More Notice and Time Before Votes on Public Safety Legislation

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 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.

What this proposal means:

The Council must give 30 days notice before voting on public safety laws that impact the Police Department, Department of Correction, or the Fire Department. During this time, the Mayor and affected City agencies may also hold public hearings to hear additional public input.

If this Proposal Passes:

The Mayor and affected agencies could use the 30-day period to hold public hearings on the proposal.

Summary of Statements in Support of Ballot Proposal 4:

The CFB received 4 public comments supporting proposal 4. The comments express support for requiring additional public notice and review time before the City Council votes on public safety issues which will ensure public awareness and involvement in decisions that affect safety. The CFB received no comments from organizations.

Summary of Statements in Opposition of Ballot Proposal 4:

The CFB received 14 public comments opposing proposal 4. The comments cite concerns that Proposal 4 could result in excessive bureaucracy and allow the Mayor to interfere in the scheduling of votes which could hinder timely responses to public safety threats and would give the Mayor undue influence over the processes of the City Council. The CFB received comments from the following organizations:

  • City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams
  • Legal Aid Society
  • New York Civil Liberties Union
  • New Yorkers Defending Democracy
  • Reinvent Albany
  • Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
  • The Jails Action Coalition and HALT Solitary Campaign (JAC/HALT)