Adams commission takes aim at City Council spending, dodges public safety for now

Adams commission takes aim at City Council spending, dodges public safety for now
By: NY Post - US-News Posted On: June 24, 2024 View: 7



Mayor Eric Adams’ charter commission is first taking aim at council spending — dodging public safety, the sticky main issue Hizzoner tasked the group with addressing, a new report shows.

The progress report, issued by the new commission Monday, shows that the panel wants the council to have to jump through an extra financial hoop before it can pass legislation.

It’s currently standard process for the council to get a cost estimate from the city on proposed legislative bills with financial impact, but nothing is formally required before a final vote.

Mayor Eric Adams’ charter commission will take on City Council spending, according to a new report. Michael Nigro

Under the Charter Review Commission’s potential change, council members would be required to get an official financial impact report from the mayor’s budget director before holding even the first hearing on a bill.

Council members complained to The Post that the requirement would hamper the legislature’s ability to more easily and swiftly pass bills.

“If all legislative items become subject to closed-door budget negotiations, you’re undermining the stated goals of giving the public more transparency and input into the process,’’ a council member said.

But the Adams administration said it simply wants to address unfunded mandates.

The report was the first glimpse into how the commission could try to change New York City’s Charter.

The Charter Review Commission wants council members to request an official financial impact report from the mayor’s budget director before holding a hearing on a new bill. Matthew McDermott

It also ticked off a series of other potential amendments, including expanding sanitation responsibilities, streamlining services to minority and women-owned businesses and eliminating ancient redundancies.

The document summed up the first round of hearings by the commission as the panel bounced around the five boroughs over the past few weeks getting input from New Yorkers.

It hones the focus of topics for the next set of hearings.

A spokesman for the commission, Frank Dwyer, told The Post that the reason for another round of hearings was so concerns could be heard.

The mayor’s commission avoided taking on public safety issues for now. Michael Nigro

“It’s a roadmap forward for further discussion,” he said of the report’s suggestions, adding, “If folks have concerns, they should come to the hearing to voice those exact concerns.”

Any changes to the charter would still have to be voted on by ballot in November.

The commission noted that it would not touch rank-choice voting or make any changes to the primary election process — despite the changes, which Adams previously voiced support for, being brought up several times at hearings.

It also ticked off a series of other potential amendments, including expanding sanitation responsibilities, streamlining services to minority and women-owned businesses and eliminating ancient redundancies.

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