Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
NYC Charter Revision Commission
Brooklyn Public Input Session
May 19, 2025
·
05:00 PM
2 hr 29 min
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Summary
A hearing on potential revisions to the New York City Charter, with a primary focus on opening primary elections to independent/unaffiliated voters and housing/land use reforms.
Discussions included:
- Various models of open primaries
- Streamlining processes like ULURP for housing production
- Fair share requirements for housing and services across districts
- Moving local elections to even years
- Police accountability reforms
- Homeowner protections
- Comprehensive city planning processes
The commission is in an information-gathering phase, with more public hearings scheduled and expert consultations planned.
Features testimony from elected officials, including Assembly Member Robert Carroll, Council Members Pierina Sanchez and Lincoln Restler, and extensive public testimony.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
NYC Charter Revision Commission Vice Chair Sharon Greenberger's opening remarks on the commission's purpose and hearing procedures
Sharon Greenberger, Vice Chair of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, welcomes attendees to a public hearing, emphasizing the commission's role in reviewing the city's charter as New York City celebrates …
0:00:17
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5 min
Testimony by Robert Carroll, Assembly Member of New York State Assembly, on open ranked-choice primaries
Assembly Member Robert Carroll testifies in favor of election reform, highlighting his legislative efforts to make voting easier in New York State. He expresses concern about low voter participation and …
0:06:40
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3 min
Testimony by John Avlon, Representative from Citizens Union, on the need for open primaries
John Avlon, Chairman of Citizens Union, advocates for open primaries in New York City to address low voter turnout and the disenfranchisement of over one million independent voters. He argues …
0:10:36
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3 min
Testimony by Randy Peers, President and CEO of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, on supporting open primaries as an unaffiliated voter
Randy Peers, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, testifies in support of open primaries, identifying himself as a disenfranchised, unaffiliated voter since 2017. He believes open primaries …
0:14:19
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122 sec
Commissioners question John Avlon and Randy Peers on the timing and implications of open primary reform
Commissioner Diane Savino questions John Avlon and Randy Peers about the feasibility and timing of implementing open primaries, noting a previous attempt over two decades ago and the current trend …
0:16:30
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3 min
Commissioner Leila Bozorg and John Avlon discuss the merits of fully open primaries versus semi-open systems
Commissioner Leila Bozorg asks John Avlon about the benefits of a fully open primary system compared to other models, such as party-specific primaries open to unaffiliated voters. Avlon argues that …
0:19:58
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85 sec
Discussion on the optimal number of candidates advancing from an open primary and the role of ranked-choice voting
Commissioner Kathryn Wylde asks John Avlon about Citizens Union's preference for the number of candidates (top two, three, or five) advancing from an open primary. Avlon states Citizens Union proposes …
0:21:36
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165 sec
Clarifying the use of ranked-choice voting in a general election with multiple candidates
Commissioner Julie Samuels seeks clarification from Randy Peers on whether he agrees that a general election with four candidates, as he suggested, should utilize ranked-choice voting. Peers confirms that he …
0:24:24
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27 sec
Testimony by Council Member Lincoln Restler on the Charter Revision Commission's scope, balance of power, and election reform proposals
Council Member Lincoln Restler expresses concerns about the Charter Revision Commission's origins, scope, and perceived lack of connection to elected leadership. He questions whether the commission is overstepping its bounds …
0:25:04
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5 min
Testimony by Tong Galaxy on public engagement with ballot measures and preparing for future crises
Tong Galaxy, a member of the public, expresses appreciation for the commission's work and preliminary report. He states his curiosity about how to generate public understanding and awareness of ballot …
0:30:41
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3 min
Testimony by Winsome Pendergrass, Member of New York Communities for Change (NYCC), against open primaries
Winsome Pendergrass, a member of New York Communities for Change (NYCC) and other tenant and worker advocacy groups, testifies against proposed changes to NYC elections, specifically open primaries. She argues …
0:34:17
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3 min
Commissioner Greenberger clarifies with Tong Galaxy about his proposals for the commission
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger asks Tong Galaxy for clarification regarding his earlier testimony. She confirms that when he mentioned asking "the council" to consider his proposals, he meant the Charter Revision …
0:37:48
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20 sec
Commissioner Diane Savino questions Winsome Pendergrass on the Working Families Party's role in Democratic primaries
Commissioner Diane Savino questions Winsome Pendergrass about her opposition to open primaries and her affiliation with the Working Families Party (WFP). Savino, a former WFP executive board member, asks how …
0:38:13
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120 sec
Testimony by Alice Rydel, Member of the Public, advocating for open primaries
Alice Rydel, a registered independent voter for decades, testifies in support of open primaries. She believes public advocates often lose track of their purpose by focusing on party politics rather …
0:40:49
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3 min
Testimony by Christine Helm, Member of the Public, supporting open primaries for greater democratic participation
Christine Helm, a longtime independent voter, testifies in favor of open primaries, arguing that more citizen participation in choosing leaders strengthens democracy. She draws parallels between the current exclusion of …
0:43:57
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164 sec
Testimony by Kaitlyn Schuster, Representative from SEIU Local 32BJ, on ULURP changes and housing production
Kaitlyn Schuster, representing SEIU Local 32BJ, expresses the union's recognition of the housing crisis and the constraints of the current land review process. However, she emphasizes that the Uniform Land …
0:47:13
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145 sec
Testimony by Sara Penenberg, Representative from SEIU Local 32BJ, on delayed payments to city-contracted workers
Sara Penenberg, also representing SEIU Local 32BJ, speaks about the thousands of contracted workers at city facilities, including nearly 5,000 security officers at city-contracted shelters. She highlights that these frontline …
0:49:42
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99 sec
Commissioner Leila Bozorg discusses ULURP reform and job quality with SEIU Local 32BJ
Commissioner Leila Bozorg questions SEIU Local 32BJ representatives about their concerns regarding ULURP changes, noting that many proposed changes aim to bring citywide perspectives to local projects and could result …
0:51:29
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165 sec
Commissioner Dr. Lisette Nieves and Sara Penenberg discuss the impact of late payments on contracted security guards
Commissioner Dr. Lisette Nieves commends SEIU Local 32BJ for highlighting the downstream effects of late payments on contract workers, noting they are the first union to speak to this issue …
0:54:17
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43 sec
Commissioner Anthony Richardson clarifies SEIU Local 32BJ's stance on fast-tracking ULURP for modest proposals
Commissioner Anthony Richardson seeks to confirm his understanding of SEIU Local 32BJ's testimony regarding ULURP. He asks if it is correct that the union believes ULURP provides necessary time for …
0:55:05
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56 sec
Testimony by Yvonne Lee, Member of the Public, on the democracy crisis and the need for open primaries
Yvonne Lee, a lifelong New Yorker and independent voter, testifies in support of opening the city's primaries. She highlights the democracy crisis caused by excluding over one million voters, especially …
0:56:37
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140 sec
Testimony by Mary Fridley, Member of the Public, on the importance of open primaries for independent and LGBTQ+ voters
Mary Fridley, a longtime independent voter and community organizer, testifies in support of open primaries, emphasizing the pain of living in a city that denies millions the right to vote …
0:59:03
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3 min
Testimony by Jasmine Marie, Member of the Public, on police accountability and CCRB reform
Jasmine Marie, a Brooklyn resident, testifies about the alarming lack of police accountability in New York City, citing personal experiences of friends and neighbors with police misconduct. She argues that …
1:03:08
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137 sec
Testimony by Sarah Prinsloo, Member of the Public, sharing her experience as an independent voter and supporting open primaries
Sarah Prinsloo, an independent voter who moved to New York City eight years ago, shares her personal experience of being turned away from voting in a Democratic primary because she …
1:05:30
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3 min
Testimony by Sophia Cohen, Member of the Public, on how open primaries can increase voter engagement
Sophia Cohen, a registered Democrat who considers herself an independent-minded voter, testifies in favor of New York City adopting an open primary system. She believes it will encourage voters to …
1:09:11
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83 sec
Testimony by Melissa Fisher, Member of the Public, advocating for open primaries to ensure all voices are heard
Melissa Fisher, a retired nonprofit director and an independent for most of her voting life, testifies in support of open primaries. She recounts reluctantly registering as a Democrat for a …
1:10:40
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3 min
Testimony by Gwen Lowenheim, Educator at Pace University, on open primaries and engaging independent voters
Gwen Lowenheim, an educator at Pace University and a lifelong independent voter, testifies in support of open primaries. She states her political views have never been represented by either major …
1:14:26
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3 min
Testimony by Sheryl Williams, Member of the Public, on closed primaries as voter suppression and the need for open primaries
Sheryl Williams, a longtime New York City resident and independent voter, questions why every registered voter cannot vote in every election, calling closed primaries a quiet form of voter suppression …
1:17:34
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3 min
Testimony by Vanessa Rudin, Member of the Public, supporting open primaries and ranked-choice voting
Vanessa Rudin, an unaffiliated voter, testifies in support of open primaries and ranked-choice voting. She explains she was inspired to attend her first city-level meeting because she sees open primaries …
1:21:30
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3 min
Testimony by Dr. Jessie Fields, Member of NYC Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on open primaries and community health
Dr. Jessie Fields, a medical doctor in Harlem and member of the NYC Maternal Mortality Review Committee, testifies in support of reforming the closed primary system to allow independent voters …
1:24:40
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3 min
Testimony by Council Member Pierina Sanchez on land use reforms, fair housing, and accountability for rezoning commitments
Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Council's Committee on Housing and Buildings, offers her perspective on land use reforms for the city charter. She urges the commission to consider …
1:28:27
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8 min
Commissioners discuss housing policy, infrastructure commitments, and accountability with Council Member Sanchez
Commissioner Shams DaBaron commends Council Member Pierina Sanchez for her testimony and service. Commissioner Leila Bozorg praises Council Member Pierina Sanchez's housing leadership and seeks further input on balancing citywide …
1:37:12
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3 min
Testimony by David Belmont, Member of the Public, on the fairness of open primaries for independent voters
David Belmont, a lifelong New Yorker and independent voter, testifies in wholehearted support of opening up primaries to independent voters. He recalls testifying for and voting for open primaries in …
1:41:34
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100 sec
Testimony by Yvonne Murray, Member of the Public, on open primaries and voter suppression of independents
Yvonne Murray, an independent voter for over forty years and a Brooklyn resident, expresses her concerns about New York City's elections and appeals to the commission to put open primaries …
1:43:20
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3 min
Testimony by Barbara Blair, President of Garment District Alliance, on the need for fair share reform to prevent neighborhood sacrifice zones
Barbara Blair, President of the Garment District Alliance and a Brooklynite, testifies about the need to address the concept of "fair share" in the city charter. She argues that the …
1:46:55
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111 sec
Testimony by Benny Rosenberger, Member of Brooklyn Community Board 9, on alternatives to open primaries and community input in ULURP
Benny Rosenberger, a member of Brooklyn Community Board 9, expresses his opinion that open primaries are the wrong solution for the problem of independent voter exclusion, suggesting instead that it …
1:48:55
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3 min
Commissioner Carl Weisbrod and Barbara Blair discuss enforcing fair share requirements for non-housing land uses
Commissioner Carl Weisbrod questions Barbara Blair about the city charter's fair share requirement, which has existed since 1989 but has not worked as intended. He notes that the types of …
1:52:36
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159 sec
Testimony by Karen Wharton, Democracy Coalition Coordinator for Citizen Action of New York, against jungle primaries
Karen Wharton, Democracy Coalition Coordinator for Citizen Action of New York and founder of the New York BIPOC Democracy Table, speaks firmly against proposed "jungle primaries" in New York City. …
1:55:38
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3 min
Testimony by Suwen Cheong, Chair of Land Use Committee for Brooklyn Community Board 9, on comprehensive planning and ULURP reforms
Suwen Cheong, Chair of the Land Use Committee for Brooklyn Community Board 9 (speaking on her own behalf), advocates for comprehensive planning that starts and ends at the community level, …
1:59:39
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3 min
Karen Wharton expresses support for moving local elections to even-numbered years
Commissioner Leila Bozorg asks Karen Wharton for her thoughts on the idea of moving local elections to even-numbered years. Wharton responds that she is entirely on board with this proposal. …
2:03:17
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44 sec
Testimony by Jessica Rosenfield on streamlining development and considerations for election reform proposals
Jessica Rosenfield, a member of the general public, expresses support for the commission's efforts to help New York City thrive, particularly by streamlining development in transit-rich areas via ULURP and …
2:04:24
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147 sec
Testimony by Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, on the complexities of open primary reform
Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, expresses concerns about the discussion around open primaries, noting that there are many different types and that the commission has primarily …
2:06:54
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3 min
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger and Susan Lerner discuss the timing and urgency of open primary reform
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger acknowledges the significant public interest in open primaries and states the commission is acting in response to this urgency, including extensive staff research and upcoming public meetings …
2:10:33
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110 sec
Commissioner Julie Samuels and Susan Lerner discuss potential impacts of open primaries on voter turnout, citing Colorado's experience
Commissioner Julie Samuels asks Susan Lerner if implementing one of the versions of open primaries might depress voter turnout. Lerner discusses Colorado's experience with semi-open primaries, implemented in 2018, where …
2:12:27
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91 sec
Commissioner Dr. Lisette Nieves and Susan Lerner discuss youth voter engagement and demographic trends among unaffiliated voters
Commissioner Dr. Lisette Nieves asks Susan Lerner about the increasing number of younger people choosing to be independent and how this demographic, which sees closed primaries as a barrier to …
2:14:05
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3 min
Commissioner Julie Samuels and Susan Lerner discuss prioritizing engagement of independent voters through open primaries
Commissioner Julie Samuels posits that if about two million registered Democrats consistently don't vote in primaries and there are 1.1 million independent voters, it might be easier to engage a …
2:17:18
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81 sec
Commissioner Leila Bozorg on the commission's process for studying election reform
Commissioner Leila Bozorg states for the record that the Charter Revision Commission has been looking at important questions regarding election reform. She mentions that the commission has retained an election …
2:18:43
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21 sec
Testimony by Vishnu Reddy on housing production, electoral reform, and EV charging infrastructure
Vishnu Reddy expresses gratitude for the discussion on housing underproduction and electoral reform, supporting many of the commission's proposals in these areas. He specifically advocates for fast-tracking land use review …
2:19:20
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134 sec
Testimony by Sean Scott on ambitious housing changes and innovative ideas for community benefits and zoning
Sean Scott, a resident of FiDi, emphasizes the need for ambitious housing changes to address the city's long-standing housing emergency. He offers two unconventional ideas: first, providing communities with a …
2:21:44
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86 sec
Testimony by Sherease Torain on protecting Black homeowners and addressing housing injustice through charter revision
Sherease Torain, a lifelong New Yorker and housing justice advocate, testifies that the NYC Charter must be revised to address gaps in housing enforcement, homeowner protections, and equity accountability, particularly …
2:23:27
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5 min