Cleaning Public Property

Why is this proposal on the ballot?

The 2024 Charter Revision Commission reviewed the New York City Charter to ensure its efficiency and responsiveness to all New Yorkers, held public hearings and conducted outreach to solicit public input, and offered the following suggested changes.

What this proposal says:

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.

Voting “Yes” will expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers. Voting “No” leaves laws unchanged.

What this proposal means:

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) would have increased authority to keep all city property clean, including parks and highway medians, and to hold street vendors accountable for following rules at those locations. It would also allow DSNY to regulate how New Yorkers put out their garbage for collection.

If this Proposal Passes:

It would clarify the DSNY’s authority and jurisdiction to keep the city clean and make rules about how garbage is put out for collection.

Summary of Statements in Support of Ballot Proposal 2:

The CFB received 7 public comments supporting proposal 2. The comments express hope that the passage of proposal 2 will improve city cleanliness by enabling more frequent trash collection and emphasize the need for better waste management in the City of New York. The CFB received no comments from organizations.

Summary of Statements in Opposition of Ballot Proposal 2:

The CFB received 14 public comments opposing proposal 2. The comments cite concerns over the proposal’s potential to increase surveillance and policing powers of the Department of Sanitation and the negative impact it could have on street vendors. The CFB received comments from the following organizations:

  • Legal Aid Society
  • New Yorkers Defending Democracy
  • Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
  • The Jails Action Coalition and HALT Solitary Campaign (JAC/HALT)