Ninth District Councilmember Rex Richardson is inviting Long Beach residents to engage in a new cycle of participatory budgeting, in one of six aptly titled Participatory Budgeting Neighborhood Assemblies in 2015.

Richardson was the first Southern California councilmember to introduce the process, according to a release issued by his office today. 

“PB is a great way for residents and stakeholders to be a part of government and the democratic process,” said Richardson in a statement. “Join us as we kick off and celebrate a second year of civic engagement in our community.”

The meetings will specifically give community members an opportunity to submit their ideas on how to spend $250,000 of one-time infrastructure funds, part of the city’s public budget. A Budget Delegation will then turn the ideas into proposals for District Nine residents to vote upon.

The first meeting will take place Saturday, October 10 at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Avenue), from 10:00AM to noon. Refreshments, a child watch, and Spanish translation will be available.

Other meetings will take place as follows:

October 17, 2015 | 10 AM-12:00PM
Community Grace Brethren Church
5885 Downey Avenue, Long Beach, 90805

October 17, 2015 | 1:00-3:00PM
California Aquatic and Wellness Center
6801 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, 90805

October 22, 2015 | 10:00 AM-Noon
Uptown Business District Office
5643 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, 90805

October 26, 2015 | 6:30-8:30PM
Sal’s Gumbo Shack
6148 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, 90805

November 6, 2015 | 6:00-8:00PM
Church One
700 East 70th Street, Long Beach, 90805

To learn more about PB, visit www.pblongbeach.org or call the Ninth District Council Office at 562.570.6137. The Ninth District participatory budgeting process is in partnership with the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) and supported by The California Endowment and Stanford University’s Crowdsourced Democracy Team.

Above, left: file photo.