Opinion: The City Charter Has Shaped NYC for Over a Century—Speak Up!

We need even more voices from every borough and background to help shape this charter review A Bronx voter casting a ballot in the elections Changes proposed by the City Council s Charter Revision Commission would need to be approved by voters via ballot proposals Adi Talwar If you believe New York City governing body can and should work better for all of us I urge you to take part in shaping that future by attending one of the Charter Revision Commission s upcoming society hearings on May or The City Council s Charter Revision Commission CRC known as the Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy is holding these hearings to listen directly to New Yorkers about how the City Charter the document that functions as New York City s constitution should evolve I m proud to serve as a member of this commission When Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso appointed me earlier this year I was honored The most of common reaction I ve gotten is Congrats So what exactly does a Charter Revision Commission do It s a fair question one that highlights why this work demands greater masses awareness and participation The CRC is tasked with reviewing the city s foundational governing document and proposing updates that ultimately appear as ballot questions for voters to decide These changes have reshaped our city at critical moments In a revision more accurately a creation via revision of the state constitution led to the consolidation of the five boroughs a move approved by Brooklyn voters by just votes A few including myself have half-jokingly referred to this as the mistake of but it underscores a serious point charter changes have lasting wide-reaching impact In a CRC led to the creation of district boards and the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure ULURP In it brought about term limits for population board members Just last year voters weighed in on five CRC-generated ballot proposals four of which passed bulk expanding mayoral powers Yet a multitude of New Yorkers don t even remember voting on them At our the bulk contemporary community hearing held May at Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy residents revealed up with powerful ideas thoughtful concerns and a shared commitment to improving how city regime works It was an inspiring evening but it was just one stop in a broader process We need even more voices from every borough and background to help shape this charter review I d like to see several changes in the charter ones that would help our city plan more fairly govern more transparently and listen more effectively I ll highlight two First we need a comprehensive citywide planning process to replace our current piecemeal project-by-project approach It s time we considered the city s long-term necessities and equity at scale instead of prioritizing isolated interests The concurrent CRC led by Executive Director Alex Schierenbeck is doing excellent work on this front and may ultimately address various of the very issues I ve raised an outcome I d be thrilled to see Second I help Borough President Reynoso s proposal for an independent Neighborhood Board Office that provides CBs with the professional staffing and advocacy they need to effectively represent their neighborhoods and the city as a whole At the May hearing Brooklyn CB District Manager Celeste Leon testified on the future of society board amendment in methods that align closely with Reynoso Her remarks reinforced that structural promotion for CBs isn t just a bureaucratic upgrade it s essential for inclusive and accountable governance We also heard from Councilmembers Sandy Nurse Lincoln Restler and Chi Oss as well as a multitude of criminal justice advocates who offered powerful testimony on how the charter can better sponsorship equity populace safety and accountability Their contributions emphasized the breadth of issues the CRC is considering and the urgency of ensuring the charter reflects the values of a more just and inclusive city Councilmember Oss spoke about the need to change the Landmarks Preservation Commission LPC a point I strongly agree with I elaborated on how our current preservation framework can unintentionally exacerbate the housing predicament particularly through the unchecked consolidation of housing units in landmarked districts My land use staffer Rebecca Kobert has been researching this trend in Neighborhood District alone we ve lost approximately units since due to consolidation in landmark districts including units since the start of the COVID- pandemic the the majority of any district citywide Reforming LPC to acknowledge and address these outcomes is critical if we want preservation policies that complement rather than undermine our housing and equity goals Whether you agree or disagree with these ideas your voice belongs in this conversation The upcoming hearings on May and are your chance to speak directly to those of us on the Commission The charter has shaped New York City for over a century Let s ensure it reflects the city we want to build together As Al Smith mentioned All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy Mike Racioppo is a commissioner on the Charter Review Commission The Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy the district manager of Brooklyn Society Board and a former adjunct professor of political science at Brooklyn College The post Opinion The City Charter Has Shaped NYC for Over a Century Speak Up appeared first on City Limits