Sep 18, 2024
A City Council bill seeking to undo Mayor Adams’ controversial elected official engagement form policy has earned the backing of a supermajority of the chamber’s members, all but ensuring the legislation’s passage. The policy, which Adams enacted this spring, requires local politicians to fill out lengthy forms seeking permission from the mayor’s office before they can speak and meet with senior officials across his administration about a variety of issues. Adams contends the policy helps his administration utilize city resources smartly, but a number of Council members have blasted it as unnecessary red tape that hampers their constituent services work. Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler introduced a bill last Friday that would end the practice. On Wednesday, Restler, a progressive Democrat who’s frequently at odds with the centrist mayor, told the Daily News his legislation has gotten its 37th co-sponsor — surpassing the veto-proof supermajority threshold. Co-sponsors include members across the Council’s political spectrum, from conservative Republicans like Queens’ Vickie Paladino and Staten Island’s Joe Borelli to democratic socialists like Queens’ Tiffany Caban. “It’s abundantly clear that my colleagues in the Council are tired of City Hall undermining our working relationships with city agencies,” said Restler, who told The News the policy has gotten in the way of him speaking unencumbered with police commanders in his North Brooklyn district. restlerShawn Inglima for New York Daily NewsCouncilman Lincoln Restler (Shawn Inglima for New York Daily News) The veto-proof majority threshold ensures there’s enough support for the bill in the Council to override a veto of it should the mayor issue one. In response to the supermajority development, mayoral spokeswoman Liz Garcia maintained the form system is “efficient.” “We are grateful to those from every level of government who are working with us and using the form,” she said. The veto-proof threshold was met on the eve of Restler’s bill getting a hearing Thursday in his Governmental Operations Committee. Restler said he invited Adams administration officials to testify at the hearing. They responded they’d submit written testimony instead, according to Restler. It’s unclear when the full Council may vote on Restler’s bill. A spokesman for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who has also criticized the engagement form policy, said it’s “yet to be determined” when a vote might happen.
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