Councilmember De La Rosa hosts Uptown People’s Assembly
City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa hosted the first Uptown People’s Assembly in Washington Heights on February 10. The event brought the community together to facilitate discussions about community improvements.
The Uptown People’s Assembly is part of a larger co-governance model where community members are directly involved in decision-making to have an impact on legislation, policy, projects, and budgets. With around 300 attendees, there was ample discussion and networking.
“The idea of co-governance is about sharing space with those we govern,” said De La Rosa, who represents District 10, encompassing the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge-Marble Hill, Washington Heights (north and south), Inwood, Highbridge Park, and Inwood Hill Park. “Co-governance allows the people’s voice at the table when decisions are being made––we often say those closest to the pain have the solutions. To see how dedicated my constituency is to creating change and being part of the solution is unique and powerful.”
Community members have shaped the co-governance model by engaging in committees covering housing, small business, environment, health, education, and youth, as well as arts and culture. They have led the development and outreach for the Uptown People’s Assembly, hoping to gather ideas and workshop solutions to implement in the larger District 10 Action Plan.
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