Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
NYC Charter Revision Commission
Bronx Public Input Session
Jun 10, 2025
·
05:00 PM
3 hr 26 min
Summary
A hearing on potential charter revisions for New York City, focusing on election reforms, housing policies, and governance structures.
Discussions included:
- Moving city elections to even-numbered years
- Implementing open primaries
- Streamlining land use processes
- Dnhancing the Civilian Complaint Review Board's authority
The commission also heard perspectives on Alaska's recent election reforms using ranked choice voting and a top-four primary system.
Features testimony from elected officials, policy experts, advocacy groups, and members of the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Sharon Greenberger on the NYC Charter Revision Commission's mission and public hearing process
Sharon Greenberger, Vice Chair of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, opens the public hearing, emphasizing the commission's goal to improve city government transparency and responsiveness. She highlights the commission's focus …
0:00:11
•
3 min
Testimony by Frank Morano, Council Member from New York City Council, on election structure reform
Council Member Frank Morano testifies on the structure of New York City elections, advocating against top-two and top-four election models. He argues these models are flawed and instead proposes single-round …
0:05:54
•
3 min
Discussion on the proposed single November election and potential impacts of top-two and top-four systems
Commissioner Diane Savino questions Council Member Frank Morano about his proposal for election reform. Morano clarifies he advocates for a single November nonpartisan ranked-choice election, eliminating the June primary. He …
0:09:44
•
79 sec
Testimony by Howard Slatkin, Executive Director of Citizens Housing and Planning Council, on land use process reform
Howard Slatkin, Executive Director of Citizens Housing and Planning Council, testifies on flaws in the land use process. He argues that the current system not only allows some neighborhoods to …
0:11:39
•
3 min
Testimony by Barika Williams, Executive Director of Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD), on fair housing and land use
Barika Williams, Executive Director of the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD), testifies on aligning land use and budget for fair housing. She emphasizes the need to codify and …
0:15:07
•
3 min
Discussion on enforcing housing targets and appeals processes
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger questions Barika Williams and Howard Slatkin on their respective testimonies regarding housing targets and appeals processes. Williams elaborates on incentivizing housing targets rather than penalizing, suggesting accelerated …
0:18:30
•
3 min
Barika Williams discusses community board engagement and housing target methodology
Commissioner Valerie White questions Barika Williams about the proposed three-step process for housing targets: City Council voting on targets, community boards creating plans, and expediting projects. Williams acknowledges that community …
0:22:15
•
177 sec
Discussion on City Council housing target approval and process contingencies
Commissioner Leila Bozorg questions Barika Williams on the mechanics of the City Council voting process for housing targets and potential outcomes if a majority approval isn't reached. Williams outlines two …
0:25:17
•
156 sec
Confirmation of written testimony and support for nonprofit payment reform
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger confirms with Barika Williams and Howard Slatkin that they have submitted or will submit written testimony. Williams also takes the opportunity to state ANHD's strong support for …
0:28:05
•
28 sec
Testimony by Louisa Chaffee, Director of NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO), on procurement reform and fiscal accountability
Louisa Chaffee, Director of the NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO), testifies on procurement reform and fiscal accountability. She advocates for elevating the Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) to a …
0:28:40
•
4 min
Louisa Chaffee on solutions for late vendor payments
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger asks Louisa Chaffee, Director of the NYC Independent Budget Office, to identify her strongest recommendation for addressing late payments to vendors. Chaffee suggests programming the city's financial …
0:33:06
•
44 sec
Testimony by Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union, on moving municipal elections to even-numbered years
Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union, joined by Policy Director Ben Weinberg, testifies in strong support of moving New York City's municipal elections to even-numbered years. Rauh argues that …
0:34:14
•
3 min
Discussion on the logistics and impact of shifting NYC elections to even years
Commissioner Diane Savino questions Grace Rauh and Ben Weinberg of Citizens Union about the implementation timeline and potential effects of moving municipal elections to even-numbered years. Weinberg explains that transitions …
0:37:46
•
6 min
Clarifying the proposal for even-year elections and state involvement
Commissioner Carl Weisbrod questions Ben Weinberg of Citizens Union about the specifics of their proposal to move elections to even years. Weinberg clarifies that their primary recommendation is a generic …
0:44:04
•
3 min
Testimony by Eric Budd, Co-founder of People for Voter Turnout, on the benefits of even-year municipal elections
Eric Budd, Co-founder of People for Voter Turnout from Boulder, Colorado, testifies in support of moving municipal elections to even-numbered years. He shares his experience leading a successful campaign in …
0:48:20
•
3 min
Testimony by Greg Dennis, Policy Director of Voter Choice Massachusetts, on Boston's election reform and options for NYC
Greg Dennis, Policy Director for Voter Choice Massachusetts, discusses Boston's proposal for a top-four nonpartisan primary followed by a ranked-choice voting (RCV) general election. He explains that while their default …
0:51:49
•
3 min
Discussion on Boulder's move to even-year elections and potential cost savings
Commissioner Diane Savino questions Eric Budd about the impact of moving to even-year elections in Boulder, Colorado. Budd clarifies that Boulder's first even-year election will be in 2026, but he …
0:55:54
•
138 sec
Greg Dennis on primary system considerations for New York City
Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. questions Greg Dennis about his perspective on a primary system for New York City, given its electoral history. Dennis states he doesn't have a strong …
0:58:30
•
106 sec
Discussion on using candidate thresholds to trigger primary elections
Commissioner Julie Samuels questions Greg Dennis about the possibility of implementing a threshold for triggering a primary based on the number of candidates. Dennis confirms that Massachusetts currently uses such …
1:00:16
•
95 sec
Testimony by Carl Unegbu, Member of Manhattan Community Board 12, on open primaries and voter turnout
Carl Unegbu, a member of Manhattan Community Board 12 and Vice Chair of the American Conservation Society (testifying in a personal capacity), speaks on voting methods and electoral systems in …
1:02:29
•
4 min
Testimony by Brendan Griffith, Chief of Staff of New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, opposing open primaries
Brendan Griffith, Chief of Staff at the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, testifies against proposals for open or jungle primaries. He argues these systems could weaken labor unions, …
1:07:10
•
140 sec
Discussion on the potential impact of open primaries on labor unions' political influence
Commissioner Diane Savino engages with Brendan Griffith of the NYC Central Labor Council, questioning the concern that open primaries would marginalize unions. Savino suggests that labor's influence on its members …
1:09:34
•
3 min
Testimony by Perris Straughter, Director of Planning and Land Use for the New York City Council, on housing and land use
Perris Straughter, Director of Planning and Land Use for the New York City Council, testifies on the city's housing affordability crisis and the council's role. Straughter highlights the council's proactive …
1:13:46
•
6 min
Perris Straughter on enforcing fair housing targets and council accountability
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger questions Perris Straughter on enforcing the Fair Housing Framework and ensuring accountability for meeting housing targets. Straughter suggests a two-pronged approach: providing resources for land use actions …
1:20:00
•
4 min
Discussion on council member deference, an appeals process, and speaker authority in land use
Commissioner Carl Weisbrod discusses member deference and the balance between individual council member desires and citywide needs with Perris Straughter. Weisbrod raises the issue of member deference, noting few projects …
1:24:26
•
10 min
Perris Straughter on strategies for significantly increasing housing production
Commissioner Anita Laremont questions Perris Straughter on what measures, beyond current practices, would drastically increase housing units, given the city's housing crisis and the role of aldermanic privilege. Straughter responds …
1:35:19
•
4 min
Testimony by John Kaehny, Executive Director of Reinvent Albany, on voter affiliation data and election reform recommendations
John Kaehny, Executive Director of Reinvent Albany, testifies on voter turnout and party affiliation in New York City, presenting new data from Professor John Mollenkopf. He highlights that younger voters, …
1:40:40
•
5 min
Testimony by Daniel Schnur, former Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, on Los Angeles's shift to even-year elections
Daniel Schnur, former Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, testifies on Los Angeles's experience moving local elections to even-numbered years. He explains that the 2015 initiative aimed to …
1:46:06
•
6 min
Testimony by Marla Simpson on land use, city map, and building address reform
Marla Simpson, testifying in a personal capacity, discusses her experiences with land use issues, particularly public land disposition, city map functions, and building addresses, drawing from her work during the …
1:53:37
•
4 min
Testimony by Rob Richie, President of Expand Democracy, on ranked election reform options
Rob Richie, President of Expand Democracy and former head of FairVote, offers insights on election reform options for New York City. He ranks his preferred reforms: first, a single RCV …
1:58:07
•
3 min
Testimony by Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow at New America, on the impact of primary reforms on voter turnout
Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow at New America, testifies that changing primary rules (open, jungle, blanket, nonpartisan) has a statistically zero effect on voter turnout, based on a review of numerous …
2:02:21
•
5 min
Testimony by Scott Kendall, Attorney, on Alaska's top-four primary and RCV election system
Scott Kendall, an attorney from Anchorage, Alaska, and author of the ballot measure creating Alaska's top-four primary and RCV system, testifies on its success. He reports that over 80% of …
2:07:49
•
3 min
Scott Kendall on how Alaska's election system impacts candidate emergence
Commissioner Julie Samuels questions Scott Kendall about his statement that Alaska's election system helps younger candidates no longer feel they have to wait in line. Kendall explains that the open …
2:11:26
•
103 sec
Testimony by Gwen Mandell, Director of Leadership Development at Organization of Open Primaries, advocating for open primaries
Gwen Mandell, Director of Leadership Development at the Organization of Open Primaries, testifies in strong support of open primaries in New York City. She argues that the current closed system …
2:13:39
•
170 sec
Testimony by Diane Buscemi, Teacher at a community college in CUNY system, on the need for open primaries
Diane Buscemi, a lifelong New Yorker, independent voter since the 1980s, and CUNY teacher, testifies in favor of open primaries. She highlights being unable to vote in taxpayer-funded primary elections …
2:16:40
•
132 sec
Testimony by Lisa Dombrow, Member of the Public, in favor of open primaries for independent voters
Lisa Dombrow, a Brooklyn artist, educator, and long-time independent voter, testifies in support of open primaries. She explains her choice to be independent stems from a belief that no single …
2:19:27
•
139 sec
Testimony by Zack Viera, Member of the Public, on housing crisis solutions including ULURP and member deference reform
Zack Viera, a New York City resident, testifies on the housing crisis, advocating for reforms to member deference and the ULURP process. He argues that individual council members should not …
2:21:52
•
3 min
Testimony by Cormac Slade Byrd, Member of the Public, on limitations to by-right housing development
Cormac Slade Byrd, a Brooklyn resident and data scientist, testifies about the limitations on as-of-right housing development in New York City. His analysis of city tax lots reveals that only …
2:25:35
•
104 sec
Testimony by Cleo Acevedo, Community Organizer for Citizen Action New York, opposing jungle primaries
Cleo Acevedo, a Bronx resident and community organizer for Citizen Action New York, testifies in strong opposition to jungle primaries or nonpartisan primary elections. She argues that such systems are …
2:27:22
•
3 min
Cleo Acevedo discusses youth voter affiliation, party engagement, and public campaign finance
Commissioner Valerie White questions Cleo Acevedo about the potential for natural dilution of voting blocks if younger people of color are increasingly unaffiliated with political parties. Acevedo shares her personal …
2:30:37
•
4 min
Request for data on the impact of nonpartisan primaries on candidates of color
Commissioner Anita Laremont asks Cleo Acevedo if she has data to support the assertion that nonpartisan primaries have disenfranchised people of color from running for office in other locations. Acevedo …
2:35:21
•
53 sec
Debate on the effectiveness of closed primaries versus open/jungle primaries for voter turnout and participation
Commissioner Diane Savino engages with Cleo Acevedo, challenging the notion that the current closed primary system is effective, given declining turnout despite increased campaign finance matching and rising numbers of …
2:36:23
•
4 min
Testimony by Chanel Porter, Member of the Public, on Civilian Complaint Review Board reform for police accountability
Chanel Porter, a Brooklyn resident, testifies on the need for reforms to the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) to ensure police accountability. She recounts witnessing police interactions and expresses concern …
2:41:13
•
147 sec
Testimony by James Inniss, Grassroots Organizer from New York Communities for Change, against jungle primaries
James Inniss, a grassroots organizer with New York Communities for Change (an affiliate of the Working Families Party), testifies against jungle primaries. He argues that jungle primaries, which advance the …
2:43:46
•
3 min
Testimony by Carrie Lobman, Member of the Public, in support of open primaries
Carrie Lobman, a lifelong New Yorker, independent voter, and educator, testifies in strong support of open primaries. She shares reactions from her college students who were shocked and felt disenfranchised …
2:47:26
•
148 sec
Testimony by David Mertz, Member of the Working Families Party, on election reforms and voter turnout
David Mertz, a Bronx resident and member of the Working Families Party, testifies on voter participation, supporting even-year elections but opposing nonpartisan primaries. He argues that nonpartisan primaries have little …
2:50:02
•
126 sec
Testimony by Jennifer Ng, Member of the Public, in favor of open primaries
Jennifer Ng, a lifelong New York City resident, testifies in support of top-two or top-four open primaries. She believes such systems would make elections more competitive and fair, as too …
2:52:31
•
99 sec
Testimony by Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins, Former Alaska State Legislator (2012-2022), Former Chair of Elections Committee from Alaska State Legislature, on Alaska's election reforms
Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins, a former Alaska State Legislator, testifies on Alaska's experience with its top-four open primary and ranked-choice voting system. He observes that the reform has led to elected officials …
2:54:19
•
3 min
Testimony by Celina Avalos Jaramillo, Representative from New York BIPOC Democracy Table, on moving elections to even years for racial equity
Celina Avalos Jaramillo, representing the New York BIPOC Democracy Table, testifies in strong support of transitioning local elections to even-numbered years. She argues this change would address persistently low voter …
2:58:18
•
3 min
Testimony by Amy Tsai, Member of the Public, opposing jungle primaries
Amy Tsai, a Bronx parent of public school students, testifies in opposition to jungle primary or top-two/top-four nonpartisan primary systems. Speaking from her experience with grassroots organizations like the Alliance …
3:01:47
•
3 min
Celina Avalos Jaramillo on cost savings and resource reallocation from even-year elections
Celina Avalos Jaramillo briefly adds to her testimony, highlighting the fiscal benefits of moving elections to even-numbered years. She cites an Independent Budget Office finding that New York City could …
3:05:38
•
92 sec
Testimony by Jaidev Phadke, Member of the Public, on the benefits of open primaries for voter perception
Jaidev Phadke, a Queens resident, testifies in support of open primaries, arguing they would change how voters view candidates and themselves within the political process. He feels that registering for …
3:07:40
•
160 sec
Testimony by Luis Sosa, Representative of Citizen Action, opposing jungle primaries and proposing a three-party system
Luis Sosa, a representative of Citizen Action with experience in marketing and election work, testifies against jungle primaries or top-two systems, arguing they don't solve low voter turnout. He proposes …
3:10:43
•
3 min
Testimony by Sidharth Ghoshal, Member of the Public, advocating for open primaries for a more inclusive government
Sidharth Ghoshal, a Queens resident, testifies passionately in favor of open primaries, invoking Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to argue for a government "of the people, by the people, for the …
3:14:46
•
134 sec
Testimony by Sebastian Hallum Clark, Member of Manhattan Community Board 8, on ULURP and election reform
Sebastian Hallum Clark, a member of Manhattan Community Board 8 (speaking personally), advocates for streamlining the ULURP review process and election reforms. For housing, he suggests combining community board and …
3:17:08
•
147 sec
Testimony by Kimberly Cruz on democratic failures and the proposed Citi Field casino
Kimberly Cruz, a Member of the Public, testifies on what she perceives as failures in democracy and voices strong opposition to the proposed casino development at Citi Field. She argues …
3:19:47
•
3 min
Testimony by Pamela Stewart-Martinez, Member of the Public, on voter engagement and experiences running for office
Pamela Stewart-Martinez, a Bronx resident with experience running for office, shares her perspective on voter participation and party primaries. She recounts successfully running against party-backed candidates and winning a district …
3:23:03
•
3 min