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NYC Charter Revision Commission
Public Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission
May 14, 2025
·
10:00 AM
1 hr 28 min
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Summary
A meeting of the NYC Charter Revision Commission to discuss the preliminary staff report on potential charter reforms.
The commission focused on three main areas:
- Housing and land use reforms to streamline development processes and balance local input with citywide needs
- Election reforms including moving city elections to even years and opening primaries to unaffiliated voters
- Procurement reforms to improve timely payments to nonprofits and vendors
Features a presentation on the preliminary report followed by a discussion and debate among commissioners and the Executive Director of the Charter Revision Commission.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. on the Charter Revision Commission's goals and the preliminary staff report
Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. opens the public meeting of the Charter Revision Commission, outlining its mission to improve city government with a key focus on the housing crisis. He …
0:00:06
•
3 min
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck introduces the preliminary report and the commission's timeline
Alec Schierenbeck, Executive Director of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, introduces the preliminary staff report, which summarizes extensive public testimony. He notes the historical context of charter revisions and outlines …
0:04:01
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112 sec
Alec Schierenbeck discusses New York City's housing affordability crisis and its root causes
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck details the severity of New York City's housing affordability crisis, emphasizing its impact on residents, segregation, and the city's growth. He explains that the core problem …
0:05:53
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4 min
Alec Schierenbeck on the consequences of the housing shortage and issues with ULURP and member deference
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck discusses the severe human impacts of New York City's housing shortage, such as high rents and displacement. He explains that while the City Charter controls the …
0:10:07
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6 min
Alec Schierenbeck outlines proposed reforms to address housing challenges, focusing on process costs, citywide needs, and public land
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck presents potential charter reforms to tackle the housing crisis, categorized into reducing process costs, elevating citywide needs, and better leveraging public land. These proposals aim to …
0:16:58
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6 min
Alec Schierenbeck discusses election reforms to address low voter turnout
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck shifts to address New York City's low voter turnout. He details issues such as declining participation, especially among minority communities and young people, and the exclusion …
0:23:19
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3 min
Alec Schierenbeck on improving city contract payments, climate infrastructure, and digitizing the city map
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck discusses the chronic issue of delayed payments to city nonprofits and vendors, and challenges in implementing climate infrastructure projects. He outlines proposals to streamline contract payments, …
0:26:52
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4 min
Commissioners discuss the preliminary report, focusing on cost reduction, nonprofit contracting, and accountability
Following Alec Schierenbeck's presentation, NYC Charter Revision Commission Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. opens the floor for questions and comments. Commissioners Kathryn Wylde, Carl Weisbrod, Anita Laremont, and Sharon Greenberger …
0:31:18
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3 min
Discussion on nonprofit payment accountability and the complexities of timely payments
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck confirms that proposed procurement reforms include transparency measures, while Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. stresses the importance of accountability tools for management. Commissioner Diane Savino elaborates …
0:35:00
•
169 sec
Commissioners debate addressing "member deference" in housing development and land use
Commissioner Diane Savino emphasizes the political challenge of addressing "member deference" in housing development, warning that attempts to bypass local council members' influence will face strong opposition (sentence 287 is …
0:37:43
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155 sec
Commissioners discuss strategies for facilitating housing development while navigating "member deference"
Commissioner Anita Laremont proposes framing charter changes not as an attack on "member deference," but as a way to create expedited paths for specific, often incremental, housing categories. She emphasizes …
0:40:17
•
159 sec
Discussion on the nature of "member deference" and how to frame reforms
Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck argues that the current system of "member deference" distorts the original intent of ULURP, which was to balance local input with broader city and borough interests, …
0:42:57
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115 sec
Commissioner Nieves on supporting nonprofits, MOCS capacity, and housing affordability
Commissioner Lisette Nieves highlights several points: the need to increase capacity at the Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) to ensure timely payments to nonprofits, the valuable role of nonprofits …
0:44:52
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99 sec
Commissioner Bonilla requests further cost-benefit analysis on proposals, including for the "one map" system and nonprofit workforce
Commissioner Grace C. Bonilla commends the staff for the cost analysis provided and requests further examination of the financial implications of various proposals. She specifically asks for analysis on the …
0:46:30
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93 sec
Commissioner Savino on the impact of regulatory complexity on housing construction costs
Commissioner Diane Savino returns to the issue of housing affordability, emphasizing that while increasing supply is key, the city's own complex rules and lengthy processes significantly drive up construction costs. …
0:47:51
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74 sec
Commissioners discuss public land use for housing and controlling local development costs
Commissioner Grace C. Bonilla requests an analysis of how using public land for housing has affected affordability and existing residents in other cities, with Commissioner Kathryn Wylde noting that New …
0:48:52
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127 sec
Commissioner Bozorg on truthfully addressing the causes of the housing crisis, including member deference
Commissioner Leila Bozorg, while agreeing that final recommendations may not need to explicitly name "member deference," strongly advocates that the commission's report should not downplay how this practice has contributed …
0:51:01
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82 sec
Commissioners Weisbrod and Greenberger on guiding principles and impact analysis for recommendations
Commissioner Carl Weisbrod outlines three key pillars that should guide the commission's recommendations: reducing housing costs, promoting equity and fair share in housing distribution, and balancing local and citywide interests. …
0:52:23
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136 sec
Commissioners discuss election reform as crucial for better governance and housing outcomes
Commissioner Diane Savino then pivots to election reform, arguing it's fundamental to addressing issues like housing because current low and polarized voter turnout makes elected officials risk-averse. She advocates for …
0:54:39
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3 min
Commissioners discuss prioritizing ballot proposals and the specifics of open primary reforms
Commissioner Leila Bozorg then raises questions about prioritizing the numerous reform ideas, suggesting some might be achievable through legislation rather than ballot initiatives. She also seeks clarity on how the …
0:58:29
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71 sec
Discussion on the interplay between local and state actions for election reforms, particularly even-year elections.
Commissioners and staff discuss the procedural complexities of implementing election reforms, distinguishing between locally controlled changes like open primaries and those requiring state action, such as moving to even-year elections. …
0:59:39
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115 sec
In-depth debate among commissioners on the timing and wisdom of a ballot proposal for even-year elections
A significant portion of the discussion centers on whether the NYC Charter Revision Commission should propose a ballot question to move local elections to even years, given that this change …
1:01:34
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5 min
Chair Buery on voter understanding regarding two-step reforms; discussion shifts to selecting a model for open primaries
Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. concludes his points on the even-year election debate, expressing confidence in voters' ability to understand multi-step reform processes and the importance of the city taking …
1:06:49
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136 sec
Further debate on the utility of a current ballot measure for even-year elections and the "veil of ignorance"
The discussion continues on the merits of placing an even-year election proposal on the upcoming ballot, with Commissioner Kathryn Wylde questioning its immediate impact if state action is years away. …
1:08:51
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3 min
Commissioners weigh voter sentiment, potential for confusion, and strategic value of an even-year election ballot question
The debate over proposing even-year elections continues, with commissioners considering the potential impact of a "no" vote on state legislative efforts and the risk of creating voter confusion if the …
1:12:28
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161 sec
Commissioners discuss prioritizing ballot measures and the optimal number of questions for voters
Commissioner Lisette Nieves adds that moving to even-year elections is also an efficiency issue. Commissioner Anita Laremont emphasizes the need to prioritize and limit the number of proposals on the …
1:15:09
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138 sec
Commissioner Richardson inquires about legal preclearance for election-related ballot questions
Commissioner Anthony Richardson raises a question about the potential for legal challenges to any election-related proposals the commission might put on the ballot, specifically concerning the preclearance process. Executive Director …
1:17:28
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88 sec
Commissioners discuss the need for a deeper dive into procurement reform, focusing on MOCS and PPB roles
Commissioner Kathryn Wylde raises concerns about proposed procurement reforms, particularly the expansion of the Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) authority versus the role of the Procurement Policy Board (PPB). …
1:18:55
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5 min
Final questions on ballot language requirements and the post-procurement phase of city contracts.
As the meeting concludes, Commissioner Diane Savino raises a technical question regarding plain language requirements for ballot questions, similar to those for state constitutional amendments. Commissioner Grace C. Bonilla offers …
1:24:00
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87 sec