Housing is on the ballot this November — and not everyone’s happy about it.
The city’s Board of Elections on Tuesday approved three questions meant to speed up affordable housing construction and erode the City Council’s authority over land use decisions, despite strong opposition from Council leaders.
The dispute over the ballot questions marked the latest front in an ongoing battle over the separation of powers and development decisions in a city mired in a severe housing crisis.
The provisions were proposed by a commission formed by Mayor Eric Adams and faced an uncertain fate ahead of the vote. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other members argued that the text that will appear on ballots does not adequately explain to voters how the measures could reduce community input and Council power.
But commission members, and a host of housing advocates who spoke in favor of the measures, said voters should get a chance to decide on changes to the city’s charter that could ease development and chip away at the city’s housing crisis. Fewer than 1% of apartments priced under $2,400 a month are vacant and available to rent, according to the city’s most recent housing survey.
“Housing affordability is the top issue on New Yorkers’ minds,” Charter Revision Commission Executive Director Alec Schierenbeck said following the vote. “It’s no surprise there is excitement for the potential to vote on questions that could change how housing and land use work in the city.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul also weighed in.
“I’m glad the Board of Elections listened to the voices of New Yorkers — myself included — who want to see these critical initiatives brought to voters in November,” she said in a written statement following the board hearing.
The ballot provisions, if approved, would change New York City’s Charter — its governing document — to streamline the development approval process and curb the power that individual councilmembers wield over housing and land use decisions in their districts. The full 51-member body typically defers to the local member when a proposed development comes to a final vote after a seven-month review process.
One question would establish a three-member panel — composed of the mayor, City Council speaker and local borough president — with the authority to override the Council if they reject a land use application.
Another would grant the City Planning Commission the power to approve or deny affordable housing projects in the dozen community districts that have produced the lowest number of new units over the previous five years. Those districts include the South Shore of Staten Island, Northeast Queens and Manhattan’s Upper West Side, according to an analysis by City Limits. The measure would also create a “fast track” approval process for city-funded affordable housing projects.
And a third question would cut the Council out of the review process for “modest” housing proposals, where new capacity is no more than 30% larger than existing rules allow.
In a July report, the Charter Revision Commission wrote that the changes were necessary because the tradition of “member deference” effectively shrinks or kills housing proposals and discourages developers from even beginning the costly rezoning process.
But council leaders have slammed the proposals as a tool to limit community input. They argue the current arrangement allows councilmembers to negotiate with the city and developers to win important investments or benefits for their districts — a power they could lose if voters approve the ballot questions.
The Council could still sue to challenge the board’s decision, but time is running out. The general election ballot must be set by Thursday.
“Trying to deceive voters into giving away their power in a democracy through misleading ballot proposals that hide their true impact is fundamentally undemocratic,” Council spokesperson Julia Agos said in a statement following the board hearing. “We will take action to protect democracy from Mayor Adams’ dishonest ballot proposals.”