City Charter Revisions: What You Need to Know
As Election Day approaches on Tuesday, November 5, you’ll have more than just candidates to vote for — New Yorkers have the chance to shape the future of our city by voting on one state ballot measure and several City Charter revision proposals. The proposed revisions on the ballot affect how the city is run, from how we handle public safety to how we spend our budget.
Here’s a breakdown of the ballot measures that you’ll be voting on:
State
1. New York Equal Rights Amendment: This proposal ensures that individuals cannot be denied rights based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, or sex, which includes sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. It embeds these rights in the State Constitution, so they cannot be overturned by legislation.
City
2. Clarification of the Department of Sanitation’s Responsibilities: This proposal expands the authority of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to clean all city-owned property and enforce cleanliness regulations beyond streets and sidewalks, including locations that have been historically assigned to the Parks Department to clean. It also allows DSNY to regulate garbage containers and extend enforcement to street vendors in public spaces.
Why? This aims to give DSNY clear responsibility for keeping all public areas clean, with measures like containerization to reduce litter and pests.
3. Fiscal Impacts and Budget Deadlines: Requires fiscal impact statements (FIS) about the cost to the city of proposed legislation be prepared by both the City Council and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before public hearings and prior to a Council vote on a matter that could impact the city budget. Also, this would adjust several budget-related deadlines.
Why? Aims to increase transparency and ensure financial implications of proposed laws are clear before they are enacted, helping to avoid increased spending that is not authorized in the adopted budget and could result in deficits.
4. Public Safety Legislation: This proposal would require the City Council to give more public notice and hold hearings before voting on laws affecting the Police, Fire, and Correction Departments. It also gives these departments a chance to provide feedback on proposed laws.
Why? The intent is to ensure that decisions affecting public safety are made with more transparency and input, giving the public and departments more time to respond and participate in the legislative process.
5. Capital Planning and Infrastructure: The city would be required to collect more detailed information about the condition of public buildings and infrastructure. This information would then guide decisions on where to invest in repairs and improvements.
Why? The goal is to make sure city resources are spent wisely by focusing on areas that need repairs the most, improving long-term planning and decision-making.
6. MWBEs and Film Permits: This proposal creates a Chief Business Diversity Officer to help minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). It also simplifies the process for getting film permits and combines two city archive boards into one.
Why? These changes aim to support economic opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses, make it easier to film in the city, and streamline archive management for better efficiency.
There’s limited information out there about these City Charter revisions, but here are some of the sources we recommend. To learn more, take a look at the ballot guide from NYC Votes. You can also find trusted sources like this op-ed in the NY Daily News (behind a paywall), this guide from The City, and review the NYC Charter Revision Commission website.
