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Read the press release here.

Astoria Residents to Weigh in on How to Spend $1 Million in District

 City Councilman Costa Constantinides is launching participatory budgeting in the 22nd District.
City Councilman Costa Constantinides is launching participatory budgeting in the 22nd District.
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DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska

ASTORIA — Participatory budgeting is coming to Astoria, where local residents will get the chance to help choose how $1 million in budget funds will be spent in their district.

City Councilman Costa Constantinides, who represents the 22nd district, is launching the process this week with a series of meetings to let residents voice their ideas on how the funds should be spent in the neighborhood.

"For the first time, residents will directly be able to make decisions about how taxpayer money is spent," the lawmaker said in a statement. "It is my hope that this will make government more transparent and accessible to the people."

The $1 million in discretionary funds can be used on capital projects in the district, which includes Astoria as well as parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, according to a press release.

The first of four meetings hosted by the councilman will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at P.S. 234 at 30-15 29 St. in Astoria.

Additional meetings will take place Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at P.S. 122 at 21-21 Ditmars Blvd., Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Bulova Corporate Center at 75-20 Astoria Blvd., and Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Astoria Community Center at 4-05 Astoria Blvd.

Volunteers will then work to put together specific project proposals, and residents will be able to vote on a list of final ideas next spring, according to Constantinides' announcement.