2018 New York City Charter Revision Commission To Host Public Education Forums Throughout The City

Outreach Aimed at Providing Information to City Voters Ahead of November 6th General Election
New Website, FlipYourBallot.nyc, Launched to Help Educate New Yorkers

New York, NY— The 2018 New York City Charter Revision Commission announced today that it will host a series of public education forums in each of the five boroughs to help inform New Yorkers about the three questions that will appear on their ballots in the November 6th, 2018 general election. The public education forums, which are strictly neutral and seek to allow voters to make informed decisions on Election Day, will help explain the three ballot proposals adopted by the Commission and the rationales for each.

The three ballot questions, developed through an extensive public process by the 2018 New York City Charter Revision Commission, address issues relating to changes in the City's campaign finance system, community boards, and the creation of a new civic engagement commission, which would be responsible for implementing citywide participatory budgeting and a language interpreter poll site program, among other initiatives.

"This Commission has made significant proposals on issues relating to the City's civic life and we have worked hard to engage City residents along the way," said Charter Revision Commission Chair Cesar A. Perales. "Now we will reach out to voters with a broad public education campaign, partnering with community organizations, city agencies, and others to make sure they have the information and answers they need to make up their own minds before they get to the polls. Our democracy is stronger when people make informed decisions."

The Commission has scheduled a series of public educational forums in each of the five boroughs:

• Town Hall Forum in Queens
  Monday, October 15 at 6:30PM
  Jewish Center of Jackson Heights, 37-06 78th Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
• Town Hall Forum in Staten Island
  Tuesday, October 16 at 6:30PM
  Michael J. Petrides School, 715 Ocean Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301
• Town Hall Forum in the Bronx
  Wednesday, October 17 at 6:30PM
  Metropolitan College of New York, 463 East 149 Street, Bronx, NY 10455
• Town Hall Forum in Manhattan
  Thursday, October 18 at 6:30PM
  Gregorio Luperon High School for Math and Science, 501 West 165 Street, New York, NY 10032
• Town Hall Forum in Brooklyn
  Monday, October 22 at 6:30PM
  Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Ave, Ingersoll Hall, IH-1127, Brooklyn, NY 11210

Each forum is expected to include a Question and Answer segment. New Yorkers may submit questions for each public education forum in advance at comments@charter.nyc.gov. Time permitting, forum attendees who have not submitted questions in advance will also be able to ask questions. With each submission, please send your full name and the specific forum and date for which your question is directed.

The public education forum locations are all accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Induction loop systems, ASL interpreters, and Spanish interpreters will be available. In addition, with advance notice, members of the public may request other language interpreters. Please make language interpretation requests or additional accessibility requests two business days in advance of the meeting by emailing the Commission at requests@charter.nyc.gov or calling 212-386-5350.

The Commission has also launched a new website, FlipYourBallot.nyc, where New Yorkers can learn more about the ballot questions and help share educational information with their friends and families. The website also allows New Yorkers to sign up to volunteer to assist with the Commission's educational efforts.

About the 2018 Charter Revision Commission Ballot Questions

In November voters will consider three proposals to amend New York City's Charter:

• Campaign Finance: Lower contribution limits, increase public matching funds available to participating candidates and make funds available earlier in the process.
• Civic Engagement: Establish a Civic Engagement Commission that would be responsible for implementing a citywide participatory budgeting program, partnering with community- based organizations, civic leaders and other City agencies in civic engagement efforts, and establishing a program to provide language interpreters at City poll sites.
• Community Boards: Impose term limits on Community Board members, create standard board membership application requirements and provide community boards with additional resources, such as urban planning and language access assistance.

Visit FlipYourBallot.nyc to read the Ballot Questions and Abstracts.