New York state lawmakers are considering legislation that would give New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani the authority to shut down a Charter Revision Commission created by former Mayor Eric Adams at the end of his administration.
First reported by NY1’s Bernadette Hogan, the measure, which is expected to be included in the state budget, would allow Mamdani until June 1, 2026, to nullify the commission established in Adams’ final days in office. Lawmakers are also considering a broader provision that would give future mayors a limited window to decide whether to keep or terminate charter revision commissions created late in a predecessor’s term.
The New York City Charter Revision Commission has announced four public hearings beginning May 27th across the city’s boroughs. The hearings are intended to gather public testimony on potential charter changes, including topics such as open primaries, housing and land use reforms, and efforts related to antisemitism and other hate crimes.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie confirmed that Mamdani requested the inclusion of the bill in the budget. Heastie explained, “Imposing new things on the new mayor, we just didn’t think that was fair. Now, if the new mayor likes it, they can keep it, but if they don’t…don’t try to stick a new man with something, so they have the choice.”
A spokesperson for Mamdani, Dora Pekec, stated that the administration and the Law Department are reviewing all options related to the commission.
Commission member Kayla Mamelak Altus criticized the proposal in a post on X, writing: “The Charter Revision Commission empowers New Yorkers to speak their minds at public hearings and then weigh in at the ballot box on the future of their city. The City Charter belongs to the people — not any administration — and decisions about our City should happen openly, with public participation at the center.”
She added, “Politicians working behind closed doors to stymie the voices of the people they serve should concern everyone. Let’s be clear: any attempt to retroactively dismantle a legally constituted Charter Revision Commission in the middle of its work would be blatantly illegal. If such an attempt were to be made, the Commission would have to pursue all appropriate legal remedies.”
