Initial Staten Island Public Meeting Of Newly Formed Charter Revision Commission Next Week

Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 12 p.m.

New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission Hearing Room

33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004

Editor’s note: We previously reported about another NYC Charter Revision Commission in advance of their public input session on Staten Island.  After the input sessions with City residents, they made their recommendations, and five ballot proposals to the City Charter were presented to voters, and were passed by the commission.  Amendments included changes regarding: Clean Streets,   Fiscal Responsibility, Public Safety, Capital Planning, and Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises.  These were not actually voted on by the public, but the input sessions and meetings are the ways in which voters can make their voices heard on these issues if they are important to them.  

The previous CRC’s announcement:

“New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of a Charter Revision Commission (CRC), under chair Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, [] will be tasked with reviewing the city charter and determining how to make New York City’s municipal government more responsive and transparent to the city’s residents.

“The CRC will review the entire city charter to ensure that the city’s municipal government works efficiently and remains responsive to all New Yorkers. More specifically, Mayor 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, Mayor Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can better promote fiscal responsibility and support working-class New Yorkers.”

Below is the video from the Charter Revision Commission’s Staten Island input session back in June of this year:

“New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of a Charter Revision Commission (CRC) — under chair Richard R. Buery, Jr., CEO of Robin Hood — that will be tasked with reviewing the New York City Charter and determining how to make New York City’s municipal government more transparent and responsive to the needs of city residents, especially when it comes to promoting fair housing across the five boroughs. Sharon Greenberger, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, will serve as vice chair, and Leila Bozorg, New York City executive director of housing, will serve as secretary of the CRC.

“The CRC will review the entire city charter to ensure that the city’s municipal government works efficiently and remains responsive to all New Yorkers. More specifically, Mayor Adams has asked the CRC to focus on how the charter can combat the city’s generational housing crisis, including a 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate. The new CRC follows the successful passage of Mayor Adams’ ‘City of Yes for Housing Opportunity’ proposal — the most pro-housing zoning proposal in New York City history — last week, which will enable the creation of 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure, housing, and other needs. Recent polls have found that an overwhelming majority of New Yorkers supported City of Yes for Housing Opportunity.”

These commissions are temporary entities that make proposals for revisions to the Charter that can then be brought before the voters. The commission is no longer in effect, having made its proposals previously, which were presented to the voters in November. 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The New York City Charter Revision Commission will hold its initial public meeting on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 12 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission Hearing Room, 33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004. The commission is empowered to consider revisions to the New York City Charter for presentation to the voters at the November 4, 2025 general election, or at another designated election date pursuant to law.

This meeting is open to the public.  Because this is a public meeting and not a public hearing, the public will have the opportunity to observe the commission’s discussions, but not testify before it.

All public hearings and meetings will be livestreamed at the commission’s website, www.nyc.gov/charter.

What if I need assistance to observe the meeting? 

This location is accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.  With advance notice, American Sign Language interpreters and translation services will be available.  Language translation or additional accessibility requests must be made by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024, by emailing the commission at [email protected] or calling 212-788-0014.  All requests will be accommodated to the extent possible.

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Find out more about the New York City Charter Revision Commission by visiting  www.nyc.gov/charter.

Banner Image: CRC meeting June of 2024. Image Credit – NYC CRC