NEWYORK: Council of Peoples Organization (COPO) and the American Council of Minority Women (ACMW) organized an awareness seminar titled “Idea Generation” to get suggestions from participants on how municipal government funds should be allocated toward projects for the betterment and development of the community.
An awareness seminar focused on “Idea Generation”—part of the “The People’s Money” program under the New York City government’s Civic Engagement Commission—was hosted by the Council of Peoples Organization and the American Council of Minority Women on Coney Island Avenue.
The event commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran following by the Naat in honor of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
A large number of participants, including men, women, and seniors, participated in the seminar.
COPO team members Abdul and Faizan provided a briefing on the municipal government’s development projects, the challenges faced by the community, and the allocation of funds for desired amenities.
Participants were informed about how $81.4 billion, representing 64.1% of the city government’s $127 billion budget, is distributed and spent across various municipal departments.
General Secretary of the ACMW Ahmed Latif explained the fundamental difference between the city government’s “capital budget” and “expense budget” to the participants. He said that through this program, the government seeks to learn from citizens what specific facilities or amenities their communities require for their own improvement and development.
Chairperson of the American Council of Minority Women (ACMW) Bazah Roohi said that beyond its own pre-planned development projects, it is crucial for the municipal government to understand the specific needs of the community at the local level.
She said that a formal mechanism exists for this purpose and it is now our civic responsibility to inform the government in writing about ours issues and priorities.
During the seminar, Mehwish Fatima, a representative from ‘Health First,’ delivered a presentation to the participants regarding enrollment in state health programs and addressed various questions.
A documentary was also screened for the participants. They recorded their suggestions and opinions on the provided forms and shared their views on identifying specific areas for budget allocation.
COPO and ACMW have compiled community recommendations for the current year’s budget, which will be submitted to the municipal government. The event concluded with a lucky draw, through which prizes were awarded.
