Along with candidates, the Nov. 3 New York City ballot will carry five proposals. They would cut the outdoor dining permit process from eight months to two, consolidate building permit approvals into a single portal, and require the city to set aside a rainy-day fund equal to 12% of total tax revenue. The City Charter Revision Commission launched a public campaign explaining the proposals on Sept. 15.
Along with candidates, the Nov. 3 New York City ballot will carry five proposals to amend the City Charter. The Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), the charter revision commission formed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, launched a public campaign on Sept. 15 to explain the proposals, called "Vote for a Faster Government." The information website is nyc.gov/fast, and public service ads will run starting in October.
Proposal 1 would streamline the process for outdoor dining and for installing wheelchair ramps. It would cut the outdoor dining application processing time from eight months to two, a 75% reduction, and save applicants up to $1,800 in application costs. Approvals for building entrance ramps and lifts would come two months sooner. Proposal 2 would reduce administrative steps for small businesses and nonprofits that contract with the city, shortening contracting time by up to 30 days.
Bike Lanes, Building Permits and a Rainy-Day Fund
Proposal 3 would speed up road safety projects, including bike lanes, by at least 33%, and allow the city to raise more than $200 million in revenue by selling leftover city-owned lots and unused air rights above city-owned landmark buildings. Proposal 4 would speed up permitting for housing construction by consolidating 40 types of building-related approvals, now spread across 18 agencies, into a single point of contact. Proposal 5 would add a cushion to the city's finances by requiring it to build up a rainy-day fund with a target of 12% of total tax revenue.
The commission held 10 public hearings this summer, heard from more than 1,000 people, and finalized the five proposals in July. Chair Patrick Gaspard said, "Whether you bike to work, run a small shop or use nonprofit services, the goal is to make city government run more efficiently." Executive Director Anne Cheng said the commission will make sure voters understand the proposals before they step into the voting booth.
The commission will distribute information cards and materials in 13 languages, and will also hold meetings with community groups and conduct on-site outreach. The voter registration deadline for this election is Saturday, Oct. 24, and early in-person voting begins the same day and runs through Nov. 1.