Overview:
New York City voters will decide on five proposed City Charter amendments this election. Developed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency, the proposals’ authors say they aim to streamline an array of processes.
NEW YORK — Voters in New York City will see five ‘yes-or-no’ questions on the Nov. 3 ballot that could change how the city approves outdoor dining structures, awards contracts, builds street-safety projects, issues construction permits and allocates money for financial emergencies.
At an Oct. 13 roundtable with community media, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) members said they received feedback from small-business owners, nonprofit organizations, workers and residents about delays when trying to work with or obtain services from the city. The commission says the proposals would reduce unnecessary paperwork and speed up services without weakening existing labor protections.
A flyer of the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) five ballot proposals in a creole version.
If passed, the proposals would amend the New York City Charter, the document that defines how city government is organized and how its agencies operate. Voters must answer each proposal separately.
- A ‘yes’ vote approves the proposed change.
- A ‘no’ vote rejects it and keeps the current Charter rules in place.
Proposal 1: Change permit timeline for use of public spaces
Restaurants and other property owners can face months of paperwork before they can use public space. The proposal would combine separate applications for sidewalk cafes and roadway outdoor dining into one process. It would also replace mandatory public hearings and newspaper notices with a public notice and comment process, including a website to show pending applications and submit comments.
COGE said the simplified process could save small businesses up to $1,800 in application costs, along with additional staff time.
What a yes vote means: You support the streamlined application process and the replacement of mandatory hearings with a modernized public comment system.
What a no vote means: You want to keep the current approval process, including its mandatory public hearing and City Council review requirements for sidewalk cafes.
Proposal 2: Change contracts process for small businesses and nonprofits
The proposal would reduce paperwork and revise parts of the city’s procurement process for purchasing goods and services and awarding contracts. Nonprofits, which provide significant services to the government, and businesses seeking construction contracts described lengthy applications and delays that made it harder to provide services or complete work for the city.
COGE says the changes could shorten the procurement process from 13 to six months while preserving labor standards and safeguards against corruption.
What a yes vote means: You support reducing paperwork and changing some approval procedures to help the city award contracts more quickly.
What a no vote means: You oppose the proposed Charter changes to the contracting process, leaving the current requirements in place.
Proposal 3: Speed up street safety and city property sales
Projects intended to make streets safer — including bike lanes and other transportation improvements — can be delayed by required internal reviews, COGE says. Its proposal could speed up street-safety projects by at least 33%. It would also allow the city to move more quickly to sell or lease small parcels of surplus land, lease air rights above certain landmarked properties and arrange office space for city workers.
What a yes vote means: You support streamlining city procedures for certain street-safety projects and transactions involving city-owned property and office space.
What a no vote means: You reject the proposed change, leaving the current procedures in place.
Proposal 4: Create centralized construction permits system
The proposal would require the city to create an online portal for construction permits, allowing applicants to submit information once rather than navigate multiple agencies separately. COGE commissioners say the hub would bring about 40 approvals now handled across 18 offices and agencies into one place.
If approved, the amendment would also shift waterfront permitting to the Department of Buildings and authorize more officials to approve certain construction documents.
What a yes vote means: You support creating a centralized system for construction permits and making the proposed changes to permitting authority.
What a no vote means: You reject these Charter changes and keep the current permitting framework.
Proposal 5: Set a target for the city’s rainy-day fund
The proposal would set a goal of keeping city reserves equal to 12% of the previous year’s tax revenue and require the Office of Management and Budget to develop a formula for reaching that target. The fund is intended to help the city manage future economic downturns and unexpected financial pressures.
New York City already has a rainy-day fund, but the commission says the city lacks a clear target for how much it should save. Contributions would be made over time through the annual budget process, under the formula that the city develops.
What a yes vote means: You support setting the 12% rainy-day savings target and requiring the city to develop a formula for contributions.
What a no vote means: You reject the proposed Charter amendment, leaving the current framework without this new target.
