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Charter Revision Commission

Charter Revision Commission

  • With 'Broad City' Stars, Charter Revision Commission Hits Airwaves to Activate Voters

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    Abbi & Ilana of 'Broad City' fame in Charter Revision Commission PSA


    When trying to gin up public attention on seemingly mundane government minutiae, a bit of star power never hurts.

    Most New Yorkers probably don’t know that they can vote this fall -- starting with the launch of early voting on October 26 -- on fairly significant changes to city elections and governance, so the team behind the ballot proposals is enlisting two people known for New York City pride.

    As early voting and November fifth’s Election Day

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  • 2019 Charter Revision Commission Seeks to 'Tweak,' Not Upend City Balance of Power

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    Carl Weisbrod, left, and Gail Benjamin


    A series of proposals on the ballot before New Yorkers this fall is meant to revisit city political power dynamics established after the 1989 Charter Revision Commission, which 30 years ago reshaped New York City government into its current form. That is what Gail Benjamin and Carl Weisbrod, two leaders of the 2019 Charter Revision Commission, said during a Wednesday morning discussion hosted by the Association for a Better New York and Citizens Union at the New School.

    From the early voting period of October 26

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  • Push Launched to Get Voters to Choose Ranked-Choice Voting

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    (photo: @commoncauseny)


    A coalition of elected officials, business and labor leaders, and reform groups gathered Thursday in Lower Manhattan to launch a campaign to convince New York City voters to change the way they elect their representatives in city government.

    Voters in New York City this fall will have the opportunity to approve ballot referenda on a number of reforms to the City Charter, including a new election system known as “ranked-choice voting.” The new system would allow voters in primary and special elections -- but not general elections -- to

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  • Leaving the REBNY vs NIMBY Doom Loop

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    (photo: NYC Planning)


    This past week, amidst flooded streets, blackouts, overheated jails, and subway failures, New Yorkers saw the consequences that result from a failure to engage in strategic long-term planning for the future of our city. In the final decisions of the 2019 Charter Revision Commission, we also missed a big chance to do something about it.

    The dangers of failing to invest strategically in the infrastructure that sustains our city will grow in coming decades, as temperatures

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  • Charter Revision Commission Gives Final Approval to 19 Proposals in 5 Questions to Appear on Fall Ballot

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    (photo: Mihael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    The 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission held its final meeting at City Hall in July to officially approve the language of 19 ballot proposals that will be put before voters for the November 5 general election. (The commission dropped a proposal related to units of appropriation in the city budget, which had earlier been approved for inclusion.)

    The meeting concluded a year of

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  • De Blasio Reps Sought to Kill Police Accountability Measure

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    (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    Less than a week after arguments ended in the high-profile NYPD administrative trial of Officer Daniel Pantaleo, the administration of Mayor de Blasio waged an effort to block a significant reform aimed at preventing and punishing lying by police officers during investigations of misconduct.

    One commissioner on the 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission says members were contacted by a representative of the mayor in advance of a vote earlier this month on whether to move to the November election ballot a

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  • For Total of 20 Potential Reforms, Charter Commission Adds 3 More Proposals to November Ballot

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    (photo: @Charter2019NYC)


    Supporters of adding new teeth to investigations of police misconduct thought one of their priorities failed last week, when the 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission voted down a proposal that would allow the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) to investigate potentially false statements made in the course of its investigations.

    At a major hearing last week, the commission voted through 17 proposals to change

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  • Charter Revision Commission Approves 17 Proposals for November Ballot

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    (photo: @Charter2019NYC)


    After a nine months-long process of public hearings, private meetings, and spirited discussion, the 2019 Charter Revision Commission approved 17 proposals for the November ballot on Wednesday evening.

    Commission staff will draft ballot language for these proposals and the commission will take a final vote to approve the proposals on July 24. It will have one more meeting - on Tuesday, June 18 - to discuss adding other proposals to the list.

    Potential changes to the city’s central governing laws

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  • Spirited Discussion Anticipated as Charter Revision Commission Finalizes Ballot Proposals

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    (photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office)


    The 2019 Charter Revision Commission is set to hold one, perhaps two, public meetings to decide on what changes to city governance and elections it will propose to New Yorkers on the November ballot. The first of the potentially two meetings will be Wednesday night at City Hall, where the 15 commissioners, appointed by various local elected officials, will attempt to agree on which proposals to instruct staff to craft ballot questions around.

    They are mostly working off of the “preliminary staff report,” ...

  • The Rainy Day Fund New York Needs

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    (photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)


    With so much attention focused on the mayor’s presidential campaign, rent regulation renewal, and the state of the transit system, most New Yorkers are unaware they will have the opportunity this fall to vote to dramatically change their city government.

    The 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission is considering what amendments to the City Charter, which defines the structure and powers of city government, it will recommend to voters for a yes or no vote on the November ballot. Notable

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  • At Manhattan Charter Commission Hearing, Pleas to Reconsider Major Planning Changes

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    (photo: @ANHDNYC)


    The City Hall chambers of the New York City Council were packed with over 100 people on Thursday evening for a hearing of the 2019 Charter Revision Commission. New Yorkers who attended, including some elected officials, were largely focused on always-contentious land use issues and processes that the commission is considering as part of its larger effort to rethink aspects of city governance.

    The Manhattan hearing was the fourth of the five boroughs, to be followed by Staten Island on Tuesday night, where

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  • Diaz Jr. Submits Charter Revision Testimony Focused on Land Use and Police Accountability

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    (photo: office of Ruben Diaz Jr.)


    One week after the 2019 Charter Revision Commission held its final hearing in the Bronx and one day after its last borough hearing, but before the commission decides what proposals it will put before voters this fall, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. released his testimony to the commission on Wednesday.

    While the 15-member charter commission, on which Diaz Jr. has one appointee, is considering a wide range of possible changes to city governance and elections, Diaz Jr. focused his written testimony on two crucial measures: land use

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  • Contentious Bronx Charter Commission Hearing Centers on Voting, Police Accountability Reforms

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    (photo: @Charter2019NYC)


    The 2019 Charter Revision Commission held a lively public hearing on its preliminary staff report in the Bronx on Tuesday evening. Public testimony largely focused on boosting support for ranked choice voting, which the commission is pursuing as a likely inclusion of what it will propose to voters on the November ballot, and advocating for an elected rather than appointed Civilian

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  • Max & Murphy Podcast: The 2019 City Charter Commission Narrows Its Focus

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    (photo: mayor's office)


    April 24, 2019 - Max & Murphy Podcast: The 2019 City Charter Commission Narrows Its Focus

    The 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission released its "preliminary staff report" on Tuesday, indicating which areas of city governance and elections the commission will further consider as it prepares to propose changes to voters in November. Gail Benjamin, chair of the 2019 commission, joined the show to discuss the staff report, the commission's work thus far, some of the

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  • 2019 Charter Commission Report Indicates Areas of Focus for Crafting Ballot Proposals

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    (photo: Michael Appleton/mayor's office)


    The 2019 Charter Revision Commission released its preliminary staff report on Tuesday, outlining recommendations from staff to the commissioners to further examine and pursue proposals to change city governance. This summer, the 15 members of the commission will decide which changes to city governance they will put before voters in

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  • New York City Should Have a Comprehensive Plan

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    (Photo: Spencer T Tucker/Mayor's office)


    The 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission is deliberating whether to propose to voters in November that a requirement for a comprehensive city plan be added to the charter.

    Should New York City have a comprehensive, well-considered plan?
    Yes.

    A comprehensive, well considered, plan should be good for everyone. It would involve all of us in the creation and maintenance of a shared vision for our city and its neighborhoods. It would provide predictability for communities,

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  • Does New York City Need a Chief Diversity Officer?

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    (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Many days throughout the year there are people gathered on the steps of City Hall calling on city government to make policy. On March 14, a rally of women and people of color who own businesses, organized by city Comptroller Scott Stringer, focused on a change that could significantly alter the direction of city government and opportunities for those business owners and others in similar positions.

    Those in attendance were backing Stringer’s push to have the 2019 New York

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  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Should the City Develop a Comprehensive Plan?

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    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    March 27, 2019 - Max & Murphy Podcast: Should the City Develop a Comprehensive Plan? with Elena Conte, Pratt Center Director of Policy

  • Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on Role of Borough Presidents, Other Governance Issues

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    (photo: @Charter2019NYC)


    Over the course of three hours on Monday evening, the 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission held the last of seven “expert” forums, during which commissioners heard testimony from former and current city officials, academics, and activists about the role of borough presidents, general city governance issues, the Board of Standards and Appeals, and the Landmark Preservation Commission.

    The commission was created to update New York’s charter: the city document that determines government structures and

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  • Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on Land Use and Planning

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    (photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayor's Office)


    The sixth 2019 Charter Revision Commission “expert” hearing ended in more confusion than it began with on the decidedly complex topics of land use and city planning.

    Over the course of more than three hours on Thursday evening, experts struggled to articulate a clear definition of comprehensive planning, leaving the commissioners feeling like they had little to work off moving

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  • Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on Public Advocate's Office, Law Department, Ranked-Choice Voting

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    (photo: @Charter2019NYC)


    Three former New York City Public Advocates argued for strengthening the powers of the office. Former and current Law Department officials defended the agency’s independence. Experts on city government argued for and against expanding the powers of non-mayoral elected officials. And a Board of Elections official detailed the logistics of implementing ranked-choice voting in New York City.

    Those were the broad themes of a Monday night hearing held at the City Council chambers by the 2019 Charter Revision Commission,

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  • Charter Revision Commission Needs a Hippocratic Oath

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    (photo: William Alatriste/City Council)


    The entire New York City Charter, the city's foundational governing document, is on the operating table, and it is essential that the surgeons act with extreme caution.

    On March 7 I testified before the Charter Revision Commission created at the initiative of City Council Speaker Johnson, former Public Advocate James, and Manhattan Borough President Brewer. Charter revision can be a very wonky, technical topic, but the Charter is our city’s constitution and any changes made to it can have a significant,

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  • Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on Conflicts of Interest and Chief Diversity Officer

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    (photo: Sofie Hecht/Gotham Gazette)


    On Thursday evening, the 2019 Charter Revision Commission heard from experts in city government and activist circles to discuss possible charter amendments that could enhance precautionary measures against conflicts of interest in city government, and the potential mandated addition of a chief diversity officer in the mayor’s office, at mayoral agencies, and elsewhere. The push for adding chief diversity officers is being led by city Comptroller Scott Stringer, who created such a position in his office and has made the effort one of his top

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  • Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on City Budgeting and Contracting

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     (photo: Edwin J. Torres/ Mayoral Photo Office)


    The 2019 Charter Revision Commission, which is looking at ways to improve the city’s central governing document, heard suggestions on Monday from community-based organizations, fiscal watchdogs, and former and current city officials about potential changes to the city’s byzantine budgeting process.

    Over the course of more than three hours, experts weighed in on the city’s flawed contract procurement system, the severe lack of transparency in spending on capital projects, the possibility of creating a rainy day fund for the city, and

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  • Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on Police Accountability

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    (photo: @Charter2019NYC)


    The 2019 Charter Revision Commission met on Thursday evening to discuss police accountability reforms before an impassioned crowd filled with activists. Local advocates along with some politicians have long called for increased transparency and accountability in policing, particularly in recent years following the 2014 death of Eric Garner at the hands of NYPD officers on Staten Island and the slow, somewhat secretive process by which any accountability has been handled for that incident and others like it over the years.

    The commission

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