Archive for the ‘Charter Revision’ Category
New York Times Reports WCC’s Stance on Term Limits
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 at or after 2010, and prohibit the City Council from altering the term limits of officials then in office.
2. Reform Elections and Government Administration in seven areas: Disclosure of Independent Campaign Spending, Ballot Access, Voter Assistance & Campaign Finance Board, Conflicts of Interest Law, City Administrative Tribunals, City Reporting Requirements & Advisory Bodies, and Map for Facility Sitting.
WCC recommended a vote of “No” to Question 1 and “Yes” to Question 2 on the November 2nd Ballot.
Based on WCC’s longstanding opposition to term limits for elected city officials, the Board of Directors prefers retaining three terms over the alternative of returning to two. Voters, however, chose to repudiate the law pushed through by Mayor Bloomberg two years ago. In a New York Times article that analyzed voter response in favor of the two-term limit, WCC President Ruth Acker was quoted.
Support for Question 2 is based on existing WCC positions that call for enhanced government efficiency and transparency. Voters approved this question overwhelmingly.
WCC will continue its efforts to raise voter awareness and call for the formation of a new Charter Revision Commission to seriously examine many of the issues for which the Goldstein Commission did not have time.
Post Written by Dana Prussian, Public Policy Intern
The Women’s City Club of New York, established in 1915, is a nonprofit, non-partisan, multi-issue activist organization dedicated to improving the lives of all New Yorkers. The WCC shapes public policy to promote responsive government through education, issue analysis, advocacy and civic participation.
WCC Hosts NYC Charter Revision Forum, Addresses Term Limits, Upcoming Election
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 Charter Revision Commission released its final report and submitted the two question that will appear on the November ballot. Good Government advocates and other interested parties hotly debated aspects of government administration and other concerns all spring and summer. Ultimately, non-partisan elections and term limits dominated the discussions.
2010 Charter Revision Commissioner Hope Cohen and Professor Doug Muzzio of Baruch College’s School for Public Affairs were guest speakers at the forum. They also participated in a Question/Answer session following the discussion. The programwas organized and run by Barbara Zucker, WCC VP for Public Policy, Joan Freilich, Co-Chair of the Public Policy Committee, and Pam Elam, Chair of the Charter Revision Task Force.
In speaking about this Commission’s opportunities and constraints, Cohen noted that “the goal of the [Charter Revision Commission] is to look at the charter holistically. That is exactly what we did for the last many months.”
One question of particular interest to WCC members was: Why didn’t the question of eliminating term limits make it on the ballot? Cohen explained that the Commission felt they had to offer a two-term limit as an alternative to the current three-term law and it proved too complex to offer the third possible option of no term limits as well. Muzzio commented, “The lack of this question will bring up a tough decision about voting on the ballot for term limits.”
In the future, the WCC Public Policy Committee and its Charter Revision Task Force will continue their efforts to advocate for needed charter changes.
Post Written by Dana Prussian, Public Policy Intern
The Women’s City Club of New York, established in 1915, is a nonprofit, non-partisan, multi-issue activist organization dedicated to improving the lives of all New Yorkers. The WCC shapes public policy to promote responsive government through education, issue analysis, advocacy and civic participation.
NYC Charter Revision Commission Places Items on November Ballot
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 the WCC’s proposal on pay equity for city employees. The issues of non-partisan elections and term limits dominated the discussion. In the end, most good government groups, like the Women’s City Club, prevailed and the Mayor backed down from his (and Citizens Union’s) demands that the Charter Revision Commission approve a sweeping new system for non-partisan elections. However, on term limits, the Women’s City Club was not successful in persuading the commission to place the basic question on the ballot, “Do you favor elimination of term limits for city elected officials?”
While the Women’s City Club shares the sense of outrage that many New Yorkers feel regarding the shameful behavior and poor performance of some federal, state, and city elected officials, we urged the Charter Revision Commission and all New Yorkers to examine the larger issues involved in creating good government, both in structure and process. The commission, unfortunately, spent most of its time debating only whether there should be two or three terms for city elected officials.
Thanks go to the members of our Charter Revision Task Force for all their hard work, and we invite all WCC members to attend our Oct. 4th forum, “Charter Revision: Future Changes Needed to Improve New York City.”
November Ballot Question 1: Term Limits
The proposal would amend the City Charter to:
- Reduce from three to two the maximum number of consecutive full terms that can be served by elected city officials; and
- Make this change in term limits applicable only to those city officials who were first elected at or after the 2010 general election; and
- Prohibit the City Council from altering the term limits of elected city officials then serving in office.
Shall this proposal be adopted?
November Ballot Question 2: Elections and Government Administration
The proposal would amend the City Charter to:
- Disclosure of Independent Campaign Spending: Require public disclosure of expenditures made by entities and individuals independent from candidates to influence the outcome of a city election or referendum;
- Ballot Access: Generally reduce the number of petition signatures needed by candidates for city elective office to appear on a ballot;
- Voter Assistance and Campaign Finance Board: Merge voter assistance functions, including a reconstituted Voter Assistance Advisory Committee, into the Campaign Finance Board, and change when Campaign Finance Board member terms begin;
- Conflicts of Interest Law: Require all public servants to receive conflicts of interest training, raise the maximum fine for a public servant who violates the City’s conflicts of interest law, and allow the City to recover any benefits obtained from such violations;
- City Administrative Tribunals: Authorize the Mayor to direct the merger of administrative tribunals and adjudications into the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings and permit the Department of Consumer Affairs to adjudicate all violations issued by that department;
- City Reporting Requirements and Advisory Bodies: Create a commission to review requirements for reports and advisory bodies and waive the requirements, subject to City Council review, where the commission finds they are not of continuing value; and
- Map for Facility Siting: Include in the City’s facilities siting map those transportation and waste management facilities operated by or for governmental entities, or by private entities that provide comparable services.
Shall this proposal be adopted? (All items in Question 2 would be voted on together.)
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Post written by Pam Elam, WCC’s Charter Revision Task Force Chair
October 4 – Charter Revision: Future Changes Needed to Improve New York City
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 with public affairs expert Professor Douglas Muzzio and Commissioner Hope Cohen about what specific changes need to be made by future Charter Revision Commissions to make this City function more effectively, efficiently and fairly.
Date: Monday, October 4, 2010
Time: Registration opens at 5:30 p.m. Program begins at 6:00 p.m.
Venue: 33 West 60th Street (between Broadway & Columbus), 5th floor
To RSVP, email info@wccny.org or call 212-353-8070 x201 and provide your name, phone number and email address. This program is free and open to the public.
Click on the image below for a PDF version of the registration flier.
Pay Equity Should Be in the New York City Charter
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 and contractors.
WCC has found that while other forms of discrimination have been outlawed in New York City, there is a glaring omission when it comes to equal pay for work of comparable value and urged New York City to join other cities and states throughout the country in establishing pay equity for NYC workers and contractors. WCC has noted that the ability to implement and monitor a pay equity system already exists through current Charter agencies. What is needed is a Charter amendment requiring the City to do so.
Beverly Neufeld, on behalf of both the Pay Equity Coalition’s 41 member organizations and the New York Women’s Agenda, supported WCC’s call for a pay equity provision in the City Charter.
“Charter adoption of pay equity standards, a widely supported reform, would fuel NYC’s economic recovery, as well as build the financial health and security of women, their families and our community,” Neufeld stated.
“The City Charter should embody principles of fundamental fairness and economic justice,” said Marge Ives, Chair of WCC’s Women’s Issues Committee. “The Charter Commission has a unique opportunity to move New York City forward by placing pay equity into the NYC Charter, where it belongs.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Pam Elam, Chair, WCC Charter Revision Task Force
212-353-8070 x202
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The Women’s City Club of New York, established in 1915, is a nonprofit, non-partisan, multi-issue activist organization dedicated to improving the lives of all New Yorkers. The WCC shapes public policy to promote responsive government through education, issue analysis, advocacy and civic participation.
Women’s City Club President Responds to Charter Revision Commission’s Preliminary Report, Testifies against Term Limits
NEW YORK – Women’s City Club President Ruth Acker testified in opposition to term limits before the NYC Charter Revision Commission Wednesday at the second of five public hearings on the Commission’s preliminary report about possible amendments to the city charter.
A preview of possible questions on the November ballot, the Commission’s July 9 report focused on term limits, voter participation, public integrity and other issues pertinent to city governance.
Public hearings are being held in July and August to allow constituent feedback on the report’s recommendations.
Acker focused on term limits in her testimony, one of WCC’s top concerns, reaffirming WCC’s stance that they do not make for good government practice.
“We believe that term limits tend to focus public officials’ attention on short-term results rather than long-range planning,” Acker said. “There is no incentive for long-range planning if they will not be able to implement the plans due to term limits.”
“In addition, with term limits, elected officials are not held accountable for the long term results of their actions because they are already on to other pursuits,” Acker continued. “We further believe that term limits create a governmental game of musical chairs where staff and lobbyists wield undue influence.”
Acker also announced WCC’s support for Commissioner Hope Cohen’s recent suggestion to place the question of “No Term Limits” on the ballot this November. WCC hopes its endorsement of Cohen’s endeavor will garner support from other good government groups.
“The Commission has said that it wants the people to decide the term limits issue once and for all,” Acker said. “If that is true, then we urge you to make sure all options on that important question are presented to the voters as soon as possible so that we can move forward to solve the larger problems facing New York.”
Acker briefly addressed nonpartisan elections, which the report surprisingly did not mention, given the preponderance of public comment on the issue during the first round of hearings.
WCC Vice President for Public Policy Barbara Zucker will testify on other priority issues at the July 28 hearing at Queens Borough Hall. The sessions will stream live on the Charter Revision Commission website and will be available via transcript.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Ruth Acker, WCC President
212-353-8070 x202
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The Women’s City Club of New York, established in 1915, is a nonprofit, non-partisan, multi-issue activist organization dedicated to improving the lives of all New Yorkers. The WCC shapes public policy to promote responsive government through education, issue analysis, advocacy and civic participation.
Charter Revision Commission Staff Releases Preliminary Report & Recommendations for Action, Discussion
After three months of public hearings and issue forums throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Charter Revision Commission yesterday received a preliminary report from the Commission staff, which will serve as the basis for more focused discussion and action by the Commission.
The Commission, created by Mayor Bloomberg in March 2010, is undertaking a comprehensive review of the City Charter, the permanent document that governs the City’s structure and operation. Any changes the Commission proposes to the charter will be presented to New York City voters for approval. Though term limits, voter participation, and government efficiency were the focal points of discussion in the first phase of the Commission’s process, the staff’s recommendations are comprehensive, including all extant, controversial charter topics.
The first chapters of the report address issues that have been discussed at length and could be ready for the public eye by November. The remaining chapters focus on areas that, while significant, the staff have determined merit more research in future years. “Term limits” is the first issue attended to in the recommendations. The staff will continue seeking public input on whether voters should address this issue on the November ballot.
The report also examines “increased voter participation” and proposes a variety of ways to increase voter turnout and efficiency based on suggestions from the public hearings, including Instant Runoff Voting and simplifying the process of running for office.
Before the Commission brings forth the final proposals to New York City voters, they will continue their discussions at length, hosting additional hearings and debates to further analyze the issues presented in the staff’s report and recommendations. The WCC looks forward to studying the report’s recommendations and planning our advocacy around them.
Post written by Dana Prussian, Public Policy Intern