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Council Leaders, Unions Rally Against NYC Housing Ballot Measures as Electioneering Scrutiny Grows

Legal experts warn the council’s taxpayer-funded outreach may violate the city charter.

Overview

  • At a Lower East Side event, Speaker Adrienne Adams and unions including 32BJ SEIU, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, and the District Council of Carpenters urged opposition to ballot items 2, 3 and 4.
  • Proposals from a mayor-convened Charter Revision Commission would fast-track certain rezonings and small projects, create an appeals board, and reduce City Council review, with votes shifting to the City Planning Commission in specified cases.
  • Council materials and at least one member’s explicit 'vote no' appeal drew warnings from former Conflicts of Interest Board chair Richard Briffault that taxpayer-funded messaging could constitute unlawful electioneering.
  • The Board of Elections certified the questions for November as lawsuits challenging the measures’ legality proceed, and the YES on Affordable Housing campaign presses for passage without yet disclosing its funders.
  • Backers include Gov. Kathy Hochul and several citywide officials, while GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa opposes the measures, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo supports them, and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani remains uncommitted.