The Mamdani administration is weaponizing a $1.6 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign to sway voters into passing five ballot questions that exponentially increase the socialist\u00a0pol\u2019s power under the guise of streamlining government, critics told The Post.<\/p>\n
The ballot questions<\/a> before NYC voters in the Nov. 3 general election \u2013 which include measures to fast-track how City Hall approves controversial outdoor dining sheds and anti-car, so-called street-safety projects \u2014 were selected by a 15-member Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.<\/a><\/p>\n Under city law, government officials are prohibited from using public funds to advocate for or against ballot proposals.<\/p>\n NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is weaponizing a $1.6 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign to sway voters into passing five ballot questions that exponentially increase the socialist\u00a0pol\u2019s power under the guise of streamlining government, critics told The Post. Paul Martinka for NY Post<\/p>\n Instead, Hizzoner and the panel are \u201cencouraging\u201d New Yorkers through an ad blitz that includes social-media videos,<\/a> text blasts and other methods to go to the polls and vote on the ballot questions, touted in glowing terms as a means to a \u201cfaster government\u201d that cuts red tape.<\/p>\n The ramifications of voting yes \u2014 namely, the surrender of checks and balances if the ballot questions are approved \u2014 are never mentioned.<\/p>\n In one video <\/a>released by the Mayor\u2019s Office last month, Mamdani races around City Hall like a cartoon character to Looney Tunes-<\/a>style sound effects while boasting \u201cNew Yorkers will be able to vote on how fast our government runs.\u201d<\/p>\n The ads violate the spirit of the law by trying to influence election results rather than simply encouraging people to vote, according to some critics.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTaxpayer dollars are supposed to be used to serve the public \u2014 not bankroll the mayor\u2019s political agenda,\u201d said Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens).<\/p>\n \u201cThe whole thing is completely illegitimate, and we are getting closer to socialist totalitarianism every day with this administration. These proposals want to take power away from the people and put it in the hands of bureaucrats.\u201d<\/p>\n One controversial measure is pitched as \u201csimplifying\u201d the approval process for private uses of public space, including outdoor dining sheds, sidewalk cafes, accessibility ramps, benches, and planters. Helayne Seidman for NY Post<\/p>\n Councilman Phil Wong (D-Queens) said \u201cwe\u2019ve seen\u201d past mayors \u201cwalk right up to the line\u201d of what is allowed under the law, but \u201cthis isn\u2019t even close. It\u2019s way over.\u201d<\/p>\n One controversial measure is pitched as \u201csimplifying\u201d the approval process for private uses of public space, including outdoor dining sheds<\/a>, sidewalk cafes, accessibility ramps, benches and planters.<\/p>\n But it would also eliminate City Council review, strips local community boards and borough presidents of some input, and allow applications to proceed without public hearings.<\/p>\n Another would speed up construction<\/a> of new bus lanes, bike lanes and other \u201cstreet safety\u201d projects because the Department of Transportation would no longer need to present these projects to local community boards. <\/p>\n People dine outdoors on 7th Avenue South in the West Village. Helayne Seidman for NY Post<\/p>\n That same ballot question would also replace the City Council with the mayoral-controlled City Planning Commission as the body reviewing sales and leases on certain city properties. It would also expedite how the city leases office space by removing approvals needed from the Council and Planning Board.<\/p>\n Other proposals would reduce paperwork for city contractors; and simplify the building permit process while shunting waterfront-permit responsibility from the Department of Small Business Services to the Department of Buildings.<\/p>\n The fifth ballot question targets setting the city\u2019s rainy-day fund used for emergencies and economic downturns at an amount equal to 12% of the previous year\u2019s city tax revenue. Currently, there is no such targeted amount.\u00a0<\/p>\n A group of Brooklyn community groups operating under the banner \u201cOur Streets! Our Voices! Our Vote!\u201d <\/a>planned to rally Saturday outside Barclays Center in opposition to the city\u2019s anti-car push to bring more \u201cbike boulevards\u201d and rapid-transit bus lanes to the Big Apple, and in opposition to the ballot question fast-tracking the process and muting input from residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n The ballot questions before NYC voters in the Nov. 3 general election were selected by a 15-member Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mamdani. Matt Roberts\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Council Speaker Julie Menin has distributed information to other members about the government transparency and Council power that would be lost if the ballot questions pass, but the legislative body as a whole have yet to take a formal stance on them.<\/p>\n