Earlier today, Mayor Mamdani's Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), the 2026 New York Charter Review Commission, released five final ballot proposals to make city government work better, faster and more efficiently for New Yorkers. The ballot proposals address outdated, unnecessary and redundant requirements in the City Charter to help modernize government to speed up permits and contracts, save small businesses money, accelerate housing and street safety and strengthen fiscal responsibility.
Following the announcement, small business owners, advocacy groups, community leaders, housing and transit experts and more applauded COGE's efforts to make government work more efficiently for New Yorkers across the five boroughs.
COGE members will vote on adoption of the final report and ballot proposals this evening at 5 PM in Manhattan.
Here's what New Yorkers are saying:
"Restaurants are integral to the neighborhoods and communities of our great city. With the COGE ballot proposals on Outdoor Dining, we feel seen and heard as owners and operators," said Juliet & Justine Masters, Co-owners of The Edge Harlem. "These proposed reforms will allow us to reduce costs and reclaim valuable time by streamlining paperwork, eliminating unnecessary fines, and simplifying complex regulatory requirements."
"Thrilled to see COGE propose real, first-ever contribution targets for the City's rainy day fund. Not governed by hope, but rules," said Aaron Kinnari, Founder of the Future Forum. "Good years should mean building a real cushion for bad years. This proposal makes that automatic instead of optional."
"Affordable housing projects are often slowed by a fragmented permitting process," said Samantha Magistro, CEO of Bronx Pro Group. "A more coordinated approach to permitting would provide a predictable path from planning to construction, reduce unnecessary delays and costs, and allow developers to better focus on building the affordable homes New Yorkers need. Simplifying permitting could also lower barriers for smaller and emerging developers who don't always have the resources to navigate a complex permitting process."
"Unlike the federal government, the City cannot borrow to meet operating shortfalls. So it is important to make financial provision for future shortfalls. At the same time, hard rules requiring fixed levels of contributions to reserve funds and limiting withdrawals can be counterproductive by limiting the City's ability to respond to unexpected economic and fiscal developments. The proposed target for City reserve funds strikes good balance between ensuring that the City is making appropriate provision for future needs, while preserving flexibility in the budget process," said J. W. Mason, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, John Jay College, City University of New York.
"Inefficiencies in bureaucracy are a major cause of governmental dysfunction, and the subsequent undermining of public trust in government. These proposed charter amendments will improve the lives of nonprofits, small businesses, and of New Yorkers as a whole, and add to the push towards effective governance by the Mamdani administration," said Fahd Ahmed, Director of Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM).
"Every step toward a more efficient and responsive government is a step toward stronger small businesses," said Cristy Moya, Director of the Bronx Women's Business Center. "Reducing red tape allows entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best-building businesses and creating economic opportunity."
"The involvement of local elected officials in such an important use of valuable curb space is critical. Many commercial areas that rely on parking to generate business such as in Belmont might be better served with sidewalk structures," said Peter Madonia, Chairman, Belmont Business Improvement District.
"BOC Network applauds the Commission on Government Efficiency for advancing a vision of government that is more responsive, transparent, and accessible. Modernizing government is not simply about moving faster-it is about making public systems work better for the people they serve. By partnering with trusted community organizations, New York City can reduce barriers, strengthen accountability, and expand economic opportunity for local businesses, nonprofits, childcare providers, and the communities that depend on them," said Nancy Carin, Executive Director, Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network.
"Small and 'Mom and Pop' businesses embody the 'American Dream' multitudes of New Yorkers embrace, yet cumbersome processes have halted progress towards that Northstar. As an MWBE and Chair of Bronx Community Board 8's Economic Development Committee, I appreciate the Mayor's responsiveness, and look forward to supporting new businesses with these expanded opportunities," said Constance D. Barnes, Ed.D, PMP, Chair of Bronx Community Board 8's Economic Development Committee.
"Congratulations to New York City's Commission on Government Efficiency - the Commission's recommendations to improve the City's procurement process are right on target," said Chris Yukins, Lynn David Research Professor in Government Procurement Law at George Washington University Law School. "By reducing burdens and payment delays for contractors providing vital services to the City's most vulnerable residents, COGE's proposed reforms meet Mayor Mamdani's promise to make New York a better place to live for all."
"We applaud the Mamdani Administration, through the Commission on Government Efficiency, for working to improve the inner workings of City Government," said Morgan Monaco, President and Park Administrator of the Prospect Park Alliance. "As a non-profit partner of the City, Prospect Park Alliance has deep experience working with City agencies and also great insight into the areas where operations can be made more effective. In particular, we look forward to the Charter amendment that will modernize city contracting, making it easier for nonprofits to do business with the City and fulfill our mission of serving the public."
"An active and well managed streetscape experience that supports economic growth is exactly what New York City's public realm should be," said Tim Laughlin, President of the Lower East Side Partnership. "Reducing red tape and creating clarity between disparate outdoor dining permit processes is essential for the continued success of small businesses throughout the five boroughs."
"Nonprofits deliver their best work when they can focus on serving communities without diverting so much time, energy, and effort to onerous city contracting processes," said Michelle Yanche, CEO of Good Shepherd Services. "COGE's procurement reforms are a welcome change that would drastically reduce procurement time and other costly and inefficient process burdens. This is especially critical for small and emerging nonprofits that are providing vital, culturally-responsive community services but may not have the capacity, experience, and wherewithal that larger nonprofits like Good Shepherd Services have to navigate the obstacles of the current system."
"Waterfront Alliance applauds Mayor Mamdani and the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) for recognizing the importance of New York's 520 miles of shoreline in the latest charter amendment process. The final Charter Amendments include a critical opportunity to centralize and streamline the City's waterfront permitting process within the Department of Buildings, which Waterfront Alliance strongly supports. As our waterfronts continue to evolve with maritime and industrial uses, recreational boating and open space, and climate resilience infrastructure, it is time for a new evolution of waterfront permitting," said Tyler Taba, Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Waterfront Alliance.
"Through our work with more than 200 state and local governments - including our role managing the revision of the ABA Model Procurement Code for State and Local Governments - Partners for Public Good has seen how effective procurement turns public dollars into better results for residents. We're excited to see New York City reduce administrative burdens and make contracting more accessible, especially for small businesses and nonprofit providers. These tactical reforms lay an important foundation for stronger partnerships with the organizations that directly serve New Yorkers and will result in more effective use of public funds and better outcomes for the community," said Kailey Burger Ayohu, CEO of Partners for Public Good.
"Small providers like my organization have had a difficult time managing cashflow due to bureaucratic delays and a one-size-fits-all system, and many life-saving community programs have suffered as a result. We are thrilled that COGE's ballot measures will finally level the playing field for smaller nonprofits, and hope that our fellow New Yorkers will join us in voting yes on these critical reforms," said Maria Lizardo, Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation.
"We thank the Commission's attention to the city contracting and procurement process. It is long overdue that we bring sensibility to an outdated and cumbersome contracting and procurement system for the nonprofits providing essential services to New Yorkers. These ballot proposals and accompanying administrative fixes provide welcomed process streamlining. Less time spent on paperwork and tracking down payments will mean more time and resources dedicated to what nonprofits do best - serve New Yorkers in need," said Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United.
"The Long Island City Partnership applauds the thoughtful work of the Commission on Government Efficiency, particularly on streamlining the process for use of public space. Our organization witnessed small businesses stop participating in outdoor dining altogether because of the long timelines and high fees involved. The proposed reform removes those barriers, making it easier and more affordable for restaurants to re-enter the program and expand their capacity. LICP supports Question #1 and urges COGE to move forward with a vote in favor," said Laura Rothrock, President of the Long Island City Partnership.
"At a time when cumbersome permitting is inhibiting progress by holding up critical projects, and discouraging smaller, community-centric developers, this proposal offers a formal pathway to streamline the creation of the homes and infrastructure New Yorkers so desperately need. We applaud Mayor Mamdani and COGE for their commitment to making tangible systemic changes possible as we continue to work together to address the ongoing housing crisis," said Pierre Downing, Founding Principal of Kalel Companies.
"New York City relies on nonprofit organizations to deliver essential services in communities across the five boroughs, and those organizations need a contracting system that is timely, predictable and proportionate to the work they are being asked to perform. We commend Mayor Mamdani and the Commission for prioritizing the modernization of procurement and the reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens. As these proposals move forward, continued input from nonprofit providers, clear accountability and effective implementation will be essential to ensuring that public resources reach the organizations and communities they are intended to serve," said Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank for New York City.
"Thanks to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Commission on Government Efficiency, New Yorkers will have another opportunity to participate in their local democracy. The ballot proposals to be added to the 2026 election ballot will give everyday New Yorkers a chance to have a voice in shaping their communities by voting on Charter Amendments impacting their community safety, infrastructure and more. Any opportunity that New Yorkers have to chart the course of their city, is the day our democracy is strengthened," said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.
"Every New Yorker deserves to live in a home that is healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient," said Daphany Rose Sanchez, Executive Director at KC3. "At KC3, we work to help communities access building improvements that lower energy costs and improve quality of life, and we know that unnecessary administrative delays can slow those benefits from reaching residents. We appreciate the Commission on Government Efficiency's focus on improving how City government delivers services, particularly efforts to simplify processes that can help communities benefit from critical building improvements more quickly. As these reforms move forward, transparency, accountability, and equitable outcomes should remain at the center so all New Yorkers benefit."
"New Yorkers deserve a nonprofit sector that is nimble, efficient, and empowered to quickly do what we do best: deliver vital services to residents that need them," said Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of The New York Foundling and former Deputy Mayor of New York City for Health and Human Services. "For far too long, outdated procurement processes have bogged down our sector with needless paperwork and lengthy approvals to operate -- with New Yorkers in need of the most support paying the biggest price. We are encouraged by the ongoing effort to address these issues and look forward to working with City Hall to make it happen."
"This proposal represents a significant step forward in the prudent management of the city's finances. The City would be required to create a policy to ensure that its fiscal reserves reach a target level, which is long overdue and critically important in the event of recession," said Antonio Weiss, Financier and Former U.S. Treasury Official.
"The City's contracting process is notoriously complicated, leading to needless delays in payment and frustration for the nonprofits that are caring for our children, supporting our youth, and feeding our seniors," said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses. "As the membership organization for New York's neighborhood houses, we are encouraged to see that COGE has proposed solutions to streamline this process and expand opportunities to mission driven organizations."
"The proposed charter amendment provides the flexibility to ensure saving for a rainy day without crowding out the current needs of New Yorkers. Overall, the amendment finds an appropriate balance between preparing for future hard times and maintaining adequate levels of current resources," said Amanda Page-Hoongrajok, Assistant Professor of Economics at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
"PULP strongly supports reforms to improve New York City's contracting process. As a small nonprofit that relies in part on City funding, PULP knows firsthand how difficult it is when there are delays in procurement," said Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director of Public Utility Law Project. "We applaud Mayor Mamdani for his efforts to cut administrative red-tape so our organization can focus more on our mission to protect low-income utility consumers across the City and State."
"This proposal represents a significant step forward in the prudent management of the city's finances. The City would be required to create a policy to ensure that its fiscal reserves reach a target level, which is long overdue and critically important in the event of recession," said Antonio Weiss, Financier and Former U.S. Treasury Official.
"Nonprofit organizations are not just service providers - they are essential partners in delivering critical services to New Yorkers. For too long, outdated administrative processes have created unnecessary challenges for organizations that are already working to meet growing community needs. I appreciate the Commission's efforts to examine these issues and look for ways to build a more efficient and responsive government that better supports the nonprofit sector and the communities we serve," said Tatiana M. Sabatelli, Executive Director of Nonprofit Staten Island.
"Thousands of NYC businesses are ready to make NYC public spaces more attractive and economically productive. But high costs and needlessly complex permitting chase them away. In low-income, immigrant, communities like Sunset Park, Brooklyn, merchants wisely choose to avoid City programs like Open Streets and outdoor dining. We urge COGE to advance common-sense proposals that will sweep away red tape, delays, onerous fees and year-to-year unpredictability," said David Estrada, Executive Director of Sunset Park 5th Avenue BID.
"Our city's non-profits do so much of the critical work to support communities in need, especially the less fortunate and most vulnerable New Yorkers among us. If passed, Question #2 would modernize the City contracting process for non-profits, cutting red tape and giving us access to funding faster. I encourage COGE to move Question #2 forward on the ballot in November and give New Yorkers an opportunity to show their support for streamlining interactions between City government and its partners in the non-profit sector," said Eileen Torres, CEO of BronxWorks.
"Sunnyside Shines salutes the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) on their sensible and inspired approach to streamlining the process for the use of public spaces, including Outdoor Dining. This will help so many of our small businesses and bring additional vibrancy to our streets. The faster and more efficient the approval process can become, the better," said Dirk McCall de Palomá, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District.
"Getting procurement right is critical to providing vital public infrastructure, goods and human services for New Yorkers. When two out of five dollars of the City's budget are spent on outside contractors, including non-profits, that money must be spent accountably, effectively and transparently. We are pleased to see City Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) respond to key community concerns in its recommended revisions to the City Charter to make the procurement and contract management process more timely and flexible. Procurement should be a strategic tool for building an efficient government, one that works with partners in business, non-profits, and communities to deliver major reforms," said Kathrin Frauscher, Deputy Executive Director of Open Contracting Partnership.
"New York City never stands still, and city government has to keep pace," said Melanie La Rocca, Chief Operating Officer at RiseBoro Community Partnership. "Whether someone is renovating a home or investing in a project that will reshape the skyline, they should know where their application stands and what comes next. Creating a single front door for property owners, reducing unnecessary steps, and enabling faster issuance of Certificates of Occupancy by allowing more divisions to do this critical work, will make the process easier to navigate. That means more housing and fewer delays for people in every community."
"We are thrilled to see the Commission of Government Efficiency tackle a severely outdated government procurement system," said Justin Wood, Director of Policy at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "The City's nonprofit contractors often wait years for registration and payment, which discourages innovation and diversity in procurement, diverts resources from essential service delivery, and undermines retention of experienced, dedicated staff. More efficient grant and payment systems will help more New Yorkers get the services, representation and care they need and deserve."
"We applaud the Commission's focus on projects that would make our City's streets, sidewalks, businesses, and transportation more accessible for the nearly one million New Yorkers with disabilities and our countless income-generating visitors with disabilities," said Ruth Lowenkron, Director of Disability Justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "Infrastructure like sidewalk ramps and benches can ease everyday barriers for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and they make our City more livable and accessible for all. Permitting processes should encourage businesses and city agencies to partner and expedite these critical improvements."
"Addressing the bureaucracy that blocks the use of our public spaces and development of our infrastructure is long overdue. As a result, we're pleased to see the Commission on Government Efficiency taking the issue of institutional roadblocks seriously. We're especially heartened to see our recommendations for consolidating the city's waterfront permitting process within the Department of Buildings reflected in the proposed charter amendments, as well as meaningful reform of the city's concessions and revocable consent process. We're looking forward to continued work with city leaders-to reduce the red tape impeding the lives and livelihoods of New Yorkers," said Keri Butler, The Municipal Art Society of New York
"In regard to the waterfront permitting process, it is refreshing to see this program moving forward. This new waterfront permitting process will make the City stronger by enabling resiliency work along our shorelines. The Administration has been a supportive partner in making this happen and should be commended for the effort," said Richard Cote, Hudson Meridian.
"A building built today is significantly more complex than it would have been just a few decades ago. This complexity results from improvements in public safety, energy efficiency, universal accessible design and more healthy buildings. To achieve these better, safer buildings, architects, engineers and contractors currently navigate a complicated process with many City agencies to secure the necessary approvals before shovels can dig ground," said John Woelfling, Partner at Dattner Architects. "As designers of essential architecture (schools, libraries, transit stations and affordable housing projects), Dattner Architects has experienced how the current system can slow down the construction of these much-needed buildings. Charter Amendment #4's proposed streamlining of the permitting process can be a game changer for our City, and we wholeheartedly support it."
"Mayor Mamdani and his team have admirably made the effective, efficient and fair functioning of government their calling card. With its enormous recurring budget and its reach across the lives of all New Yorkers, there could be no more important mission. While the COGE recommendations are a first shot, aiming at the City charter, they should signal only a beginning. Vital City looks forward to the great swath of forward work that must be done, not at the ballot box but every day by every agency, focused on delivering results for the well-being of the city and her residents," said Elizabeth Glazer, founder Vital City and former director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice.
"It is a real contribution to the current and future strength of the City that the Charter Commission has found ways to simplify the operations of government and is bringing them to the voters in November," said Robert Bank, Former President & CEO of American Jewish World Service and Former Deputy Assistant Chief of the New York City Department of Law.
"Nonprofits are critical partners for the services New Yorkers rely on every day. We applaud all efforts to streamline the contracting process so we can focus on what matters most - supporting all New Yorkers to thrive," said Jonathan Monsalve, President and CEO of Osborne Association.
"Nonprofits such as the Women's Prison Association and our social services partners play a vital role in serving New York's most vulnerable populations. We are an essential part of the City's infrastructure. However, we face significant challenges due to the complexities of the procurement and contracting processes. We applaud the Mayor for taking crucial steps to alleviate the burden on community-based organizations involved in contracting. A streamlined process will ensure that services and support for our community can be delivered without delay, allowing organizations to maintain the quality of their services. We look forward to collaborating with City Hall to implement these important improvements," said Luisa H. Taveras, Interim CEO of the Women's Prison Association (WPA).
