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What are ballot Proposals?
There are four proposals on the ballot this fall. One proposal will be voted on statewide, and three are specific to New York City. You can vote “Yes” or “No” on each of these proposals. Ballot proposals are approved if they receive a majority of the vote. NYJA endorses all four ballot initiatives.
Why are these proposals on the ballot?
The statewide ‘Clean Air, Clean Water, and Green Jobs Bond Act’ was originally proposed by Governor Cuomo in 2020, and the state legislature voted to put the issue on the ballot for voters to decide. However, the proposal was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Governor Hochul amended the proposal earlier this year, and the legislature once again voted to place it on the ballot this November.
In 2021, Mayor de Blasio formed the Racial Justice Commission to identify and root out structural racism in our city. Their goal is to reduce barriers to power, access, and opportunity for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and all People of Color in NYC. To achieve this, the commission can propose changes to the City Charter, which determines how our city functions and governs. The three citywide proposals are recommendations from the commission on amendments to the City Charter.
Ballot Proposal 1: Clean Water, Clean Air, And Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022
This proposal would allow for state bonds to be sold to fund environmental projects.
What you will see on the ballot
To address and combat the impact of climate change and damage to the environment, the “Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022” authorizes the sale of state bonds up to four billion two hundred million dollars to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects. Shall the Environmental Bond Act of 2022 be approved?
Summary
This proposal would allow for state bonds to be sold to fund environmental projects. These projects are intended to mitigate flood damage, protect natural resources, conserve land and natural spaces, and improve water quality and infrastructure.
If this Proposal Passes:
New York State could allocate $4,200,000,000 from creating state debt and selling state bonds to protect New York’s natural resources and reduce the impact of climate change.
The state Comptroller would be authorized to issue and sell bonds up to $4,200,000,000.
Money would be allocated for specific purposes:
- At least $1,100,000,000 for restoration and flood risk reduction.
- At least $650,000,000 for open space land conservation and recreation.
- Up to $1,500,000,000 for climate change mitigation.
- At least $650,000,000 for water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure.
Ballot Proposal 2 (NYC): Add a Statement of Values to Guide Government
This proposal would add introductory text, known as a preamble, to the New York City Charter. This preamble would serve as a guiding principle for city government to promote justice and equity for all New Yorkers.
What you will see on the ballot
This proposal would amend the New York City Charter to:
Add a preamble, which would be an introductory statement of values and vision aspiring toward “a just and equitable city for all” New Yorkers; and
Include in the preamble a statement that the City must strive to remedy “past and continuing harms and to reconstruct, revise, and reimagine our foundations, structures, institutions, and laws to promote justice and equity for all New Yorkers.”
The preamble is intended to guide City government in fulfilling its duties.
Shall this proposal be adopted?
Summary
This proposal would add introductory text, known as a preamble, to the New York City Charter. This preamble would serve as a guiding principle for city government to promote justice and equity for all New Yorkers.
If this Proposal Passes:
- The city charter would add a preamble since it does not currently have one.
- The preamble would acknowledge historical injustices, embrace the city’s diversity, recognize what residents need to thrive, and establish values grounded in equity and justice that shape our city.
- The preamble would guide how the city government operates.
Ballot Proposal 3 (NYC): Establish a Racial Equity Office, Plan, and Commission
This proposal would create an Office of Racial Equity, require a citywide Racial Equity Plan every two years, and create a Commission on Racial Equity.
What you will see on the ballot
This proposal would amend the City Charter to:
Require citywide and agency-specific Racial Equity Plans every two years. The plans would include intended strategies and goals to improve racial equity and to reduce or eliminate racial disparities;
Establish an Office of Racial Equity and appoint a Chief Equity Officer to advance racial equity and coordinate the City’s racial equity planning process. The Office would support City agencies in improving access to City services and programs for those people and communities who have been negatively affected by previous policies or actions, and collect and report data related to equity; and
Establish a Commission on Racial Equity, appointed by City elected officials. In making appointments to this Commission, elected officials would be required to consider appointees who are representative of or have experience advocating for a diverse range of communities. The Commission would identify and propose priorities to inform the racial equity planning process and review agency and citywide Racial Equity Plans.
Shall this proposal be adopted?
Summary
This proposal would create an Office of Racial Equity, require a citywide Racial Equity Plan every two years, and create a Commission on Racial Equity. New York City does not currently have a government agency focused on creating and promoting equity. This proposal establishes how the city government can advance equity, with a particular focus on racial equity.
If this Proposal Passes
The city would create an Office of Racial Equity, led by a Chief Equity Officer appointed by the Mayor. This office would:
- Develop a citywide Racial Equity Plan every two years based on Racial Equity Plans produced by each city agency.
- Support city agencies in measuring and collecting data on wellbeing across racial, ethnic, and other communities.
- Identify “priority neighborhoods” to be highlighted in Racial Equity Plans.
- Establish a Citywide Access Design program to increase access and reduce barriers to city programs, services, communications, and decision-making.
- Help city agencies address marginalization of individuals and communities.
- Codify the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity, which would provide policy advice to the Chief Equity Officer and coordinate governmental efforts to increase racial equity.
- Every two years the Mayor would create a citywide Racial Equity Plan and city agencies would create their own Racial Equity Plans. These plans would inform the city’s budget planning.
- The city would create a Commission on Racial Equity with 15 members appointed by the Mayor and City Council Speaker. The Commission would:
- Propose community priorities to inform the racial equity planning process
- Review citywide Racial Equity Plans.
- Track agency compliance with racial equity planning.
- Receive public complaints about city agencies that are creating racial disparities.
Ballot Proposal 4 (NYC): Measure the True Cost of Living
This proposal would require the city to measure the actual cost of living for city residents to meet essential needs.
What you will see on the ballot
This proposal would amend the City Charter to:
Require the City to create a “true cost of living” measure to track the actual cost in New York City of meeting essential needs, including housing, food, childcare, transportation, and other necessary costs, and without considering public, private, or informal assistance, in order to inform programmatic and policy decisions; and
Require the City government to report annually on the “true cost of living” measure.
Shall this proposal be adopted?
Summary
This proposal would require the city to measure the actual cost of living for city residents to meet essential needs. This measurement is intended to focus on dignity rather than poverty.
If This Proposal Passes
Beginning in 2024, the city would be required to track the actual cost of living for housing, childcare, child and dependent expenses, food, transportation, healthcare, clothing, and more.
Findings would be reported alongside metrics used to measure poverty or set eligibility for public benefits.
