General Election
New York CityProposal 4
Building and waterfront permits
Lets the Buildings Department appoint more officials who can approve construction projects, requires one system for filing permits with several agencies, and moves waterfront permitting from Small Business Services to Buildings.
Endorsements & public statements
Who supports the proposal, who has raised concerns, and what they have said.
21 statements
Abundance New York
October 16, 2026
“As one piece of a sprawling puzzle to meet New Yorkers’ housing needs, this amendment must be adopted.”
— Abundance New York
Their position
Recommends Yes. Says builders now need 40 approvals from 18 agencies, and that one permitting hub would give them a single interface with the city.
Common Cause New York
October 15, 2026
“A more coordinated permitting system could improve efficiency and predictability, provided that transparency, safety protections, and independent oversight remain in place.”
— Common Cause New York
Jews For Racial & Economic Justice
October 14, 2026
“JFREJ recommends voting yes on all five ballot measures.”
— Jews For Racial & Economic Justice
Citizens Union
October 1, 2026
“These changes are positive modernization efforts that would make it easier to navigate the construction permitting process and give the Buildings Commissioner room to organize the agency for modern workloads.”
— Citizens Union
Their position
Recommends Yes, describing the changes as modernization that makes permitting easier to navigate.
Reinvent Albany
September 29, 2026
“We support this proposal because it sensibly brings 40 approvals from 18 separate offices and agencies into one hub for permitting, saving builders time and frustration.”
— Reinvent Albany
Their position
Recommends a strong Yes. Supports bringing construction approvals from multiple offices and agencies into one permitting hub.
Citizens Budget Commission
October 20, 2026
Summary
Supports the proposal in its October analysis, according to amNY (Oct 20), citing modernized permitting and better coordination among agencies. Notes that some of the changes, including a centralized permitting portal, could be pursued administratively without changing the Charter.
D9 Harlem Votes
October 16, 2026
Summary
Listed by NYC Votes as the only organization among the statements filed against this proposal. NYC Votes says those statements question how the new permitting system would be overseen, when community input would occur, and how waterfront decisions would be shared with the public.
Municipal Art Society of New York
October 16, 2026
“we support the land use proposals in ballot questions #1, 2, and 4”
— Municipal Art Society of New York
Their position
Supports this proposal; recommends No only on Question 3. Also filed a supporting statement with the NYC Votes voter guide.
Regional Plan Association
October 16, 2026
Summary
Listed by NYC Votes among the organizations that filed statements supporting this proposal.
New York Housing Conference
October 16, 2026
Summary
Listed by NYC Votes among the organizations that filed statements supporting this proposal.
New York City Democratic Socialists of America
October 16, 2026
Summary
Listed by NYC Votes among the organizations that filed statements supporting this proposal.
League of Women Voters of the City of New York
September 16, 2026
“We believe this is a straightforward proposal and could not identify any cons”
— League of Women Voters of the City of New York
Their position
Lists pros and cons without recommending a vote. Pros: a central hub that shows applicants where delays occur, waterfront work centralized at Buildings, and a more efficient department. Under cons, says it could not identify any. Notes that the permit system could have been changed without amending the Charter.
New York City Council
July 24, 2026
“The Council is concerned by the speed and process through which the Administration advanced these Charter Revision Commission proposals”
— New York City Council spokesperson
Their position
A Council spokesperson said the commission advanced sweeping changes in weeks and that several proposals could reduce public input and weaken checks and balances. The statement covers the whole package and does not ask voters to reject any question.
Gotham Organization
July 23, 2026
“Gotham Organization applauds the Commission’s proposal to simplify and centralize the City’s building permitting process.”
— Brian Kelly, President of the Gotham Organization
Open New York
July 23, 2026
“The final proposals from the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) include good steps: consolidating the 40 approvals now scattered across 18 offices and agencies into a single hub, cutting the time to sell small surplus lots from seven months to 90 days, and putting more than $200 million worth of idle City property back to work for the public.”
— Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York
Their position
Supports one permitting hub for what the Commission counts as 40 approvals from 18 offices and agencies. The lot-sale and property figures in its statement refer to Proposal 3.
Monadnock Development
July 23, 2026
“Creating a single, coordinated permitting process is exactly the kind of government reform that helps good projects get built faster without lowering standards”
— Kirk Goodrich, President of Monadnock Development
AIA New York
July 23, 2026
“AIANY is particularly excited about the reforms to permitting to create a centralized hub for all permitting needs across multiple agencies and the commitment to streamline internal processes for capital project delivery and hiring.”
— Jesse Lazar, Executive Director of American Institute of Architects New York
Their position
Supports a centralized hub for permits across agencies. Its statement also praises commitments to streamline internal processes for capital projects and hiring, which are separate from this ballot question.
Professional Staff Congress/CUNY
July 23, 2026
“PSC members and the CUNY students we serve need access to housing they can afford. The rent freeze was a promise kept, and now we’re thrilled to see COGE propose a ballot measure that would simplify and accelerate the building of more affordable housing for working class New Yorkers.”
— Jen Gaboury, First Vice President of Professional Staff Congress/CUNY AFT Local 2334
Their position
Supports faster affordable-housing development. Its statement also credits the rent freeze, which is not part of this proposal.
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
July 23, 2026
“Bronx businesses know firsthand how valuable a more coordinated and predictable approach to permitting and City contracting can be”
— Lisa Sorin, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce
Tech:NYC
July 23, 2026
“We're excited to see Mayor Mamdani's Charter Revision Commission advancing practical reforms that modernize city government by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, simplifying permitting, improving procurement, and helping government work more effectively”
— Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC
Vital City
July 23, 2026
“Instead, COGE settled chiefly for proposing a shared website on which builders can apply for permits in one place, with every agency retaining the power to review and approve on its own schedule. This was helpful but not especially bold, leaving too much bureaucracy unaltered.”
— Vital City
Their position
Says all five proposals merit passage. On this question, says a shared permit website falls short of making the Department of Buildings the single permitting authority.