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Five yes-or-no questions would change the NYC City Charter. Ballot proposals are usually printed on the back of the ballot, so turn it over before you scan it.
Proposed by the 2026 Charter Revision Commission (the Commission on Government Efficiency, appointed by the Mayor). Summaries below are drawn from the Commission's official ballot abstracts.
QUESTION 1
Faster permits for sidewalk cafés, ramps, benches and planters
Official title: Speed Up Process for Granting a Revocable Consent to Use Public Space
WHAT IT CHANGES
- /Simplifies how the City grants a "revocable consent" — permission for a property owner to use public space for things like benches, ramps, planters and cafés.
- /Ends the required public hearings and newspaper notices for these permits.
- /Removes the City Council's power to disapprove sidewalk cafés; community boards are still notified.
- A YES VOTE
- The streamlined permit process replaces the current hearing and Council-review steps.
- A NO VOTE
- The current hearings, notices and Council review stay in place.
QUESTION 2
Less paperwork for businesses and nonprofits that contract with the City
Official title: Reduce City Contractor Paperwork; Require Regular Meetings of Procurement Policy Board
WHAT IT CHANGES
- /Lets the Procurement Policy Board simplify the questionnaire vendors fill out, so smaller businesses answer fewer questions.
- /Removes a required annual public hearing on client-services contracts.
- /Lets certain contract approvals be handled by City agencies, and requires the Procurement Policy Board to meet at least quarterly.
- A YES VOTE
- The procurement changes take effect on the schedules set in the proposal.
- A NO VOTE
- Current contracting rules and hearing requirements stay in place.
QUESTION 3
Faster street-safety projects, sales of small City lots, and office leasing
Official title: Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing
WHAT IT CHANGES
- /Simplifies approvals for street-safety projects (like bike and bus lanes) by removing some consultation requirements.
- /Lets the City sell or otherwise dispose of smaller City-owned properties and development rights through a faster land-use review, and makes permanent a program for selling certain undevelopable lots without a public auction.
- /Removes a City Planning Commission hearing and City Council review before the City acquires office space for its workers.
- A YES VOTE
- These approval steps are shortened or removed.
- A NO VOTE
- The current review and approval steps stay in place.
QUESTION 4
One central system for construction permits
Official title: Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings
WHAT IT CHANGES
- /Lets the Buildings Commissioner appoint more deputy and borough commissioners who can approve construction documents.
- /Directs the Department of Buildings, with other agencies, to build a single centralized system for submitting and approving construction permits.
- /Moves waterfront permitting from the Department of Small Business Services to the Department of Buildings.
- A YES VOTE
- Permitting is reorganized as described.
- A NO VOTE
- Permitting stays spread across agencies as it is today.
QUESTION 5
A savings target for the City's Rainy Day Fund
Official title: Set Contribution Targets for Rainy Day Fund to Promote Sufficient Budgetary Reserves
WHAT IT CHANGES
- /Sets a target amount for the City to keep in its Rainy Day Fund and other reserves.
- /Requires the Mayor's budget office to publish how it decides deposits into the fund.
- /Bars withdrawing more than half the fund unless the Mayor certifies a compelling fiscal need.
- A YES VOTE
- The reserve target and deposit/withdrawal rules are written into the City Charter.
- A NO VOTE
- No Charter target for reserves; current budget practices continue.
Read the full text: proposed Charter amendments (PDF) · Charter Revision Commission
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