General Election
New York CityProposal 1
Public-space permits
Changes how the City approves ramps, benches, cafés and other private uses of sidewalks and streets: public hearings become optional, and the City Council can no longer reject sidewalk cafés.
What changes
3 provisions1Hearings and public notice
The agency decides whether to hold a hearing, weighing location, size, length and use. Newspaper notices end, and notice of any hearing drops to six days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays.
Hearings and public notice
The agency decides whether to hold a hearing, weighing location, size, length and use. Newspaper notices end, and notice of any hearing drops to six days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays.
Today
The Transportation Department, or the technology office for telecom consents, must hold a hearing on every , the applicant pays for two newspaper notices, and notice runs in the City Record for 15 days.
What stays in place
The community board, Council member and borough president get notice and at least 15 days to comment, and the agency must make “best efforts” to post petitions online and take public comments. Hearings on franchises stay mandatory.
When: March 1, 2027
Conditions and exceptions
- Community boards, borough presidents and Council members can opt out of notices for a category of consents, and opt back in.
2Sidewalk-cafe review
Sidewalk cafés use the general process: community boards lose their separate review and the Council loses its power to disapprove, though both still get notice and time to comment.
Sidewalk-cafe review
Sidewalk cafés use the general process: community boards lose their separate review and the Council loses its power to disapprove, though both still get notice and time to comment.
Today
Sidewalk cafés get a separate community board review, and after the Transportation Department grants one, the City Council can vote to disapprove it. already use the general process.
What stays in place
Consents stay revocable at any time and require a yearly payment to the City. A full still applies when City Planning finds land-use impacts.
When: March 1, 2027
3Approvals and registration
The Mayor can delegate that approval to the head of the granting agency, and the Comptroller can let a consent start before is finished.
Approvals and registration
The Mayor can delegate that approval to the head of the granting agency, and the Comptroller can let a consent start before is finished.
Today
The Mayor approves consents, and the agreements go through the Comptroller’s registration.
What stays in place
Registration is still required.
When: March 1, 2027