Democratic engagement is the practice of engaged citizenship through democratic mechanisms and principles. As part of the IGND, the City intends to extend democratic engagement via innovative education, communications and budgetary processes.
OUR INTERPRETATION
The recently approved Justice 50 will fund the Participatory Budget program. The City will direct 10% of its capital budget to the participatory program, enabling residents to have a say in how these public dollars are spent. The City has adjusted the schedule for launching a Participatory Budget process with the new launch date of May 2026. In 2023, the City launched the Sustainability and Climate Justice Committee, an advisory group and conduit between residents and the City. The City has also contracted with Cornell Cooperative Extension to conduct town halls, affording City residents the opportunity to ask questions and learn about electrification. We see these as evidence of the City’s desire to include residents in the IGND. Still, the need for community education and communication is large, and much more will need to be done.
