NEW YORK CITY CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION TO HOST “CHARTER WEEK” FOR THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CITY CHARTER

  The New York City Charter Revision Commission announced today it will host “Charter Week,” a series of public hearings in each of the five boroughs. Charter Week also includes community events complementing the extensive public outreach and engagement the Commission has undertaken to date. The Commission’s Preliminary Staff Report will be released as part of the Commission’s public meeting on July 17.

“Charter Week” features a series of public hearings in each of the five boroughs. The hearings are an opportunity for the public to respond to the Preliminary Staff Report. The public is encouraged to attend and offer testimony in front of the Commission about the report and on any aspect of the Charter. As a part of “Charter Week,” Commissioners and staff will engage youth groups, veterans, immigrant families and others to solicit further input on revising the Charter. 

All Commission meetings and hearings will be accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Induction loop systems, ASL interpreters, and Spanish interpreters will be available. In addition, with advance notice, members of the public may request other language interpreters. Please make language interpretation requests or additional accessibility requests by 5PM no later than four calendar days before a hearing date by emailing the Commission at requests@charter.nyc.gov or calling 212-386-5350. All meetings are also live streamed at NYC.gov/charter.

The information about Charter Week is below:

1. Community Event: Greenmarket (Brooklyn)

·         WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 2018 from 9AM-11AM

·         WHERE: Grand Army Plaza, Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn

·         Directions: Take 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza

2. Public Commission Meeting to Discuss Preliminary Staff Report

·         WHEN: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at 11AM

·         WHERE: Pratt Institute Manhattan Campus, 144 West 14^th Street, Room 213, New York, NY 10011

·         Directions: Take the 1, 2, or 3 train to 14^th Street Station

3. Community Event: Greenmarket (Staten Island)

·         WHEN: Saturday, July 21, 2018 from 9AM-11AM

·         WHERE: St George Green Market St Marks Pl & Hyatt St, Staten Island, NY 10301

·         Directions: Take the Ferry to St. George

4. Public Hearing (Manhattan)

• WHEN: Monday, July 23, 2018 at 6PM

• WHERE: New York University’s Vanderbilt Hall, 40 Washington Square South, Greenberg Lounge, New York, NY 10012

• Directions: Take the A, C, or E train to West 4^th St, Washington Square Station

5. Public Hearing (Bronx)

·         WHEN: Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 6PM

·      WHERE: Hostos Community College, 120 East 149^th Street, 2^nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451

·         Directions: Take the 4, 5, 6, or 2 train to 149 St. – Grand Concourse

6. Community Event: Greenmarket (Queens)

·         WHEN: Wednesday, July 25, 2018 from 9AM-11AM

·         WHERE: Astoria Greenmarket 14th St & 31st Ave & 31st Road, Queens, NY 11106

·         Directions: Take the N or W to 30^th Ave

7. Public Hearing (Brooklyn)

·         WHEN: Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 6PM

·         WHERE: St. Francis College, 4305, 180 Remsen St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

·         Directions: Take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 train to Borough Hall; or the R train to Court St.; or the A, C to Jay St. – MetroTech Station

8. Public Hearing (Queens)

·         WHEN: Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 6PM

·         WHERE: Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11424

·         Directions: Take the E train to Union Turnpike – Kew Gardens Station

9. Public Hearing (Staten Island)

·         WHEN: Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 6:30PM

·         WHERE: McKee High School, 290 St. Marks Place, Auditorium, Staten Island, NY 10301

·         Directions: After leaving the Staten Island terminal, head northwest. Turn right toward Wall St., turn left onto Wall St., and turn left onto St. Marks Place

The Commission’s Preliminary Staff Report will be released as part of the Commission’s public meeting on July 17. During this meeting, the Commission will release and discuss the findings from the Preliminary Staff Report. Because this is a public meeting and not a public hearing, the public will have the opportunity to observe the Commission’s discussions, but not testify before it. Once released, the Preliminary Staff Report will be found here. The public will have the opportunity to testify at the public hearings during Charter Week, July 23 to 31.

                                                                                                       

The remainder of the Commission’s schedule is as follows:

August, 2018

The Commission will hold two public meetings in August to finalize its report outlining its findings and any ballot proposals to amend the Charter.

September, 2018

Charter revision ballot proposals, if any, are filed with the City Clerk.

The Commission will notify the public when dates and locations of the remaining public meetings are determined. The Commission may schedule additional public meetings or change this proposed schedule as appropriate.

About the Commission

During his State of the City Address on February 13th, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his intent to appoint a Charter Revision Commission. The Commission is required by law to examine the entire New York City Charter to identify areas for potential revision. The public is encouraged to engage with the Commission over social media on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nyccharter) and Facebook (facebook.com/nyccharter).

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Why are there only four public events for five boroughs?

Why is it that the Bronx has no public event?

Is it that the mayor does not want to inform the people of the Bronx about the Charter Revision meetings?

Or is it the mayor does not care about the people of the Bronx?

Our Bronx elected leaders need to demand of the mayor the same that the tiny borough of Staten Island will get.