New York City Ballot Proposals 2026

You can go directly to the COGE report to read the history, context and full details of each proposal. It can be found at nyc.gov/site/charter/reports/coge-reports.page.

Background & Context

The proposals were written by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s charter revision commission, known as the Committee on Government Efficiency (COGE). One has to assume that the echoes of DOGE are not done without consideration. COGE is a charter revision commission established under New York Municipal Home Rule Law section 36.

COGE’s work is part of an initiative at the top of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s agenda: streamlining government processes and cutting red tape for small businesses. Mamdani outlined these goals in his viral “Halalflation” video.

The criteria proposed by COGE say that they deal with speeding up and simplifying processes for a variety of city projects and approvals, reducing paperwork for city contractors, and improving the City’s process to set aside a “rainy day fund” budget reserve.

The proposals have the support of the Mayor, who says that COGE was to “take a hard look at how City government functions and identify the reforms we need to deliver faster, smarter and more effectively for working people. Restoring faith in government starts with proving government can actually deliver.”

NY Law School notes that a common theme through most of COGE’s proposals is the belief that a lengthy process, with multiple notices, hearings, and decisionmakers, at times combined with unnecessary paperwork on the part of applicants engaging with government, can result in delayed and weakened outcomes. COGE argues that complex processes can create burdensome expenses for both the government and the people and businesses with which it deals and create bureaucratic and legal delays.

Sources all note that “speeding up” processes here will result in cut to public outreach, including public hearings, published notifications, and timeframes that allow further consideration. In some cases, application filings would be reduced or outright eliminated.

They note that the regulatory provisions have ensured the inclusions of different perspectives, and the review of as much information as available.

COGE’s judgment is that any benefits of these requirements are overshadowed by their impact on results.

In other words: the central issue pits “speed” of approval compared to loss of pubic oversight and time for the solicitation of information from public hearings.

As you’ll see below, the Mayor’s Office has put time and money into gathering supporting comments from (in their words) “small business owners, advocacy groups, community leaders, housing and transit experts and more applauded COGE's efforts to make government work more efficiently for New Yorkers across the five boroughs.”

The League of Women Voters has a more mixed response – these are attached to the specific proposals below. I would recommend looking at these.

Many of the proposals are extensions or modifications of proposals already passed overwhelmingly by NYC voters in 2025. The 2026 proposals appear “uncontroversial” and do not seem to have generated any notable opposition.

The issue at stake is oversight – largely public-facing oversight, often administered through the City Council – of regulations that slow down permits for businesses, chiefly developers. Developers and businesses argue that “red tape” impedes developments needed for the city; threats to the willingness to work in the city are often implied or directly stated.

The need for deregulation to allow more efficient development needs to be balanced against the risks of loss of public oversight.

We have two years’ worth of information about the effects of the deregulation and loss of oversight in the current US. The question has to be “who benefits”? The interests of private businesses – their owners, boards, and shareholders -- in outcomes, whatever their pubic-facing promises may be, has demonstrably been subject to increasing corruption that privileges donors to political campaigns (or executives who can afford the fees of lobbyists).

While public oversight is also subject to corruption and delay, data and analysis of consequences over the last two years suggest that cuts to oversight has not always served the majority of Americans well; “profits” seem unequal and limited to a small percentage of donors and lobbyists.

Mayor Mamdani enjoys a high degree of trust. But it might be useful to remember that the changes to the provisions will affect NYC in the future, no matter who is mayor.

These questions seem increasingly important in the current state of socioeconomic anxiety due to an increasing wealth-gap, when an ever-smaller percentage of New York residents live with any sense of economic security.

Question 1- Speeding up the process for revocable consent in public spaces

Proposal 1 would remove some steps from the process of getting permission from the city to use public space to build ramps, benches and outdoor dining structures.

This question focuses on the use of public space for certain private purposes, particularly the creation of outdoor dining areas, but also lesser-known uses such as the placement of benches and planters on sidewalks.

The proposal would “remove the mandatory public hearing, modernize the public advertisement requirements and direct the Department of Transportation to use alternative methods to seek public input.”

This streamlining would reduce costs to applicants and presumably lead to an increase in the number of successful applications.

This proposal comes after the City Council approved a package of bills to expand outdoor dining in August.

League of Women Voter’s Notes:

Property and business owners who want to use public space must get City permission called a “revocable consent.”

This proposal combines several items that have historically caused considerable delays and expense for small businesses to get their revocable consent applications approved for use of outdoor space for sidewalk cafes.

Pros:

Reduces the time frame of eight months by 75% (to two months), for small businesses to get an answer on their application for things like outdoor dining, installing planters on sidewalks or constructing accessibility ramps
Combines separate sidewalk cafe and roadway dining applications into one.
Reduces costs to the property owner or small businesses by eliminating the cost to advertise public hearings on their applications. This proposal replaces public hearings with on-line write-in comments. The public will be notified using another method not yet specified.
Eliminates City Council’s ability to “call up” a vote by the whole Council to review an application for a sidewalk cafe – which could take up to 50 days. No other revocable consent allows for this call up.
Elected officials and Community Boards will still receive notifications allowing them 15 days to provide input.

Cons:

Increases the possibility of more impediments to sidewalks or reduced parking spaces.
Removal of requiring newspaper advertising for public hearings may not be replaced with a method sufficient to notify the public. The precise method of notification has not been proposed..
Reduces the City Council Member’s power by removing their right to “call up” for votes by the whole Council to approve sidewalk cafes. No other revocable consent allows for this call up.

Question 2 – Reducing city contractor paperwork and requiring meetings of the Procurement Policy Board

Proposal 2 seeks to simplify the city contracting process by authorizing the mayor to award contracts, reduce paperwork for small businesses and nonprofits looking to work with the city, and reduce reporting requirements.

Several sources note that the City’s failures in its contracting process, has become notorious. This new proposal would simplify a number of processes that affect private companies and not-for-profits doing business with the City, for example by reducing the amount of information potential contractors have to provide on questionnaires.

It would also require quarterly meetings by the Procurement Policy Board (PPB), a city body that regulates many aspects of City contracting but in fact meets infrequently and irregularly. COGE hopes that by meeting more often and on a regular basis, PPB would be more likely to respond to newly emerging challenges. NY Law School notes that even if the PPB meets, there is no guarantee that it would take any particular helpful action.

The proposal would cut down the procurement timeline by 12%, according to the COGE report. The changes would shave about 30 days off of the notoriously long process for completing requests for public work. The median time between the initial public announcement and when the work is awarded is 387 days. One attributed effect of these delays is that, in fiscal year 2025, nearly 40% of the city’s budget went to goods and services from outside contractors — or $42.3 billion.

League of Women Voter’s Notes:

The Procurement Policy Board (PPB) was established in 1989 to stop corruption and reform the city’s contracting practices. It outlines the rules and procedures for soliciting bids from contractors and vendors. This includes businesses and nonprofits providing services on behalf of the city. This proposal aims to distinguish the applications by contract value such that smaller applicants are not burdened with as many requirements as large contractors.

While the PPB sets the rules for contract approval, the approval lies with the specific Agency Chief Contracting Officer (ACCO). Currently ACCOs have a cap of $5 million for projects they can approve, with anything above that cap needing Mayoral oversight. In this proposal, that $5 million cap for certain contracts in the bidding process would be waived.

Pros:

Small vendors and nonprofits that do business with the city may find it easier for approval of their contracts.
Mandates quarterly meetings by the PPB which don’t currently exist.
Online notice for public comment will become permanent

Cons:

These changes to the Charter will affect all future administrations and will provide for less oversight by eliminating the Mayoral oversight of the $5 million cap approval and the open bidding process by ACCO.
By eliminating criteria requirements for applicants, information may be removed that could have highlighted incompetency, corruption or poor past performance.
Could result in less public data regarding a subcontractor.

Question 3 – Speeding up review of street safety projects, disposition of certain city property, and acquisition of office space

Proposal 3 combines three measures that aim to speed up processes for transportation projects, the sale of some city-owned land and leasing office space for government workers.

This changes regulation processes that pertain to the DOT: allowing the Department of Transportation to fast-track certain street projects; speeding up the process for city disposal of small properties and development rights; and speeding up the process for the city to lease office space.

Most notably, the street project fast-tracking would allow DOT to start work on a project before presenting it to a community board, where DOT determines that there is a risk of significant injury that may occur absent immediate implementation.

It would remove steps that delay major transportation projects, in hopes of speeding up street safety initiatives, including bike and bus lanes, by 33%. These include eliminating some requirements for inter-agency communication, allowing the DOT to start working on projects before presenting to community boards and letting projects continue amid some procedural planning errors.

It would also speed up the sale of small pieces of city-owned land — reducing the timeline from about seven months to 90 days. The expedited process would allow for multiple agencies to review certain sales or leases at once, without a final review from the City Council.

It would remove hearing requirements and approvals from the City Council and City Planning Commission when the city seeks to lease office space for its employees.

League of Women Voter’s Notes:

This proposal combines two City issues that should have been separated for proper review by themselves.

Currently the City Charter mandates consultation for major construction projects (like bike lanes or bus lanes) with local elected officials and Community Boards, with the Police Department, Fire Department, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, and the Department of Small Business Services. The street safety portion of this proposal would give the Department of Transportation the ability to fast-track critical street improvements based on their determination of a “safety issue.” This fast tracking would allow construction to begin before consulting with other city players.
The other part of the proposal focuses on moving the approval process for city owned properties from the lengthy ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Process) to the ELURP (Expedited) process that voters approved last year for private developers.

Pros:

Allows the Department of Transportation Commissioner to fast-track critical street infrastructure improvements where there is an identified, immediate safety need
Allows the city to operate more efficiently with its property
Approval of Selling and/or leasing of smaller city property and office space (including air rights) reduced from 7 months to 90 days

Cons:

Expediting the process may reduce community input and local transparency that can have significant lasting impacts on neighborhoods.
It removes Council review of City property, eliminating an independent layer of oversight for transactions that can involve millions of taxpayer dollars.
Is 90 days too short?

Question 4 – Simplify the building permit process and shift waterfront construction permits to the Buildings Department

Proposal 4 seeks to create a centralized construction permitting system and move waterfront construction permitting to the Department of Buildings.

This proposal would change the oversight of construction of waterfront property from the Department of Small Business Services to the Department of Buildings, which has greater expertise with respect to construction.

It potentially allows the Department of Buildings to create a centralized permitting hub for construction projects, so builders do not need to go from one agency to another to get all their needed permits.

This appears to be modeled on an existing city program, initially developed during the Bloomberg Administration. The Commissioner of Buildings would be given more flexibility in setting up their deputy commissioner and senior staff structure, providing greater leeway in granting approvals.

The DOB would gain control of permitting city-owned waterfront properties. It would also allow the DOB commissioner to appoint more officials that can approve construction documents.

League of Women Voter’s Notes:

This proposal includes two unrelated items – one that would need a Charter change, and one that would not.

The part of the proposal that does not need a Charter revision is the change in a system or technology to be used in building permitting. This could have been addressed through administrative or legislative changes.
The system changes attempt to improve the user experience when working with the city to build anything. Currently there are 40 approvals needed from 18 separate agencies and it is the builder’s job to navigate through the maze. This proposal will allow the builder to enter the maze through one portal and be able to see the process unfold and where the hold-ups are, i.e., which agency is holding up the approval process.

The portion that does require a Charter change is a change to the jurisdiction for the Department of Buildings to now include marine-related structures instead of the Small Business Services.

Pros:

Creates a centralized permitting hub, within the Department of Buildings (DOB), to allow for greater transparency so applicants know where delays might be occurring.
Centralizes waterfront services within the DOB
Improves efficiency of DOB
Because many waterfront properties have historic or landmark significance, this will not alter landmark preservation

Cons:

We believe this is a straightforward proposal and could not identify any cons.

Question 5 – Contribution targets for the Rainy Day Fund

Proposal 5 would set a goal of putting aside a rainy day fund equal to at least 12% of the city’s previous year’s tax revenue.

While the City is authorized to create a “rainy day fund” to put money aside for budget emergencies, more formally known as a revenue stabilization fund, this proposal aims to help ensure that the fund is indeed created in a coherent and consistent manner.

12% of city tax revenues would be set as a target amount for the rainy day fund to hold each year, a deposit formula would be established, and withdrawals would be subject to new constraints. While not an “efficiency” measure, this would help minimize the likelihood of the government running out of money in times of crisis – situations where unexpected expenditures or drops in revenue could wreck the budget.

The proposal would also codify a state requirement that limits withdrawals to 50% of the fund, unless the mayor has a “compelling fiscal reason.”

Until 2019, the city wasn’t authorized to maintain a rainy day fund. Since then, the Citizens Budget Commission has been rallying for a larger target for savings; a 2022 report from the comptroller’s office recommends 16% to support the city through the “full length of an average recession.”

League of Women Voter’s Notes:

In 2019, NYC voters approved a City Charter change to create a rainy day fund. The fund must always operate within the rules of the New York State Financial Emergency Act which restricts the city from withdrawing more than 50% of the fund unless the mayor certifies that there is a compelling fiscal need. There are currently no deposit mandates.

This proposal sets up a financial target to fill the rainy day fund and requires the City to publish a plan for how it adds money to the fund by May 2027 and updated every four years.

The target amount of funding for the rainy day fund is up to 12% of the previous year’s city’s total tax revenue. This amount appears to be a compromise between those who want no restrictions on how NYC spends its money, and those who want more control. The source of the contributions to the fund are decided by the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Comptroller with review by the Speaker of the City Council, the State Comptroller and the NYS Financial Control Board.

Pros:

Helps to plan for financial coverage should NYC experience financial hardships.

Cons:

The proposal may not be strong enough and the recommended target may not be sufficient if NYC faces a major fiscal crisis

This proposal shifts greater authority over the source of the contributions to the executive branch, reducing the Council’s role despite its Charter-mandated budget responsibilities and limiting the collaborative approach that has long guided the City’s fiscal planning.

Establishing more rigid reserve requirements could reduce budget flexibility during emergencies or changing economic conditions and give the Council less discretion in the process

Samples of responses collected by the Mayor’s Office from small business owners, advocacy groups, community leaders, housing and transit experts and more applauded COGE's efforts to make government work more efficiently for New Yorkers across the five boroughs.

"Restaurants are integral to the neighborhoods and communities of our great city. With the COGE ballot proposals on Outdoor Dining, we feel seen and heard as owners and operators," said Juliet & Justine Masters, Co-owners of The Edge Harlem. "These proposed reforms will allow us to reduce costs and reclaim valuable time by streamlining paperwork, eliminating unnecessary fines, and simplifying complex regulatory requirements."

"Thrilled to see COGE propose real, first-ever contribution targets for the City's rainy day fund. Not governed by hope, but rules," said Aaron Kinnari, Founder of the Future Forum. "Good years should mean building a real cushion for bad years. This proposal makes that automatic instead of optional."

"Affordable housing projects are often slowed by a fragmented permitting process," said Samantha Magistro, CEO of Bronx Pro Group. "A more coordinated approach to permitting would provide a predictable path from planning to construction, reduce unnecessary delays and costs, and allow developers to better focus on building the affordable homes New Yorkers need. Simplifying permitting could also lower barriers for smaller and emerging developers who don't always have the resources to navigate a complex permitting process."

"Unlike the federal government, the City cannot borrow to meet operating shortfalls. So it is important to make financial provision for future shortfalls. At the same time, hard rules requiring fixed levels of contributions to reserve funds and limiting withdrawals can be counterproductive by limiting the City's ability to respond to unexpected economic and fiscal developments. The proposed target for City reserve funds strikes good balance between ensuring that the City is making appropriate provision for future needs, while preserving flexibility in the budget process," said J. W. Mason, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, John Jay College, City University of New York.

"Inefficiencies in bureaucracy are a major cause of governmental dysfunction, and the subsequent undermining of public trust in government. These proposed charter amendments will improve the lives of nonprofits, small businesses, and of New Yorkers as a whole, and add to the push towards effective governance by the Mamdani administration," said Fahd Ahmed, Director of Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM).

"Every step toward a more efficient and responsive government is a step toward stronger small businesses," said Cristy Moya, Director of the Bronx Women's Business Center. "Reducing red tape allows entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best—building businesses and creating economic opportunity."

"The involvement of local elected officials in such an important use of valuable curb space is critical. Many commercial areas that rely on parking to generate business such as in Belmont might be better served with sidewalk structures," said Peter Madonia, Chairman, Belmont Business Improvement District.

"BOC Network applauds the Commission on Government Efficiency for advancing a vision of government that is more responsive, transparent, and accessible. Modernizing government is not simply about moving faster—it is about making public systems work better for the people they serve. By partnering with trusted community organizations, New York City can reduce barriers, strengthen accountability, and expand economic opportunity for local businesses, nonprofits, childcare providers, and the communities that depend on them," said Nancy Carin, Executive Director, Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network.

"Small and 'Mom and Pop' businesses embody the 'American Dream' multitudes of New Yorkers embrace, yet cumbersome processes have halted progress towards that Northstar. As an MWBE and Chair of Bronx Community Board 8's Economic Development Committee, I appreciate the Mayor's responsiveness, and look forward to supporting new businesses with these expanded opportunities," said Constance D. Barnes, Ed.D, PMP, Chair of Bronx Community Board 8's Economic Development Committee.

"Congratulations to New York City's Commission on Government Efficiency – the Commission's recommendations to improve the City's procurement process are right on target," said Chris Yukins, Lynn David Research Professor in Government Procurement Law at George Washington University Law School. "By reducing burdens and payment delays for contractors providing vital services to the City's most vulnerable residents, COGE's proposed reforms meet Mayor Mamdani's promise to make New York a better place to live for all."

"We applaud the Mamdani Administration, through the Commission on Government Efficiency, for working to improve the inner workings of City Government," said Morgan Monaco, President and Park Administrator of the Prospect Park Alliance. "As a non-profit partner of the City, Prospect Park Alliance has deep experience working with City agencies and also great insight into the areas where operations can be made more effective. In particular, we look forward to the Charter amendment that will modernize city contracting, making it easier for nonprofits to do business with the City and fulfill our mission of serving the public."

"An active and well managed streetscape experience that supports economic growth is exactly what New York City's public realm should be," said Tim Laughlin, President of the Lower East Side Partnership. "Reducing red tape and creating clarity between disparate outdoor dining permit processes is essential for the continued success of small businesses throughout the five boroughs."

"Nonprofits deliver their best work when they can focus on serving communities without diverting so much time, energy, and effort to onerous city contracting processes," said Michelle Yanche, CEO of Good Shepherd Services. "COGE's procurement reforms are a welcome change that would drastically reduce procurement time and other costly and inefficient process burdens. This is especially critical for small and emerging nonprofits that are providing vital, culturally-responsive community services but may not have the capacity, experience, and wherewithal that larger nonprofits like Good Shepherd Services have to navigate the obstacles of the current system."

"Waterfront Alliance applauds Mayor Mamdani and the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) for recognizing the importance of New York's 520 miles of shoreline in the latest charter amendment process. The final Charter Amendments include a critical opportunity to centralize and streamline the City's waterfront permitting process within the Department of Buildings, which Waterfront Alliance strongly supports. As our waterfronts continue to evolve with maritime and industrial uses, recreational boating and open space, and climate resilience infrastructure, it is time for a new evolution of waterfront permitting," said Tyler Taba, Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Waterfront Alliance.

"Through our work with more than 200 state and local governments — including our role managing the revision of the ABA Model Procurement Code for State and Local Governments — Partners for Public Good has seen how effective procurement turns public dollars into better results for residents. We're excited to see New York City reduce administrative burdens and make contracting more accessible, especially for small businesses and nonprofit providers. These tactical reforms lay an important foundation for stronger partnerships with the organizations that directly serve New Yorkers and will result in more effective use of public funds and better outcomes for the community," said Kailey Burger Ayohu, CEO of Partners for Public Good.

"Small providers like my organization have had a difficult time managing cashflow due to bureaucratic delays and a one-size-fits-all system, and many life-saving community programs have suffered as a result. We are thrilled that COGE's ballot measures will finally level the playing field for smaller nonprofits, and hope that our fellow New Yorkers will join us in voting yes on these critical reforms," said Maria Lizardo, Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation.

"We thank the Commission's attention to the city contracting and procurement process. It is long overdue that we bring sensibility to an outdated and cumbersome contracting and procurement system for the nonprofits providing essential services to New Yorkers. These ballot proposals and accompanying administrative fixes provide welcomed process streamlining. Less time spent on paperwork and tracking down payments will mean more time and resources dedicated to what nonprofits do best – serve New Yorkers in need," said Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United.

"The Long Island City Partnership applauds the thoughtful work of the Commission on Government Efficiency, particularly on streamlining the process for use of public space. Our organization witnessed small businesses stop participating in outdoor dining altogether because of the long timelines and high fees involved. The proposed reform removes those barriers, making it easier and more affordable for restaurants to re-enter the program and expand their capacity. LICP supports Question #1 and urges COGE to move forward with a vote in favor," said Laura Rothrock, President of the Long Island City Partnership.

"At a time when cumbersome permitting is inhibiting progress by holding up critical projects, and discouraging smaller, community-centric developers, this proposal offers a formal pathway to streamline the creation of the homes and infrastructure New Yorkers so desperately need. We applaud Mayor Mamdani and COGE for their commitment to making tangible systemic changes possible as we continue to work together to address the ongoing housing crisis," said Pierre Downing, Founding Principal of Kalel Companies.

"New York City relies on nonprofit organizations to deliver essential services in communities across the five boroughs, and those organizations need a contracting system that is timely, predictable and proportionate to the work they are being asked to perform. We commend Mayor Mamdani and the Commission for prioritizing the modernization of procurement and the reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens. As these proposals move forward, continued input from nonprofit providers, clear accountability and effective implementation will be essential to ensuring that public resources reach the organizations and communities they are intended to serve," said Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank for New York City.

"Thanks to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Commission on Government Efficiency, New Yorkers will have another opportunity to participate in their local democracy. The ballot proposals to be added to the 2026 election ballot will give everyday New Yorkers a chance to have a voice in shaping their communities by voting on Charter Amendments impacting their community safety, infrastructure and more. Any opportunity that New Yorkers have to chart the course of their city, is the day our democracy is strengthened," said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.

"Every New Yorker deserves to live in a home that is healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient," said Daphany Rose Sanchez, Executive Director at KC3. "At KC3, we work to help communities access building improvements that lower energy costs and improve quality of life, and we know that unnecessary administrative delays can slow those benefits from reaching residents. We appreciate the Commission on Government Efficiency's focus on improving how City government delivers services, particularly efforts to simplify processes that can help communities benefit from critical building improvements more quickly. As these reforms move forward, transparency, accountability, and equitable outcomes should remain at the center so all New Yorkers benefit."

"New Yorkers deserve a nonprofit sector that is nimble, efficient, and empowered to quickly do what we do best: deliver vital services to residents that need them," said Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of The New York Foundling and former Deputy Mayor of New York City for Health and Human Services. "For far too long, outdated procurement processes have bogged down our sector with needless paperwork and lengthy approvals to operate -- with New Yorkers in need of the most support paying the biggest price. We are encouraged by the ongoing effort to address these issues and look forward to working with City Hall to make it happen."

"This proposal represents a significant step forward in the prudent management of the city's finances. The City would be required to create a policy to ensure that its fiscal reserves reach a target level, which is long overdue and critically important in the event of recession," said Antonio Weiss, Financier and Former U.S. Treasury Official.

"The City's contracting process is notoriously complicated, leading to needless delays in payment and frustration for the nonprofits that are caring for our children, supporting our youth, and feeding our seniors," said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses. "As the membership organization for New York's neighborhood houses, we are encouraged to see that COGE has proposed solutions to streamline this process and expand opportunities to mission driven organizations."

"The proposed charter amendment provides the flexibility to ensure saving for a rainy day without crowding out the current needs of New Yorkers. Overall, the amendment finds an appropriate balance between preparing for future hard times and maintaining adequate levels of current resources," said Amanda Page-Hoongrajok, Assistant Professor of Economics at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

"PULP strongly supports reforms to improve New York City's contracting process. As a small nonprofit that relies in part on City funding, PULP knows firsthand how difficult it is when there are delays in procurement," said Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director of Public Utility Law Project. "We applaud Mayor Mamdani for his efforts to cut administrative red-tape so our organization can focus more on our mission to protect low-income utility consumers across the City and State."

"Nonprofit organizations are not just service providers — they are essential partners in delivering critical services to New Yorkers. For too long, outdated administrative processes have created unnecessary challenges for organizations that are already working to meet growing community needs. I appreciate the Commission's efforts to examine these issues and look for ways to build a more efficient and responsive government that better supports the nonprofit sector and the communities we serve," said Tatiana M. Sabatelli, Executive Director of Nonprofit Staten Island.

"Thousands of NYC businesses are ready to make NYC public spaces more attractive and economically productive. But high costs and needlessly complex permitting chase them away. In low-income, immigrant, communities like Sunset Park, Brooklyn, merchants wisely choose to avoid City programs like Open Streets and outdoor dining. We urge COGE to advance common-sense proposals that will sweep away red tape, delays, onerous fees and year-to-year unpredictability," said David Estrada, Executive Director of Sunset Park 5th Avenue BID.

"Our city's non-profits do so much of the critical work to support communities in need, especially the less fortunate and most vulnerable New Yorkers among us. If passed, Question #2 would modernize the City contracting process for non-profits, cutting red tape and giving us access to funding faster. I encourage COGE to move Question #2 forward on the ballot in November and give New Yorkers an opportunity to show their support for streamlining interactions between City government and its partners in the non-profit sector," said Eileen Torres, CEO of BronxWorks.

"Sunnyside Shines salutes the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) on their sensible and inspired approach to streamlining the process for the use of public spaces, including Outdoor Dining. This will help so many of our small businesses and bring additional vibrancy to our streets. The faster and more efficient the approval process can become, the better," said Dirk McCall de Palomá, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District.

"Getting procurement right is critical to providing vital public infrastructure, goods and human services for New Yorkers. When two out of five dollars of the City's budget are spent on outside contractors, including non-profits, that money must be spent accountably, effectively and transparently. We are pleased to see City Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) respond to key community concerns in its recommended revisions to the City Charter to make the procurement and contract management process more timely and flexible. Procurement should be a strategic tool for building an efficient government, one that works with partners in business, non-profits, and communities to deliver major reforms," said Kathrin Frauscher, Deputy Executive Director of Open Contracting Partnership.

"New York City never stands still, and city government has to keep pace," said Melanie La Rocca, Chief Operating Officer at RiseBoro Community Partnership. "Whether someone is renovating a home or investing in a project that will reshape the skyline, they should know where their application stands and what comes next. Creating a single front door for property owners, reducing unnecessary steps, and enabling faster issuance of Certificates of Occupancy by allowing more divisions to do this critical work, will make the process easier to navigate. That means more housing and fewer delays for people in every community."

"We are thrilled to see the Commission of Government Efficiency tackle a severely outdated government procurement system," said Justin Wood, Director of Policy at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "The City's nonprofit contractors often wait years for registration and payment, which discourages innovation and diversity in procurement, diverts resources from essential service delivery, and undermines retention of experienced, dedicated staff. More efficient grant and payment systems will help more New Yorkers get the services, representation and care they need and deserve."

"We applaud the Commission's focus on projects that would make our City's streets, sidewalks, businesses, and transportation more accessible for the nearly one million New Yorkers with disabilities and our countless income-generating visitors with disabilities," said Ruth Lowenkron, Director of Disability Justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "Infrastructure like sidewalk ramps and benches can ease everyday barriers for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and they make our City more livable and accessible for all. Permitting processes should encourage businesses and city agencies to partner and expedite these critical improvements."

"Addressing the bureaucracy that blocks the use of our public spaces and development of our infrastructure is long overdue. As a result, we're pleased to see the Commission on Government Efficiency taking the issue of institutional roadblocks seriously. We're especially heartened to see our recommendations for consolidating the city's waterfront permitting process within the Department of Buildings reflected in the proposed charter amendments, as well as meaningful reform of the city's concessions and revocable consent process. We're looking forward to continued work with city leaders—to reduce the red tape impeding the lives and livelihoods of New Yorkers," said Keri Butler, The Municipal Art Society of New York

"In regard to the waterfront permitting process, it is refreshing to see this program moving forward. This new waterfront permitting process will make the City stronger by enabling resiliency work along our shorelines. The Administration has been a supportive partner in making this happen and should be commended for the effort," said Richard Cote, Hudson Meridian.

"A building built today is significantly more complex than it would have been just a few decades ago. This complexity results from improvements in public safety, energy efficiency, universal accessible design and more healthy buildings. To achieve these better, safer buildings, architects, engineers and contractors currently navigate a complicated process with many City agencies to secure the necessary approvals before shovels can dig ground," said John Woelfling, Partner at Dattner Architects. "As designers of essential architecture (schools, libraries, transit stations and affordable housing projects), Dattner Architects has experienced how the current system can slow down the construction of these much-needed buildings. Charter Amendment #4's proposed streamlining of the permitting process can be a game changer for our City, and we wholeheartedly support it."

"Mayor Mamdani and his team have admirably made the effective, efficient and fair functioning of government their calling card. With its enormous recurring budget and its reach across the lives of all New Yorkers, there could be no more important mission. While the COGE recommendations are a first shot, aiming at the City charter, they should signal only a beginning. Vital City looks forward to the great swath of forward work that must be done, not at the ballot box but every day by every agency, focused on delivering results for the well-being of the city and her residents," said Elizabeth Glazer, founder Vital City and former director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice.

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Document prepared by DWC member Debra Keates, October 2026