- The NYC Board of Elections approved three ballot measures aimed at speeding up housing construction and reducing the City Council’s informal veto power over rezonings.
- The City Council had urged the board to reject these questions, claiming they concealed the true consequences of the proposed changes and transferred power away from local Council members.
- The Charter Revision Commission countered that the Board of Elections lacked the authority to reject the questions, and a legal battle is now expected before the general election.
The city’s Board of Elections on Tuesday approved three contentious ballot measures that would speed up housing construction and weaken the City Council’s informal veto power over rezonings, likely setting the stage for a legal battle before the general election.
The board, after listening to six speakers urge the questions’ approval, didn’t ask any questions and signed off on the proposals being placed on the November ballot. The decision likely means the fight over the ballot measures is heading to the courts, as the City Council has already hinted that it would file a lawsuit once all other avenues to challenge the questions were exhausted.
In a statement, a City Council spokesperson said the questions attempt to “trick voters with buzzwords and slogans,” but stopped short of confirming the Council will file a lawsuit…