REMARKS
Council Member Adams introduces bill for new Charter Revision Commission
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3 min
Council Member Adrienne E. Adams introduces her legislation, Introduction 1088, to establish a new Charter Revision Commission. She emphasizes the importance of a thorough, transparent, and inclusive process for revising the city charter, contrasting it with the recent rushed commission initiated by the mayor.
- Adams criticizes the mayor's recent charter revision process as rushed and lacking transparency
- The proposed commission would have 8-20 months to work, prohibit registered lobbyists from serving, and provide representation for all city elected officials
- The goal is to strengthen democracy and improve city government for New Yorkers, not for political purposes
Adrienne E. Adams
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Thank you so much, Terrence.
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We are Queen's strong here today.
0:04:55
I kinda like that.
0:04:57
Thank you so much.
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Chair for leading today's committee on governmental operations, state, and federal legislation hearing on introduction 1098, my legislation to establish a charter revision commission to review the city charter.
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And thank you to everyone who's joined us here today.
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A charter revision commission presents a unique opportunity to propose ideas on how to revise the city's constitution to improve city government.
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And make it more responsive to the needs of New Yorkers.
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It is a serious undertaking that requires a full review of the city charter, and it should include robust public engagement to hear from New Yorkers.
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That has been the standard of past commissions.
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For decades, there have been commissions that were created to advance meaningful reforms, such as changes to the oversight authority of the civilian complaint review board, conflict of interest laws, strengthening the public campaign finance system and other measures to improve city government.
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However, over the past over the last several months, we have seen the public's trust and city government weaken underscoring the importance of strengthening that bond with New Yorkers.
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The mayor's commission rushed, a charter revision commission processed this year, taking less than 2 months to propose changes and then voting to advance their specific proposals only 2 days after they had been publicly released.
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The mayor's commission even amended the proposals just hours before their final vote without any public notice at all.
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This brazen misuse of the Charter Revision Commission process completely undermines the principles of good governance.
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It has resulted in ballot proposals 2 through 6 which would undermine checks and balances, weaken oversight, and accountability of city agencies, and make city government less responsive to New Yorkers.
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These proposals were not developed with New Yorkers best interests at heart.
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We cannot accept this as the norm for charter revision commissions.
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It is crucial that as a city, we prevent this anomaly from becoming our new baseline.
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That is why today we will review introduction 1088, my bill to establish a charter revision commission that restores the model's standards for how to revise the city charter through a transparent, thoughtful, and inclusive process.
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In contrast to the mayor's rush commission, we will provide at least 8 months for this new commission's work before submitting proposals for consideration in the 2025 General Election or up to 20 months for the 2026 general election.
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This commission will also prohibit registered lobbyists from serving as members and provide representation for all city elected officials.
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Through this commission, we hope to unite all stakeholders and New Yorkers to advance a charter revision commission process that is focused on strengthening our democracy and improving city government for the benefit of New Yorkers not.
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For political gamesmanship.
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I look forward to hearing from all stakeholders about how to best restore confidence in our city government and reestablish strong standards for charter revision commissions moving forward.
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Thank you all once again.
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Thank you, Mr.
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Chair.
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I now turn it back over to you.
