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Budget Justice: On Building Grassroots Politics and Solidarities
A bold vision that empowers communities to solve our cities’ most pressing problems
Budget Justice challenges everything you thought you knew about “dull” and daunting government budgets, and shows how the latter confuse and mislead the public by design, not accident. Arguing that they are moral documents that demand grassroots participation to truly work for everyone, the book reveals how everyday citizens can shape policy to tackle everything from rising housing and food costs to unabated police violence, underfunded schools, and climate change–driven floods and wildfires.
Drawing on her years of engagement with democratic governance in New York City and around the globe, Celina Su proposes a new kind of democracy—in which city residents make collective decisions about public needs through processes like participatory budgeting, and in which they work across racial divides and segregated spaces as neighbors rather than as members of voting blocs or consumers. Su presents a series of “interludes” that vividly illustrate how budget justice plays out on the ground, including in-depth interviews with activists from Porto Alegre, Brazil, Barcelona, Spain, and Jackson, Mississippi, and shares her own personal reflections on how changing social identities inform one’s activism.
Essential reading to empower citizens, Budget Justice explains why public budgets reflect a crisis not so much in accounting as in democracy, and enables everyone, especially those from historically marginalized communities, to imagine and enact people’s budgets and policies—from universal preschool to affordable housing—that will enable their communities to thrive.
Budget Justice challenges everything you thought you knew about “dull” and daunting government budgets, and shows how the latter confuse and mislead the public by design, not accident. Arguing that they are moral documents that demand grassroots participation to truly work for everyone, the book reveals how everyday citizens can shape policy to tackle everything from rising housing and food costs to unabated police violence, underfunded schools, and climate change–driven floods and wildfires.
Drawing on her years of engagement with democratic governance in New York City and around the globe, Celina Su proposes a new kind of democracy—in which city residents make collective decisions about public needs through processes like participatory budgeting, and in which they work across racial divides and segregated spaces as neighbors rather than as members of voting blocs or consumers. Su presents a series of “interludes” that vividly illustrate how budget justice plays out on the ground, including in-depth interviews with activists from Porto Alegre, Brazil, Barcelona, Spain, and Jackson, Mississippi, and shares her own personal reflections on how changing social identities inform one’s activism.
Essential reading to empower citizens, Budget Justice explains why public budgets reflect a crisis not so much in accounting as in democracy, and enables everyone, especially those from historically marginalized communities, to imagine and enact people’s budgets and policies—from universal preschool to affordable housing—that will enable their communities to thrive.
296 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
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73 people want to read
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June 8, 2025
Book Review: Budget Justice: On Building Grassroots Politics and Solidarities by Celina Su - A Public Health Practitioner’s Perspective
Celina Su’s Budget Justice is a galvanizing manifesto that reframes public finance as a battleground for health equity—and left me equal parts inspired and unsettled by public health’s untapped potential in fiscal activism. As a practitioner who has witnessed how budget cuts ravage community clinics and harm reduction programs, Su’s case for participatory budgeting as a tool for racial and economic justice resonated like a call to arms.
Emotional Resonance: From Outrage to Radical Hope
Reading this book triggered visceral memories of fighting for syringe exchange funding while overdose deaths soared—a stark example of how budgetary decisions are public health decisions. Su’s accounts of grassroots groups reclaiming power (like tenants allocating millions for affordable housing) stirred professional envy: Why aren’t we training community health workers in budget advocacy? Yet her exposé of how austerity politics disproportionately harm Black and brown communities also evoked shame—how often have we treated these outcomes as inevitable rather than designed? The chapter on “solidarity beyond charity” shattered my complacency, demanding we stop pleading for scraps and start demanding redistribution.
Key Public Health Insights
-Budgets as Determinants of Health: Su’s framework exposes municipal spending as a literal matter of life and death—from park investments reducing heat mortality to school funding affecting intergenerational trauma.
-Participatory Democracy as Prevention: The book’s case studies prove that involving marginalized communities in budget decisions isn’t just ethical—it yields more effective interventions (e.g., mental health programs designed by youth).
-The Myth of Neutrality: Su dismantles the illusion that budgets are technocratic, showing how “fiscal responsibility” rhetoric often masks racial capitalism—a direct challenge to public health’s reliance on “evidence-based” appeals that ignore power dynamics.
Constructive Criticism
-From Theory to Tactic: While Su brilliantly diagnoses systemic flaws, public health practitioners need more concrete guidance on navigating bureaucratic resistance (e.g., how to counter claims that community-led projects “lack scalability”).
-Health Sector’s Role: The book could strengthen ties to healthcare systems—imagine a model where hospital community benefit dollars are allocated via participatory budgeting.
Final Thoughts
Budget Justice is required reading for anyone working at the intersection of health and policy. Su’s work left me convinced that until public health embraces budget justice as core to our mission, we’re merely treating symptoms of a rigged system.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) – A paradigm-shifting, morally urgent masterwork.
Gratitude: Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. In a field obsessed with “social determinants,” this book finally hands us the levers to change them.
Celina Su’s Budget Justice is a galvanizing manifesto that reframes public finance as a battleground for health equity—and left me equal parts inspired and unsettled by public health’s untapped potential in fiscal activism. As a practitioner who has witnessed how budget cuts ravage community clinics and harm reduction programs, Su’s case for participatory budgeting as a tool for racial and economic justice resonated like a call to arms.
Emotional Resonance: From Outrage to Radical Hope
Reading this book triggered visceral memories of fighting for syringe exchange funding while overdose deaths soared—a stark example of how budgetary decisions are public health decisions. Su’s accounts of grassroots groups reclaiming power (like tenants allocating millions for affordable housing) stirred professional envy: Why aren’t we training community health workers in budget advocacy? Yet her exposé of how austerity politics disproportionately harm Black and brown communities also evoked shame—how often have we treated these outcomes as inevitable rather than designed? The chapter on “solidarity beyond charity” shattered my complacency, demanding we stop pleading for scraps and start demanding redistribution.
Key Public Health Insights
-Budgets as Determinants of Health: Su’s framework exposes municipal spending as a literal matter of life and death—from park investments reducing heat mortality to school funding affecting intergenerational trauma.
-Participatory Democracy as Prevention: The book’s case studies prove that involving marginalized communities in budget decisions isn’t just ethical—it yields more effective interventions (e.g., mental health programs designed by youth).
-The Myth of Neutrality: Su dismantles the illusion that budgets are technocratic, showing how “fiscal responsibility” rhetoric often masks racial capitalism—a direct challenge to public health’s reliance on “evidence-based” appeals that ignore power dynamics.
Constructive Criticism
-From Theory to Tactic: While Su brilliantly diagnoses systemic flaws, public health practitioners need more concrete guidance on navigating bureaucratic resistance (e.g., how to counter claims that community-led projects “lack scalability”).
-Health Sector’s Role: The book could strengthen ties to healthcare systems—imagine a model where hospital community benefit dollars are allocated via participatory budgeting.
Final Thoughts
Budget Justice is required reading for anyone working at the intersection of health and policy. Su’s work left me convinced that until public health embraces budget justice as core to our mission, we’re merely treating symptoms of a rigged system.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) – A paradigm-shifting, morally urgent masterwork.
Gratitude: Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. In a field obsessed with “social determinants,” this book finally hands us the levers to change them.
September 24, 2025
Budget Justice by Celina Su is a transformative read that reshapes my understanding of budgeting and its role in democratic participation. The book's short-chapter style makes complex themes accessible without overwhelming the reader. Su skillfully transitions from the construction of opacity to exploring everyday democratic actions and the (re)making of active citizenship, guiding readers through these critical concepts step by step.
Initially, the term "budgeting" intimidated me, bringing to mind jargon and complicated visuals. However, Su's storytelling is anything but that. She provides relatable examples from everyday life, making the subject matter both accessible and engaging. The questions at the end of each chapter are particularly impactful, inviting readers to reflect on systemic inequality and search for their own answers, all while adhering to Su's "intersectionality as methodology" approach.
One of my "aha" moments came from Su's analysis of PBNYC as a means to address budget shortfalls. This insight redefined my understanding of PBNYC, revealing how it exposes accountability issues and budgeting shortfalls often hidden behind confusing numbers and a lack of public access to critical data.
The interludes in the book provide a unique space to get closer to on-the-ground work. Makani Theba's comment that "some people had the rigor but not the heart" struck me deeply, prompting reflection on the dynamics of organizing and the lessons learned from past campaigns. This quote stayed with me throughout the book.
The main takeaway from Budget Justice is the importance of "keeping practice." The book also piqued my curiosity about the sources of energy that keep people going and the doubts that emerge along the way. For example, the anonymous setting where city agencies share concerns about budget cuts was a compelling teaser, leaving me eager to learn more about these employees' daily struggles.
Epistemic justice, as Su presents it, is fundamental in shifting how we create and understand knowledge. The book goes beyond neoliberal metrics, emphasizing the importance of everyday practices in the knowledge-making process.
Ultimately, Su's personal anecdotes at the beginning and end of the book helped me approach the text as a fellow active citizen rather than feeling lectured by an expert. Her exploration of political subjectivities and envisioning futures focused on care and solidarity over personal interest and capital gains is inspiring.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Budget Justice is a must-read for anyone interested in urban planning, public policy, and democratic participation. It encourages questioning the status quo and embracing the possibilities of justice-focused projects. Highly recommended!
Initially, the term "budgeting" intimidated me, bringing to mind jargon and complicated visuals. However, Su's storytelling is anything but that. She provides relatable examples from everyday life, making the subject matter both accessible and engaging. The questions at the end of each chapter are particularly impactful, inviting readers to reflect on systemic inequality and search for their own answers, all while adhering to Su's "intersectionality as methodology" approach.
One of my "aha" moments came from Su's analysis of PBNYC as a means to address budget shortfalls. This insight redefined my understanding of PBNYC, revealing how it exposes accountability issues and budgeting shortfalls often hidden behind confusing numbers and a lack of public access to critical data.
The interludes in the book provide a unique space to get closer to on-the-ground work. Makani Theba's comment that "some people had the rigor but not the heart" struck me deeply, prompting reflection on the dynamics of organizing and the lessons learned from past campaigns. This quote stayed with me throughout the book.
The main takeaway from Budget Justice is the importance of "keeping practice." The book also piqued my curiosity about the sources of energy that keep people going and the doubts that emerge along the way. For example, the anonymous setting where city agencies share concerns about budget cuts was a compelling teaser, leaving me eager to learn more about these employees' daily struggles.
Epistemic justice, as Su presents it, is fundamental in shifting how we create and understand knowledge. The book goes beyond neoliberal metrics, emphasizing the importance of everyday practices in the knowledge-making process.
Ultimately, Su's personal anecdotes at the beginning and end of the book helped me approach the text as a fellow active citizen rather than feeling lectured by an expert. Her exploration of political subjectivities and envisioning futures focused on care and solidarity over personal interest and capital gains is inspiring.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Budget Justice is a must-read for anyone interested in urban planning, public policy, and democratic participation. It encourages questioning the status quo and embracing the possibilities of justice-focused projects. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews