While much of the attention in Tuesday’s election will be focused on the battle for New York City mayor, voters are also being asked to decide half a dozen ballot proposals, including one up for statewide consideration.
The details below are provided by NYCVotes.org , an initiative of the New York City Campaign Finance Board. Visit their website for more information on, including arguments for and against, each proposal.
Ballot proposal No. 1
Amendment to allow Olympics sports complex in Essex County on state forest preserve land.
This proposal, to be voted on across New York state, would allow the expansion of new ski trails in the Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County, New York. The Olympic Sport Complex is in state forest preserve land. This proposal would also require New York State to add 2,500 acres of protected forest land to Adirondack Park.
Ballot proposal No. 2
Fast track affordable housing to building more affordable housing across the city.
This proposal would create two new processes to fast-track certain affordable housing projects. The first process is for publicly financed affordable housing projects. The second process is for affordable housing projects in the 12 community districts with the lowest rates of affordable housing development.
A “yes” vote creates two processes to fast-track affordable housing projects.
A “no” vote keeps the seven-month review process, with input from the local Community Board, local Borough President, CPC, City Council, and mayor.
Ballot proposal No. 3
Simplify review of modest housing and infrastructure projects.
This proposal would create a faster review process for certain land use projects, like smaller projects to change how land is used and to prepare the city for extreme weather or other future challenges. For most of these projects, the proposed process would remove final review by the City Council.
Ballot proposal No. 4
Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board with City Council, borough, and citywide representation.
NYCVotes says this proposal would change the current land use review process when the City Council rejects or changes an affordable housing project. The proposal would create an Affordable Housing Appeals Board comprised of the local Borough President, Speaker of the City Council, and mayor.
The proposal would allow the Appeals Board to reverse the City Council’s decision with a two-to-one vote.
Ballot proposal No. 5
Create a digital city map to modernize city operations.
This proposal would make the Department of City Planning (DCP) responsible for creating, maintaining, and digitizing a single city map.
Ballot proposal No. 6
Move local elections to presidential election years to increase voter participation.
This proposal would move election dates for city offices to the same year as federal presidential elections.
For more on the ballot proposals in this election, visit the New York City Board of Elections site.
