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REMARKS
Commissioner Anita Laremont on the Charter Revision Commission's mission and focus areas
0:00:06
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3 min
Commissioner Anita Laremont opens the public hearing of the Charter Revision Commission.
She outlines the commission's mission to enhance city government transparency and responsiveness, with a particular focus on the housing crisis, and emphasizes their commitment to considering ideas from all New Yorkers.
The commission is also examining issues such as low voter turnout and ensuring timely payments for nonprofit city partners.
Anita Laremont
0:00:06
My name is Amina Lehrman, and I'm honored to serve on this commission.
Anita Laremont
0:00:10
Our commission's mission is to look at ways to make city government more transparent and responsive with a particular focus on the city's housing crisis.
0:00:20
It is this commission's responsibility to review the entire charter and suggest changes to the voters' consideration.
0:00:27
Only if voters agree to those changes at an election will any changes to the charter go into effect.
0:00:34
I know that I speak for my fellow commissioners when I say that we are committed to hearing from a broad spectrum of New Yorkers and to pursuing the best ideas that we can find.
0:00:45
This hearing is just one of many public hearings across every borough to hear ideas from experts, community leaders, elected officials, and indeed any member of the public who wishes to testify.
0:00:58
Importantly, this is an independent commission.
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In making our recommendations to the city's voters, we are bound only by our judgment and our values.
0:01:07
We will pursue ideas regardless of who proposed them and regardless of who supports them.
0:01:13
Joining me in this commission are 12 other commissioners.
0:01:17
There's the chair Richard Burry, vice chair Sharon Greenberger, secretary Leila Borzog, Grace Bonilla, Shams DeBaron, doctor Lisette Nieves, Anthony Richardson, Julie Samuels, Diane Savino, Paul Weisbrod, Valerie White, and Katherine Wilde.
0:01:40
Although, as I said, we will be considering the entire charter, the commission is looking in particular at our charter's approach to housing and planning.
0:01:49
From my perspective, there really is no more important challenge for this body to take up.
0:01:55
Our city is in the midst of a profound affordable crisis.
0:01:59
For millions of low income New Yorkers, housing costs are the central struggle of their lives.
0:02:05
For millions more, especially low income New Yorkers, our housing crisis severely limits where New Yorkers can live, what schools they can attend, how they get to work, and whether their families can even stay together.
0:02:19
Our commission is also taking a close look at the problem of chronically low voter turnout in city elections.
0:02:26
Although our city does have a vibrant civic life, we suffer from consistently low turnout in local elections.
0:02:34
We are also particularly interested in how to ensure that nonprofit partners who provide really vital services for New Yorkers are paid on time for their work.
0:02:46
The commission staff recently released a lengthy preliminary report summarizing what our commission has heard at public hearings thus far and identifying areas to explore going forward.
0:02:59
That report is available at nyc.gov/charter.
0:03:03
As the report reflects, your thoughtful testimony has driven and will continue to drive this process as it unfolds.
0:03:13
Testimony on any topic is welcome at today's hearing.
0:03:16
So let me just say a few words about how the hearing will will unfold.
0:03:21
We will generally hear from those who have attended this meeting in person before turning to virtual testimony.