NYC Ballot Measures: What to Know About the 5 Proposals Before Election Day

New York City voters will have the chance to weigh in on five ballot proposals on Election Day.

The measures were developed by a commission created by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The first four would make it easier to start construction projects and hire city contractors, and the fifth would require the city to make a plan to set aside more money in its "rainy day fund."

Many of the mayor's allies support the proposals, especially those who want to build more housing quickly. Republicans oppose all five measures. Some civic groups oppose some of the proposals, arguing that they limit public participation or do not go far enough to strengthen the city's budget reserves.

The ideas might seem wonky, but the mayor and the commission's leaders have argued that they would streamline city government processes.

Here's a breakdown of what the proposals would do:

1. Speed Up Process for Granting a Revocable Consent to Use Public Space

Simplify process to use public space for uses such as ramps, planters and cafes,by removing mandatory hearings and Council disapproval of sidewalk cafes, while maintaining community and Council input.

A "yes" vote speeds up process to use public space while maintaining community input.

A "no" vote maintains longer process with mandatory public hearing to use public space and Council review of sidewalk cafes.

The current process for building in public spaces involves several steps: submitting an application to a city agency, holding a public hearing and publishing ads in local newspapers.

Currently, the City Council can vote to reject a permit for a sidewalk cafe even if the city approves it.

If the measure passes, public hearings would no longer be required, and the Council could no longer reject a permit.

If it doesn't pass, the current system would remain in place.

Who supports it? The NYC Hospitality Alliance, a trade association representing restaurants and bars, called the measure a "common-sense solution" that would cut "unnecessary red tape while preserving input from communities and elected officials."

Who opposes it? Common Cause, a watchdog group, argued that "government efficiency is important, but it should not come at the expense of public participation and legislative oversight." The Kings County Republican Committee said the measure would "weaken oversight" and was a "power grab" by the mayor.

2. Reduce City Contractor Paperwork; Require Regular Meetings of Procurement Policy Board

Reduce paperwork for City's contractors by authorizing Procurement Policy Board to simplify contractor questionnaire.Require quarterly meetings of the Procurement Policy Board. Remove mandatory hearing for required client services report.

A "yes" vote amends Procurement Policy Board authority, including simplifying contractor questionnaire. Authorizes Mayor to delegate certain contract approvals.

A "no" vote leaves law unchanged, with Mayor and Comptroller maintaining longer questionnaire.

Did your eyes glaze over at the mention of a procurement board? We understand. The board oversees the city's purchase of goods and services like office supplies and engineering work.

This proposal would streamline some of the board's procedures and require it to meet regularly.

If the measure passes, the board could use a shorter questionnaire for vendors seeking city contracts. The mayor's office would also have more power over approving contracts.

If it doesn't pass, the current system would remain in place and the city would have to continue to hold public hearings for many contracts.

Who supports it? Common Cause supports this proposal, arguing that "reducing unnecessary administrative burdens can help smaller businesses and nonprofits participating in city contracting."

Who opposes it? The Brooklyn Republican committee argued that the city spends billions of dollars on outside contracts and that "spending on that scale deserves more scrutiny, not less."

3. Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing

Simplify review of street safety projects to reduce construction timelines.Fast track disposition of unused City property with approval from City Planning Commission. Expedite leasing offices used for City workforce.

A "yes" vote simplifies street project approval, City property disposition, and office leasing.

A "no" vote maintains intra-agency consultation for road projects, Council approval for City dispositions, and Council disapproval of office leases.

The current process for building bus and bike lanes requires the city to consult with local elected officials, community boards and the police.

As it stands, selling or leasing city land can take seven months or more.

If the measure passes, the city could build bus and bike lanes more quickly and sell some city-owned properties more easily. It would also change how city leases for office space are approved, removing a requirement for a public hearing and approvals from the City Council and the City Planning Commission.

If it doesn't pass, the current system would remain in place, with a significant amount of community input required for these processes.

Who supports it? The Citizens Budget Commission, a fiscal watchdog group, supports the proposal and said it would "make street safety projects and real estate transactions faster and more predictable."

Who opposes it? The Municipal Art Society of New York, a historic preservation group, said that the measure could "make it easier to sell or transfer valuable public land and development rights without sufficient safeguards to ensure lasting public benefits."

4. Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings

Create centralized construction permits hub to simplify permitting.Move waterfront permitting from Department of Small Business Services to Department of Buildings. Allow construction approval by additional Department of Buildings officials.

A "yes" vote simplifies permitting by authorizing a centralized permitting hub, moving waterfront permitting to Department of Buildings, and allowing additional Department of Buildings officials to issue approvals.

A "no" vote leaves law unchanged.

The current process for construction permits includes submitting documents to several city agencies through separate systems.

Under the proposal, the Department of Buildings would take control of permits for waterfront structures, and the buildings commissioner could give more people the authority to sign off on construction permits, so that the permits could be approved more quickly.

If the measure passes, the Buildings Department would have to develop a single system for permit approvals by 2030. All city agencies would have to use it.

If it doesn't pass, the existing separate systems would remain in place.

Who supports it? Abundance New York, a pro-housing group, said that it was unfair that builders must seek "40 unique approvals from across 18 agencies."

Who opposes it? Warren Schreiber, the president of the Queens Civic Congress, a community group, said that the measure would provide "shortcuts that could reduce scrutiny" of building projects.

5. Set Contribution Targets for Rainy Day Fund to Promote Sufficient Budgetary Reserves

Set target amount of money to hold in reserve funds, including rainy day fund, to address unexpected financial hardships in future years,and require development of methodology to calculate contributions.

A "yes" vote requires the Mayor to develop methodology for calculating deposits to rainy day fund, with deposits subject to approval in the City budget.

A "no" vote leaves laws unchanged, with no reserves target.

The city has a "rainy day fund" with about $2 billion set aside for an economic downturn or budget emergency.

The proposal would require the mayor's Office of Management and Budget to work with the comptroller to publish a plan for how it will deposit money into the rainy day fund when it is below the target amount. The plan would be updated every four years.

If the measure passes, the city would set targets for the fund, with a goal of having at least 12 percent of the previous year's city tax revenue set aside.

If it doesn't pass, the current system would remain in place with no targets for the fund.

Who supports it? Thomas P. DiNapoli, the state comptroller, praised the measure as an "important step to prepare New York City's finances for the storms that lie ahead."

Who opposes it? The Citizens Budget Commission said the city should set higher targets for the "rainy day fund" and that the measure as written would "enshrine the failing status quo in policy" with the "illusion of progress."