Council prepares to put issue of advice and consent bill to voters

The City Council is preparing to put a bill before New York City voters in the fall that would expand its oversight over mayoral appointments.

“We are going to officially file our ballot question to expand advice and consent tomorrow for this November’s general election,” Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said on “Mornings On 1” Wednesday.

The proposed legislation would grant the City Council confirmation power over 20 more commissioner appointments in agencies such as sanitation, children’s services and homeless services.

In June, the council passed the bill by a veto- proof majority of 46-4. Mayor Eric Adams , did not veto the bill but has been vocal in his opposition, characterizing the move as a power grab by the council.

“I don’t want to pick the speaker’s chairs of her committees. I don’t want to have to sign off on who she wants as a chair. Her chairs are equivalent to my commissioners,” Mayor Adams told our correspondent in May.

The council’s latest move, however, sets the stage for a potential showdown with the mayor’s Charter Revision Commission, which is tasked with reviewing the city charter and proposing reforms for voters to decide.

“We are hoping that this is not blocked by the mayor’s Charter Revision Commission in their rush to come up with new proposals in a very short time,” Speaker Adams said.

She said there could be potential conflict between the council’s ballot initiative and any proposals put forth by the mayor’s commission.

“Anything that the charter commission—that is a panel by the mayor—any proposals will supersede anything that the New York City Council has proposed,” she said.

While she said she hoped the formation of the commission was not a political ploy by the mayor, she suggested that could be the case.

“We did our legislation. The council overwhelmingly voted to pass my bill for advice and consent, which is going to open transparency to New York City,” Speaker Adams said. “We believe that the charter commission was indeed paneled to thwart that effort.”

The council’s proposal, if approved by voters in November, would bring New York City more in line with state and federal governments, which have similar oversight measures already in place.