blacktop.

Train teens for work

Submitted by Stonestown Family YMCA

We want to fund a 12-week program to train 12 teens in Lifeguarding, CPR and Foundations of Youth Development. These classes help teens find work. We want to run this program every three months.

Slow down traffic on Pacheco at 8th and Alton Avenues

Submitted by Forest Hill Association

We want to install speed bumps in the area. We think this will make it safer for pedestrians by slowing down cars.

Neighborfests in D7

Submitted by Resilient D7

Neighborfests, or neighborhood block parties, bring neighbors together. That’s important in a disaster like an earthquake or a fire. We need to help each other, but we need to know who our neighbors are to be able to help them. We want to fund 27 neighborforests in D7.

Community space, garden and emergency hub

Submitted by Aptos Middle School

We will build a community vegetable garden, seating, and memorial space at the Aptos Middle School. We will also make an emergency response hub with emergency supplies.

Traffic calming and added crosswalks on Hearst Avenue

Submitted by Friends of Slow Hearst

We want to put in 4 painted crosswalks and new speed humps. Crosswalks would be at Hearst and Baden, Hearst and Congo, Hearst and Detroit and Hearst and Ridgewood.

Supplies for monthly volunteer trash pick up and graffiti clean up

Submitted by Resilient West Portal

We want to have supplies for a monthly volunteer trash pick up and graffiti clean up on the West portal corridor.

2022 Participatory Budgeting

Vote online: Visit the participatory budgeting website

Vote in-person: If you or a neighbor you know doesn’t have internet access you can vote in person at the Ingleside, Merced and West Portal branch libraries.