The New York City Council voted to pass legislation that would require the advice and consent of the Council as part of the appointment process for 20 additional city agency commissioners, upon subsequent approval by voters in a citywide election. Currently, the Council already has advice and consent power for more than a dozen roles, including the Corporation Counsel, Department of Investigations (DOI) Commissioner, and Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner.
The Council also voted to approve modifications to the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity citywide zoning text amendment. The Council’s modifications to 14 of the 18 proposals address concerns about the initial proposal by including limitations and safeguards, striking the right balance to expand opportunities for small businesses, create jobs, and protect neighborhoods and quality of life for all New Yorkers. The Council also secured commitments to regulate last-mile facilities, support the city’s industrial sector, and boost enforcement resources.
Additionally, the Council passed packages of legislation to address the pay disparity in the municipal workforce and to support the needs of migrants and new arrivals.
“Advice and consent is a safeguard of good government, ensuring the city’s agency leaders are qualified and their priority is the public interest,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “When you cut through the noise, the truth is that advice and consent is a common feature of representative democracy in cities and states across this country, including New York, and New York City is an outlier. Today’s vote to pass this legislation supports the Council’s efforts to advance transparency and is a first step in this important conversation about representative democracy that is accountable to its people, and the final decision ultimately must be made by voters.
“In our ongoing commitment to achieve pay equity for our municipal workforce, the Council is proud to pass a package of legislation to ensure our city employees, especially women of color, have equitable access to the opportunities and tools that help them advance their careers,” continued Speaker Adams. As a women-majority Council, and the most diverse in history, our goal is to make government and our entire city work for all New Yorkers.”
Increasing Transparency in Appointment Process for 20 City Agency Commissioners
Introduction 908-A, sponsored by Speaker Adrienne Adams, would require the advice and consent of the Council as part of the appointment process for 20 additional city agency commissioners, upon subsequent approval by voters in a citywide election. During this administration, the Council has approved over 35 appointments of nominees put forward by the mayor without issue. This bill takes an incremental approach to expanding advice and consent and includes guardrails to ensure the process does not delay appointments by requiring Council action within 30 days of receiving a nomination.
The commissioners of the following agencies are covered by the bill: Aging; Buildings; Children’s Services; Citywide Administrative Services; Consumer and Worker Protection; Cultural Affairs; Design and Construction; Environmental Protection; Finance; Health and Mental Hygiene; Homeless Services; Housing Preservation and Development; Information Technology and Telecommunications; Parks and Recreation; Sanitation; Small Business Services; Social Services; Transportation; Youth and Community Development; City Planning.
The legislation seeks to move the appointment process for commissioners out of the shadows for greater public transparency. It can ensure appointments of highly qualified commissioners, potential conflicts of interests and ethical issues are proactively resolved and provide an opportunity for appointees to demonstrate their qualifications, build working relationships of trust with stakeholders, and learn more about the range of diverse issues they will be expected to address.
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