At a birthday fundraiser last night in East Harlem, friends and supporters gathered to toast City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito’s re-election bid for a redrawn district. But for the two-term progressive rabble-rouser, there is far more at stake than keeping her seat.

“We want to see her Speaker!” shouted one supporter as the group crowded around Ms. Viverito at the cozy El Kallejon on East 117th Street to hear her remarks.

Participatory budgeting ended Saturday and more than 1,000 people voted on where their taxpayer dollars should go.

Each voter selected five projects and we were able to fund the top six, for a total of $1.54 million. Melissa will place these projects in this upcoming year’s budget.

You can see the full breakdown of votes below and more information about the projects here. And remember, if your project didn’t make the cut, there’s always next
year’s participatory budgeting. Alternatively, talk to our office and we might be able to help make it happen.

On Saturday, February 9, 2013, Melissa joined Friends of Brook Park, South Bronx Unite and other concerned community members in marching on 138th Street and St Ann’s Avenue, demanding safer streets and protesting illegal truck traffic.

October 21, 2011

Yesterday, Melissa helped announce a new City initiative that will place 1,000 new benches on sidewalks throughout New York City, beginning with the two brand new benches at East 109th Street between First and Second Avenues, outside of the Leonard Covello Senior Center.  The initiative, called City Bench, was launched in our community in response to the efforts undertaken by Melissa’s office and East Harlem’s Aging Improvement District (AID) to make our neighborhood more age-friendly.

September 23, 2011

On Tuesday, Melissa, Congressman Rangel, Senator Perkins, Councilwoman Dickens, and a direct descendant of Frederick Douglass gathered for the Frederick Douglass Memorial Ribbon-cutting Ceremony. The memorial honors Douglass, an African American abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. The portrait sculpture of Douglass stands eight feet tall and is encircled by a large fountain with ornamental and symbloic features. The design was crafted by Gabriel Koren and Algernon Miller.

September 21, 2011

Last week, Melissa’s office announced an exciting new initiative coming to District 8, whereby residents will be able to directly determine how $1 million in capital funds is spent called participatory budgeting.

Come join Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito at her Annual Birthday Fundraiser.

April 27th, 2011 - 6pm to 8pm

AMOR CUBANO RESTAURANT

2018 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10029 (Corner 111th St.)