Mayor Adams has convened a new Charter Revision Commission (CRC) with the stated goal of addressing the city's housing crisis—but make no mistake: behind the headlines, this process could radically weaken public input and oversight over development in New York City. The NYC Charter is the foundational document that establishes the framework for city government and its processes, including how decisions about land use and development are made.

While no specific proposals have been released, the Commission has been tasked with reviewing processes that directly affect how and where development happens—potentially including ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure), which gives you—residents, community boards, borough presidents, and the City Council—a voice in shaping our neighborhoods. If this process is weakened, developers could face fewer checks and balances, and the public’s ability to weigh in on projects that impact affordability, infrastructure, and neighborhood character could be severely limited.

Why This Matters:
Mayor Adams and pro-deregulation lobbying groups have made it clear: they want to fast-track development, reduce oversight, and bypass community voices. The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal last year sought to weaken the public review process—but fortunately, the City Council voted to preserve these safeguards for many new development proposals. If public review is undermined through Charter revisions, it could open the door to large-scale developments that proceed without regard for neighborhood context, environmental impacts, or long-term affordability.

FRIENDS opposes any potential changes that threaten to undermine public participation in New York City's development decisions. We believe such alterations would be a grave disservice to our communities.