The Brian Lehrer Show Charter Revision Questions Are Set
Jul 22, 2025
Richard Buery, the CEO of Robin Hood and former deputy mayor, shares insights as the chair of the Charter Revision Commission. He dives into the significant ballot measures for revising the city charter, including the absence of open primaries. Buery discusses critical changes aimed at improving housing approval processes, enhancing community engagement, and the challenges faced by affordable housing developers. He emphasizes the need for public discourse on urban innovation and aligning local elections with presidential ones to increase voter participation.
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No Consensus on Open Primaries
- Open primary reforms have strong public support but lack consensus on the specific model needed.
- Timing and complexity prevented consensus to include the open primary question in this election's ballot.
Streamlining Affordable Housing Approvals
- New York City's affordable housing crisis requires building more housing via faster processes.
- The current ULURP system is too slow and complex for small affordable projects; reforms aim to streamline approvals while preserving community input.
Simplify Modest Housing Reviews
- Expedite modest housing projects by simplifying the review process and removing city council approval requirement.
- Maintain community board and borough president reviews to keep local voices included.