City Charter Revision

From time to time, New York City reviews its City Charter, the permanent document that serves as the City’s Constitution. In March 2010, Mayor Bloomberg appointed a Charter Revision Commission to take a comprehensive look at the structure and operation of City government, stating that “every issue will be on the table.”  The Women’s City Club responded by creating a Charter Revision Task Force, appointing Pam Elam, a 25-year veteran of high-level positions in NYC government, as its chair.

New York City Hall

Because the Commission had an expedited timetable, we moved quickly to keep pace with the Commission’s work. Its priorities, announced in May, included term limits, voter participation, government structure, public integrity and land use. After conducting several rounds of hearings, the Commission delivered its final report in late August in order to submit ballot questions by September 2 for the electorate to consider in November.

Our work included discussion of Charter changes, review of WCC’s past positions on issues before the Commission and recommendations for WCC board approval. We also conducted a speaker series to educate members and the public about key Charter revision questions and to advocate for our priorities.  For example, see “Charter Recommendations” in the June 24 issue of Gotham Gazette.  Finally, we attended two Commission hearings and gave testimony on WCC priorities:

  1. Opposition to nonpartisan elections and to term limits
  2. Pay equity for City employees
  3. Requiring public disclosure of all outside income sources of City Council members, reconsidering member-item allocations and reevaluating stipends for committee chairs
  4. Better definition of the Public Advocate’s role and adequate funding for the office
  5. A fair, nonpartisan procedure for Council redistricting
  6. Greater transparency and use of high technology in City government
  7. Revision of the obsolete Charter chapter on education
  8. Clarifying what material belongs in the Charter versus statutes or regulation
  9. Urging the Commission, given its expedited timetable, to fully educate the public about proposed changes. To receive adequate public feedback and ensure strong voter turnout when approval is on the ballot, WCC prefers postponing a vote on the Charter until the 2011 election

Recent Charter Revision News:

(if no items are displayed below, please click the refresh button)

  • New York Times Reports WCC’s Stance on Term Limits November 10, 2010
    As the November election approached, the WCC continued to inform the greater New York City area about upcoming ballot issues. There were two questions that  appeared on Tuesday’s ballot: 1. Term Limits: to reduce from three to two the maximum number of consecutive full terms that can be served by elected city officials, applicable only to those first elected [...]
  • WCC Hosts NYC Charter Revision Forum, Addresses Term Limits, Upcoming Election October 9, 2010
    Just because Mayor Bloomberg’s 2010 Charter Revision Committee has come to a close, it does not mean that the Women’s City Club has stopped debating the City Charter. On the evening of October 4th, WCC hosted a Charter Revision forum which focused on future changes needed to improve New York City. In late August, the [...]
  • NYC Charter Revision Commission Places Items on November Ballot September 16, 2010
    After all the hearings, arguments, editorials and testimony, the work of the 2010 Mayor’s Charter Revision Commission has come to a close.  The commission has released its final report, which contains the two ballot questions listed below for consideration by voters on Election Day. Many important issues were left on the table by the commission, including [...]
  • October 4 – Charter Revision: Future Changes Needed to Improve New York City September 2, 2010
    After countless public hearings, debates, editorials and testimony, the work of the 2010 NYC Charter Revision Commission has come to a close. What have we learned from the process and outcomes of this year’s Commission and past Commissions? What important issues have been left on the table for future consideration? Join us for a stimulating discussion [...]
  • Pay Equity Should Be in the New York City Charter July 31, 2010
    Women’s City Club of New York and Equal Pay Coalition Call for Equal Pay for Equal Work for NYC Employees NEW YORK – Testifying at the Charter Revision Commission’s July 28 hearing, Women’s City Club of New York (WCC) Vice President Barbara Zucker urged the Commission to propose pay equity for New York City employees [...]