The Mamdani administration is using a $1.6 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign to convince voters to vote on five issues that exponentially increase the power of the Socialist Party under the guise of streamlining government, critics told the Post.
The ballot questions before New York voters in the Nov. 3 general election — which include measures to speed up how City Hall approves controversial outdoor dining and so-called anti-safety car projects on the streets — were selected by a 15-member charter review commission appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Under city law, government officials are prohibited from using public funds to advocate for or against ballot propositions.
Instead, Hizzoner and the panel are “encouraging” New Yorkers through an advertising blitz that includes social media videos, texting and other methods of getting to the polls and voting on ballot issues, touted in glowing terms as a way to achieve “faster government” that cuts red tape.
The consequences of voting yes – namely the abandonment of checks and balances if the ballot questions are approved – are never mentioned.
In a video released by the mayor’s office last month, Mamdani runs around City Hall like a cartoon character with Looney Tunes-style sound effects while boasting that “New Yorkers will get to vote on how quickly our government works.” »
Critics say these ads violate the spirit of the law by attempting to influence election results rather than simply encouraging people to vote.
“Taxpayer dollars are supposed to be used to serve the public – not to fund the mayor’s political agenda,” said Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens).
“All of this is completely illegitimate and we are moving closer to socialist totalitarianism every day with this administration. These proposals seek to take power away from the people and put it in the hands of bureaucrats.”
Councilman Phil Wong (D-Queens) said “we’ve seen” former mayors “walk to the limit” of what’s allowed by law, but “it’s not even close.” It’s all over.”
A controversial measure is being touted as “simplifying” the approval process for private uses of public space, including outdoor canteens, sidewalk cafes, access ramps, benches and planters.
But it would also eliminate City Council review, strip local community boards and borough presidents of any input and allow applications to proceed without public hearings.
Another project would speed up the construction of new bus lanes, bike lanes and other “safe streets” projects because the Department of Transportation would no longer need to present those projects to local community boards.
This same ballot question would also replace the City Council with the mayor-controlled City Planning Commission as the body reviewing sales and leases of certain city properties. It would also speed up how the city leases office space by removing necessary council and planning board approvals.
Other proposals would cut red tape for city contractors; and simplifying the building permit process while transferring responsibility for waterfront permits from the Department of Small Business Services to the Department of Buildings.
The fifth ballot question seeks to set the city’s emergency fund used for emergencies and economic downturns at an amount equal to 12 percent of the previous year’s municipal tax revenue. There is currently no targeted amount.
A group of Brooklyn community groups operating under the banner “Our Streets! Our Voices! Our Vote!” planned to rally outside the Barclays Center on Saturday to oppose the city’s anti-car campaign to create more “bike boulevards” and rapid bus lanes in the Big Apple, and in opposition to the ballot question that speeds up the process and silences residents’ comments.
Council President Julie Menin has distributed information to other members about government transparency and the Council’s power that would be lost if the ballot questions passed, but the Legislature as a whole has yet to take a formal position on them.
In 2025, the Council led by then-President Adrienne Adams spent more than $1.5 million opposing a series of ballot questions proposed by then-Mayor Eric Adams that were ultimately approved by voters and overhauled the city’s land use decision-making process. Menin said she would not allow the Council to spend taxpayer dollars on election matters this year.
The good-government group Citizens Union New York wrote on Unfortunately, “the honest truth” is that there is no ethics watchdog in the city charged with ensuring compliance with the law.
The Council should pass legislation clarifying that the city’s Conflict of Interest Board “is indeed responsible for regulating the ban on government-funded election campaigns,” he adds.
COIB Executive Director Carolyn Miller said the legality of the ad blitz “is beyond the scope of the board’s jurisdiction.”
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said: “In accordance with state law, the (Charter Revision) Commission is responsible for providing public education and leverages available tools to inform New Yorkers about proposed voting accessories in an effort to encourage them to make their voices heard.” »
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