By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Charter Revision Commission will host a Public Input Session next month in Queens to discuss proposed changes to the City Charter and recommendations made in the 2024 Charter Revision Commission Preliminary Report (available at nyc.gov/charter).
The City Charter provides the structure of City government and key powers of City elected officials and agencies. The CRC is empowered to review the entire Charter. It may recommend changes that would help City government to work more efficiently and better serve all New Yorkers. More specifically, Mayor Eric Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can contribute to public safety and provide opportunities for greater community input and transparency when legislation is proposed that would impact public safety. Additionally, Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can better promote fiscal responsibility and support working-class New Yorkers. The CRC will have the ability to evaluate processes for determining the financial impact of proposed legislation on current and future fiscal years, whether the financial impact is funded, and making that information more transparent to the public.
“Through careful examination and thoughtful reform, we will strengthen this City’s commitment to protecting public safety, rebuilding our economy, and creating a more livable city for everyday New Yorkers,” Adams added in May.
The public is invited to testify about any matter of importance to City government and to suggest changes to the charter. You can find out more about the New York City Charter Revision by visiting us at our website: nyc.gov/charter.
This meeting is open to the public, and the public will have the opportunity to testify before members of the commission. Any member of the public may testify about their ideas for improving the City Charter, for up to 3 minutes. The commission will hear testimony from people who attend the meeting in person and also from people who attend by Zoom. A group, organization or institution wishing to testify shall select a single designated representative. New Yorkers from any of the five boroughs may testify. The CRC will attempt to accommodate everyone who signs up to speak at this hearing, but if time does not permit that, the public is encouraged to utilize other opportunities to testify at subsequent public input sessions of the CRC or submit written comments to charterinfo@citycharter.nyc.gov.
The public may submit written comments to charterinfo@citycharter.nyc.gov instead of or in addition to testifying live at a hearing. Written testimony must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 12.
Doors open to the public, and the Input Session may be accessed virtually via Zoom, at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 22 at the following location:
Queens Public Library Central Library
89-11 Merrick Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11432
This location is accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. American Sign Language interpreters will be available, and members of the public may request language translation services. Please make language translation or additional accessibility requests by 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2024, by emailing the commission at mopdcommissioner@cityhall.nyc.gov or calling (212) 788-0014. All requests will be accommodated to the extent possible.
