Tag Archives: James Brennan

Charter Panel Hears Pitch for Non-partisan Elections

Posted on April 7, 2010 | Leave a comment

Carl Paladino at NYC Charter Revision Commission Hearing 4/6/10

A surprise visit by Carl Paladino, millionaire Buffalo developer and newly-announced candidate for Governor, provided some media candy at Tuesday evening’s NYC Charter Revision Commission public hearing at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. Paladino’s open disdain for New York’s partisan electoral politics brought passion to the dominant message voiced in Tuesday’s public testimony: Make NYC elections non-partisan. Continue reading →

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Posted in 2010 NYC Charter Revision

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Charter Revision: Whose Rules?

Posted on March 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

Frustration grew to a boil near the end of a March 5 public hearing by the NYS Assembly’s Standing Committee on Cities at 250 Broadway. The committee, chaired by Assemblyman James Brennan (44AD), was hearing comment on proposed bills to amend the State’s Municipal Home Rule Law, which governs how New York’s cities may revise their charters.

Just two days earlier, Mayor Michael Bloomberg had announced the creation of a 2010 charter revision commission for New York City. To the surprise of many, the Bloomberg announcement singled out the Citizens Union, a century-old independent “good-government” reform group, to partner with the charter commission to improve public outreach. Continue reading →

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Charter Revision Hearing Rescheduled

Posted on February 10, 2010 | Leave a comment

We just received word that the Assembly Standing Committee on Cities public hearing on city charter modification has been rescheduled to Friday, Mar. 5. The hearing, chaired by James Brennan, will be held at 250 Broadway, at 10:30 a.m.

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Pressure Builds for November Charter Revision

Posted on February 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

James Brennan

Mayor Bloomberg’s rumored charter revision commission is under the gun to get its proposal(s) on the ballot before New York State alters existing charter revision rules.

The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Cities, chaired by James Brennan (44AD, Brooklyn), just announced a public hearing to be held on February 17 to consider changes in the way city charters can be modified. Brennan’s committee has been considering legislation “that would change the composition of charter revision commissions and legislation that would repeal the provision that prevents citizen initiated ballot questions if a charter revision commission has been convened.”

To avoid any changes that the Assembly might try to enact, the mayor’s charter revision commission would have to meet a schedule for an Election Day ballot this November.

More on the relationship between New York City and New York State here.

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Posted in 2010 NYC Charter Revision, NYC Government, NYS Government

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