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This Year’s Ballot Proposals and How They Got There
By Monica Chang
October 13, 2024
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In the upcoming election, New York City voters will consider 6 ballot proposals, including 1 statewide measure and 5 city-specific measures. We’ve provided a breakdown of each proposal to help voters go into the polls informed.
First off, how do proposals make it onto the ballot in New York City?
City-Specific
Statewide
Proposals 2-6 on the ballot this year
Proposals 1 on the ballot this year
1.
Initiation
Ballot measures are proposed by the City Council, the Mayor, or the City Charter Revision Commission.
Ballot measures are proposed by the New York State Legislature (the Assembly and the Senate) or through a constitutional convention.
2.
Approval
If introduced by the City Council, a proposal typically requires a Council vote, which may include public hearings for resident input. If from a Charter Revision Commission, the proposal is based on public input and Charter review, with recommendations presented by the Commission.
For a proposed amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must be approved by two consecutive sessions of the State Legislature. This means the proposal must pass in one session, then be passed again in the following session.
3.
Ballot Placement
Once a proposal is approved by the City Council or the Charter Revision Commission, it is placed on the ballot for the next general election. The Board of Elections oversees this process.
Once approved by the Legislature, the proposed amendment is placed on the ballot during the next general election. Voters then have the opportunity to decide whether to accept or reject the amendment.
4.
Majority Vote
The proposal is then presented to voters during the general election. For the proposal to be adopted, it must receive a majority of votes from those participating in the election.
For the amendment to be adopted, it must receive a majority of votes from the electorate in the general election.
Critics are unhappy with how this year’s ballot proposals were formed
In the spring, Mayor Eric Adams shot down a ballot measure to give the City Council the power to approve some mayoral appointees. Not coincidentally, when assembling his City Charter Commission for this upcoming election, Mayor Adams assembled some of his closest allies to lead the commission.
The commission, which is responsible for proposing and reviewing amendments to the City Charter based on public hearings and input, was formed at the end of May. It was just two months, June and July, that the Charter Review Commission had to address a broad range of issues. During the public hearings, only 240 public testimonies were received, many of which had been by invitation. Only 2,300 public statements were submitted, out of a city population of eight million.
The timing of this Charter Review process has also been criticized by the City Council and many advocacy groups, who have argued that the swift advancement of these proposals to the general election ballot, just two days after their public announcement, was extremely abbreviated. They’ve expressed concerns that this rapid process undermined democratic principles by reducing opportunities for public input and thorough deliberation. Nevertheless, these proposals made it onto the ballot.
TLDR
The proposal review process this year has faced criticism for being rushed and limited in public input. What has normally taken 271 days and included extensive public participation, has taken just 2 months this time around.
Okay, let’s get into it.
These proposals, as stated in the ballot, can be confusing and may embed multiple changes into one. We have broken them down to provide greater understanding and transparency into each one.
Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment
As stated in the ballot
This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
A "YES" vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.
A "NO" vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.
Goal
To expand the New York State Constitution to include protections against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as safeguard access to reproductive healthcare services on the state level.
What does it mean?
Gives access to abortion services. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago, reproductive rights have been placed in the hands of states to protect. If there were to be a federal abortion ban, this amendment would better protect New Yorkers’ right to an abortion than a mere law would.
Protects against discrimination across various aspects of identity, including ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.
What are people saying?
YES
Liz Krueger
YES
Kathy Hochul
NO
Ed Cox
YES
ACLU
YES
Letitia James
NO
Coalition to Protect Kids
YES
Sarah Steiner
Proponents argue that this amendment is necessary to strengthen and clearly define anti-discrimination protections, particularly for marginalized groups and individuals seeking reproductive healthcare. Given that existing protections are more susceptible to legislative change, this measure would allow New York to maintain these rights regardless of potential changes at the federal level.
Opponents, largely Republicans and anti-abortionists, argue that abortion is already legal in New York. Many also fear that the amendment would give transgender people, namely transgender girls, the right to play on cisgender girls sports teams (a protection that already exists in New York now).
Cleaning Public Property
As stated in the ballot
This proposal would amend the City Charter to expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers.
A "YES" will expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require
Voting “NO” leaves laws unchanged.
Goal
To create a cleaner environment by streamlining sanitation responsibilities and addressing litter more effectively throughout New York City.
What does it mean?
Gives the Department of Sanitation the authority to clean city parks, sidewalks, and street medians, areas which aren’t currently under their jurisdiction.
Gives the Department of Sanitation the power to mandate trash containerization.
Allows the Department of Sanitations to enforce laws against street vendors and small businesses city-owned spaces.
What are people saying?
NO
Adrienne Adams
YES
DSNY
NO
NYCLU
Proponents argue that increased regulation of street vendors is essential to reduce litter and maintain clean, accessible public spaces, particularly in busy areas.
Opponents, including social justice organizations and progressive nonprofits, say that passing this proposal would merely increase abusive and violent enforcement against street vendors given that the NYPD and Parks Enforcement are currently able to oversee enforcement on street vendors.
Additional estimates of the cost of proposed laws and updates to budget deadlines
As stated in the ballot
This proposal would amend the City Charter to require fiscal analysis from the Council before hearings and votes on laws, authorize fiscal analysis from the mayor, and update budget deadlines.
Voting “YES” would amend the City Charter to require additional fiscal analysis prior to hearings and votes on local laws, and update budget deadlines.
Voting "NO" leaves laws unchanged.
Goal
To increase fiscal responsibility and transparency in the lawmaking and budgeting processes.
What does it mean?
Changes how the City Council passes laws by requiring them to estimate how much each bill would cost to implement, before bringing the legislation into a vote.
Requires the City Council to give the mayor’s office 8 days notice before putting a piece of legislation to a vote, so that the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget can produce its own estimate.
Pushes back several budget deadlines, especially during the first year of a new mayoral administration, to provide more preparation time for producing a budget.
What are people saying?
NO
Adrienne Adams
NO
Citizens Union
NO
NYCLU
Proponents argue that it could curb spending by giving more time to fiscal analyses and budgets.
Opponents argue that this would further delay the lawmaking process and give the mayor more power to veto proposed legislation.
More notice and time before votes on public safety legislation
As stated in the ballot
This proposal would require additional public notice and time before the City Council votes on laws respecting the public safety operations of the police, correction or fire departments.
Voting “YES” will require additional notice and time before the Council votes on laws respecting public safety operations of the police, correction, or fire departments.
Voting "NO" leaves laws unchanged.
Goal
To increase public involvement in decisions related to public safety legislation.
What does it mean?
Affects lawmaking in regards to the police, fire or correction departments (“public safety legislation”).
Requires the City Council to give 30 days notice to the mayor, relevant agency commissioners, and the public, before voting on a piece of public safety legislation. This would allow the mayor and affected agencies to call more public hearings in order to gain more public input.
Increases the number of non-legislative agencies that can hold public hearings.
What are people saying?
YES
Campaign Finance Board
NO
Legal Aid Society
NO
New Yorkers Defending Dem…Democracy
NO
Surveillance Technology Ov…Oversight Project
Proponents argue that it could foster more informed decisions on public safety measures.
Opponents argue that while the proposal may allow for more public hearings, it does little to enhance actual public engagement, especially because the Mayor already has the authority to hold hearings. In addition, opponents think this proposal is a direct response to two laws passed by City Council this year. Finally, it would give more influence to the NYPD and other public safety operations to campaign proposed legislation.
Capital planning
As stated in the ballot
This proposal would amend the City Charter to require more detail in the annual assessment of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines.
Voting “YES” would require more detail when assessing maintenance needs of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines.
Voting "NO" leaves laws unchanged.
Goal
To improve the transparency and planning of the city’s infrastructure projects by requiring assessments of maintenance costs for city facilities and infrastructure.
What does it mean?
Requires an annual report, called the Citywide Statement of Needs, to include more details on facility conditions and maintenance needs AND requires New York City’s Ten-Year Capital Strategy to take findings from Statement of Needs into account.
What are people saying?
NO
Adrienne Adams
YES
Eric Adams
NO
NYCLU
Proponents argue that this will create more transparent capital planning and allow better decision-making on projects.
Opponents argue that this update would be ineffective because the Statement of Needs only covers 1% of the city’s infrastructure, and already includes projects that the city has already decided needs to be improved. Even the current Comptroller Brad Lander, whose testimony this proposal was drawn from, says this proposal does not actually improve capital planning in any way.
Minority and women-owned business enterprises, film permits, and archive review boards
As stated in the ballot
This proposal would amend the City Charter to establish the Chief Business Diversity Officer, authorize the mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine archive boards.
Voting “YES” would establish the CBDO to support MWBEs [minority and women-owned business enterprises], authorize the mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine two boards.
Voting "NO" leaves laws unchanged.
Goal
To streamline and support diversity in NYC’s business sector and improve administrative efficiency.
What does it mean?
This proposal is actually 3 questions bundled into 1.
Enshrines a Chief Business Diversity Officer (CBDO), a position created by mayor Eric Adams, into the City Charter. The CBDO would be a point of contact for minority and women-owned businesses, evaluate disparities in procurement, and propose needed changes to city policy.
Empowers the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to issue film permits, a responsibility that’s solely held by Department of Small Business Services currently.
Merges two archival charter boards into one to increase efficiency.
What are people saying?
NO
Adrienne Adams
YES
Eric Adams
NO
NYCLU
Proponents argue that this could simplify procedures and boost support for MWBEs.
Opponents argue that these changes could be handled administratively rather than through a Charter amendment and that the proposed measures may actually fall short of supporting MWBEs and reducing bureaucracy. Also, this proposal addresses three disparate proposals, which should actually be considered separately.
Learn more
2024 Ballot Proposals, broken down by the NYC
City Council
Specific voting deadlines for NYC
Find your sample ballot (county-based)
Find your polling place for in-person voting
Know your rights during voting, including aid
and accessibility
Upcoming Events
Want more information? Here are some educational events in the city that help further explain what’s at stake.
Tomorrow
Mon
NYC 2024 Ballot Discussion - 6:00pm at Flushing library
Oct 22
Tue
--
Oct 23
Wed
Ballot Initiatives Panel - 1:30pm at Queens Public Library
NYC Ballots Proposals - 4:30pm at Queens Public Library
Oct 24
Thu
NYC Ballot Initiatives - 6:00pm at Hunters Point Library
Oct 25
Fri
NYC Ballot Initiatives Panel - 4:30pm at the Thomas White Jr. Foundation
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Produced and edited by Monica Chang, a designer and interactive artist
2024 General Election
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