Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani used the Talk With The People livestream to introduce the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), a charter revision commission that will hold 10 public hearings across the five boroughs starting next week and may propose city charter amendments for voter approval; hearing locations and details are posted at nyc.gov/COGE. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
# What’s happening
– Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE). Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– COGE will hold 10 public hearings across the five boroughs. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– First three hearings next week: Tuesday (Manhattan), Wednesday (Bronx), Thursday (Brooklyn). Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
# Why it matters
– Working New Yorkers who use city permitting and public services are directly affected by possible charter changes. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=653
– Proposed charter amendments could change agency authority, permitting timelines, and items that appear on future ballots. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
# Key details
– Commission name: Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE). Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Public hearings: 10 hearings across five boroughs; first three next week (Tue/Wed/Thu). Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Hearing locations and updates: posted at nyc.gov/COGE. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Topics raised on the livestream for COGE review include Department of Buildings permitting processes and agency structure. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=653
– Other topics raised by callers: expediting bike-lane construction, tower crane operator training, and hiring to speed permit approvals. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=714
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) during the Talk With The People livestream, framing it as a charter revision commission that will review the city charter and propose amendments for voter consideration. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
**Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani**
– Role or jurisdiction: Mayor of New York City. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Action taken or responsibility: Announced and launched the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE). Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Relevant numbers or dates: Said COGE will host 10 public hearings; first three hearings next week. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
**Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Charter revision commission to evaluate and propose changes to the New York City Charter. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Action taken or responsibility: Will hold public hearings to collect New Yorkers’ experiences and ideas. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
– Relevant numbers or dates: Ten hearings planned across five boroughs; three hearings scheduled next week (Tue/Wed/Thu). Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
The mayor described COGE as a charter revision commission, explaining that a charter revision commission reviews the city charter, proposes amendments, and those proposals go to voters for approval. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
Livestream participants and the mayor identified specific operational areas for the commission to consider, including Department of Buildings permitting delays, changing the distribution of permit-approval responsibilities, and hiring to speed approvals. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=653
The mayor and guests also raised transportation and construction topics for COGE review, including accelerating protected bike-lane construction and examining tower crane operator training requirements. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=714
COGE’s public-engagement plan on the livestream: the mayor said the commission will hold 10 hearings across the five boroughs and invited New Yorkers to testify in person at the hearings starting next week; he directed viewers to nyc.gov/COGE for locations and details. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
The livestream did not specify a formal deadline or calendar date for when COGE must submit proposals for a ballot; the mayor repeated that the commission “proposes amendments, then New Yorkers vote,” but he did not give a date for proposal submission. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
External context on charter-commission timelines: City Council hearings and related legislation discussed minimum and possible timelines for charter revision commissions. One City Council discussion of proposed legislation (intro 1088) described providing at least eight months for a commission’s work before earliest submission for the 2025 general election, or up to 20 months for the 2026 general election. This council discussion is external to the mayor’s livestream. Source (external): https://youtu.be/FSbHuMlZ864&t=267
External testimony to the council also recommended a minimum six-month time frame for charter revision commissions; that recommendation was made in council hearings and is external to the Talk With The People event. Source (external): https://youtu.be/FSbHuMlZ864&t=1850
Public participation instructions from the livestream: viewers were urged to attend hearings next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to testify about inefficiencies and to submit ideas; the mayor said the commission wants direct, personal testimony to inform possible amendments. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=1337
Operational examples discussed on the livestream: the mayor cited findings from a city speed-task force showing average seven-month delays after construction before tenant move-ins and gaps up to two years on affordable housing projects, as reasons to examine permitting and hiring. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=653
If you want to testify or find hearing locations and times, the mayor directed New Yorkers to visit nyc.gov/COGE for details. Source: https://youtu.be/_O5v2C0mPto&t=384
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