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PRESENTATION
Law Department presentation on notable past Charter Revision Commissions
1:15:03
·
130 sec
Benjamin Miller concludes the Law Department's presentation by highlighting outcomes from notable recent Charter Revision Commissions.
He mentions the 1989 commission eliminating the Board of Estimate, the 2010 commission restoring term limits, the 2019 commission implementing ranked-choice voting, the 2021 Racial Justice Commission establishing the Office of Racial Equity, and the 2024 commission focusing on government efficiency resulting in changes to Sanitation's authority and legislative processes.
- 1989: Eliminated Board of Estimate due to 'one person, one vote' violation.
- 2010: Restored two-term limits for elected officials.
- 2019: Implemented Ranked Choice Voting, required Council consent for Corporation Counsel appointment.
- 2021 (Racial Justice): Created Office of Racial Equity, required racial equity plans.
- 2024: Focused on efficiency (Sanitation expansion, legislative cost estimates, capital planning changes).
Benjamin Miller
1:15:03
So to wrap us up, I'll just briefly discuss some notable recent commissions.
1:15:06
The 1989 commission, again, the main change there was that it eliminated the board of elections.
1:15:14
This was a key government body that was declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court.
1:15:21
You may be that board was it violated the principle of one person, one vote because each borough president had equal voting power despite the very different populations of the boroughs.
1:15:32
So because this board of estimate prior to 1989 had such a significant role in so many city important city processes, all those had to be rethought when the board was abolished.
1:15:43
The 2010 commission restored the two term limit for elected officials that had been extended only two years before in 02/2008, and the 2019 commission implemented ranked choice voting and also made the mayor's appointment of the corp council subject to the city council's advice and consent.
1:16:03
In 2021, there was the racial justice commission appointed by mayor de Blasio, examining racial equity, and and, that commission resulted in the establishment of the office of rec racial equity and the requirement for the, preparation of citywide and agency specific rake racial equity plans.
1:16:22
And finally, in 2024, the Charter Revision Commission appointed by mayor Adams focused on government efficiency and responsiveness, and that commission, results in recommend recommendations approved in November, including the expansion of the Department of Sanitation's authority, the requirements for city council to obtain cost estimates before certain new legislation and to provide notice before voting on policing or public safety legislation, and also established additional requirements for the capital planning processes.
1:16:54
So that concludes our presentation.
1:16:56
We're happy to answer any questions the commission has, today or throughout the process.
1:17:02
Thank you.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
1:17:06
Are there any questions for the law department now?
1:17:10
No.
1:17:11
Thank you so much for the presentation.
1:17:12
We appreciate it.