A little more than a handful of Chicago alderman are doing what’s called “participatory budgeting” this year. In those wards, Chicagoans get to cast a vote on how the lawmakers should spend about a million dollars. 

WBEZ city politics reporter Lauren Chooljian sits down with us to talk with listeners about how they would spend the money, even if their aldermen aren’t participating. We also check in with 36th Ward Alderman Gilbert Villegas about how the process is going in his district.