The People’s Budget workshop in Brighton Park has been hosted by @BPNCchicago and @cueChicago for some time now, and aims to center the voices of communities who are experience the most inequity based on the Child Opportunity Index https://t.co/IAyhQz363R

According to the People’s Budget 2020 findings, communities facing the most inequity are:
- Austin
- Auburn-Gresham
- Bronzeville
- Chicago Lawn
- Grand Crossing
- Greater Englewood

- Humboldt Park
- Back of the Yards
- North Lawndale
- South Deering
- Little Village
- South Shore
- Roseland
- Riverdale

Every summer budgeting season begins for the City of Chicago and it isn’t finalized until New Years Eve, Dec. 31st.

In June/July: City departments submit preliminary revenue estimates to the federal Office of Budget and Management (OMB)

By the end of July the annual financial analysis is presented to the rest of city council and the public for comment

August/September is when things start to get hot!

The budget forecast is published, meaning OMB receives detailed department requests and meets with each department to negotiate federal funding.

On/before the 15th of October, the Mayor of Chicago must submit a budget breakdown proposal to City council.

26/50 City Council votes are needed to approve the City budget proposal.

The rest of October/November is when every day folks come in.

October/November: Town Halls are hosted to get the public’s input on the budget.

As of Today, with a budget of $12.76 Billion, Chicago divides its budget up with 56.1% going to the Carceral system, while infrastructure and community services share a collective 18.6% https://t.co/vRcsU838id

Here’s the proposed 2021 budget broken down further by People’s Budget.

Infrastructure: Orange
Housing: light Purple
Education: Green
Community Resources: Purple
Carceral State: Grey https://t.co/0JxK69hym1

That’s a quick background, but for now let’s enjoy watching the people flow in! (There’s an expected 100 people to come!!) https://t.co/gsFbmZuM7u

It’s time! A group of Brighton Park community members are huddled around your every day table, first organizing to vote on group guidelines for how to debate their proposed budget.

Once these guidelines are voted on, each participant will be handed the following question to answer: https://t.co/iS8H46tJkU

Many cited needs of more community activities, specifically for community youth.

“Why do we need outsiders here, surveiling our people. We can take care of our own people,” says Nava, a 19 year old community resident. https://t.co/iv2GRppk9M

One participant wrote: “better salaries for single mothers so that they can have more time for activities with their children.” https://t.co/W28SfXlWaS

Next up: allocating funds

Each participant will place a token on this chart to vote on the category they think is the most important/necessary for their community, with each participant voting one at a time to rank their needs.

It starting out very evenly… https://t.co/9f08TZllbB

Here everyone votes, even the kiddos https://t.co/SD1J75yiAa

The community voted to initially divide the budget up as follows:
20% in Health
17% in Education
15% in Housing
12% in Infrastructure
18% in Community Resources
and 15% in the Carceral System

Now it’s time to debate and vote to rearrange https://t.co/E9JE6Ma5jV

Currently the group is deciding how to cut 2% from their carceral system budget, but where to allocate the funds is a hot topic.

“When you already have [community resources, infrastructure, housing] you don’t need as much [funding for police anymore],” suggests Nava.

When more reallocations are made, Claudia, a ___ year long resident of Brighton Park, points out that all their budget cut suggestions are coming from the police, but she not anyone seems to worry.

“[all the cuts] are gonna be from the police,” laughs Nava.

The new and final budget voted on is as follows:
20% in Health
17% in Education
16% in Housing
16% in Infrastructure
19% in Community Resources
and 12% in the Carceral System https://t.co/tmsnDqeZPF

To wrap up, each participant is writing their needs to their Alderperson. Here’s some of the responses. https://t.co/1AYSikTXVo

The Spanish cards read as followed:

Upper middle: “Better salaries, more jobs for young adults, less deportations.”

Upper right: “better pay for single parents and more resources for family activities since there’s so many work hours.” https://t.co/3IpDOKoIh0

Lower left: “more workshops for different types of activities. English [classes] for those who don’t speak the language.”

Lower Right: “activities for youth, health clinics, more youth jobs.” https://t.co/WVzRRcfl1Z

That wraps up @cueChicago’s People’s Budget workshop in Brighton Park! Community members have expressed future interest in getting involved, with many community leaders coming back to ask for more information! https://t.co/Q5RHomk1uo

This concludes my documenting for @CHIdocumenters though, make sure to stay connect for threads like this on Chicago community events and causes!
#CHIDocumenters

Before I go though, here’s my list of sources:

peoplesbudgetchicago.com

diversitydatakids.org/research-libra…

peoplesbudgetchicago.com/img/PeoplesBud… (budget breakdown on pg. 3)

chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

chicago.gov/content/dam/ci… (budget breakdown pg. 41)