The power struggle between local lawmakers and Mayor Eric Adams moved forward Wednesday when the City Council held a hearing on a bill to expand oversight over mayoral appointments. 

What You Need To Know

  • The City Council on Wednesday held a hearing on a bill to expand their oversight over mayoral appointments

  • The Council heard from charter experts and good government groups who warned about adding another layer of bureaucracy and discouraging talented candidates

  • On the same day, the mayor's charter revision commission held its first meeting. The commission could do an end-run around the Council's effort 

The bill would specifically give the Council “advice and consent power” over 21 additional commissioners. 

The Council already has approval power over a handful of nominations, including the city’s corporation counsel and the head of the Department of Investigation. 

“The legislation we’re considering today is incremental; it does not apply to all of the over 80 commissioner level positions that are appointed by the mayor,” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said.

Adams, the sponsor of the legislation, emphasized at the hearing that the bill is about good government and not a power grab.

“This bill is certainly not about curbing the power of any particular mayor but is instead focused on improving government,” the council speaker said.  

The bill, which would also have to be approved by voters, is facing some serious concerns from some good government groups and former elected officials. 

“Our suggestion is to hold yourselves to a tight schedule. Revise so you have 30 days for a hearing and 60 days to vote,” Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, said.

“Once people know that they have the possibility of entering into some kind of consent, you will have such chaos and it will take so long,” Betsy Gotbaum, executive director of the Citizens Union, said. 

“The problem I can foresee is someone with perfect qualifications for whatever the agency maybe and be denied. Not on the qualifications but personal beef with a councilmember or two,” Adam Clayton Powell IV, a former assemblyman, said. 

Under the bill, the Council would have 30 days to review and approve an appointment before it goes into effect. 

Councilmembers pushed back against the idea the legislation would create bureaucratic red tape and discourage talented people from joining the administration. 

“Bureaucracy is more important than making sure we have competent, ethical people serving our administration. Right? Yes, absolutely. That’s an interesting perspective,” Councilmember Lincoln Restler said.

Close to the end of the hearing, a member of the mayor’s staff testified. The mayor, through a staffer, publicly opposed the bill. 

“Any uncertainty or delay in appointing agency leadership creates a real possibility for harm for delay of delivery of services,” Tiffany Raspberry, a director of Intergovernmental Affairs, said. 

Raspberry took no questions and quickly exited the chamber to the disappointment of councilmembers. 

“This to me illustrates a contempt for this council which we have all witnessed with great clarity,” the council speaker said.  

Meanwhile, about half an hour later, the mayor’s Charter Revision Commission convened its first meeting in Manhattan.

Those in attendance committed themselves to transparency and improving city government. And if the commission comes up with its own proposals for voters, they would automatically replace the Council’s bill on the ballot.

The commission has until early August to recommend changes to the city charter in time to make it onto the general election ballot in November.