2018 New York City Charter Revision Commission To Host Tele And Twitter Town Halls This Week

Tele and Twitter Town Halls Will Be Another Opportunity for New Yorkers To Make Comments and Ask the Commissioners Questions

NEW YORK - The 2018 New York City Charter Revision Commission announced today that Commissioners will host a Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, August 9th from 7:00PM to 8:00PM and a Twitter Town Hall on Friday, August 10th from 12:00PM-1:00 PM. The hashtag for the Town Halls will be #Ask2018Charter. The Town Halls are opportunities for New Yorkers to share their ideas for revisions to the city's Charter and to ask the Commissioners questions. These Town Halls continue the Commission's focus on engagement and civic participation in the Charter revision process.

Cesar Perales, the Commission's Chair, said: "The Charter Revision Commission is working hard to engage all New Yorkers and these Town Halls are another important step. Whether on Twitter or by phone, we know New Yorkers have many great ideas on how to create a better city and we look forward to a lively discussion."

Tele-Town Hall: New Yorkers are invited to participate in the Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, August 9th from 7:00pm to 8:00pm by calling 646-513-4959. The Tele-Town Hall will be hosted by Vice-Chair Rachel Godsil, Commissioner Una Clarke, and other Commissioners and conducted in several languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Bengali. Participants will be able to submit comments and questions during the Town Hall by pressing 0 on their phone.

Twitter Town Hall: New Yorkers are invited to the Commission's Twitter Town Hall on Friday, August 10th from 12:00PM-1:00 PM. Participants can join by tweeting messages to the Commission's Twitter feed -- @NYCCharter -- and by adding the hashtag #Ask2018Charter. Commissioners Annetta Seecheran and other Commissioners will use the Commission's Twitter account to respond to comments and questions, and engage with New Yorkers on issues related to the 2018 Charter Revision Commission.

Not all telephone and tweeted comments are guaranteed to receive a response.

About the Charter Commission's Public Engagement Efforts

The 2018 Charter Revision Commission has worked hard to ensure all New Yorkers have opportunities to speak directly to the Commission.

Earlier this month, the Commission held "Charter Week," a series of public hearings and public engagement events across all five boroughs. "Charter Week" built on the Commission's extensive public outreach campaign to ensure all of New York City's communities have access to the Charter revision process. Throughout the process, New Yorkers have submitted hundreds of ideas for changes to the Charter. Issue forums provided the Commission with more in-depth information related to focus areas.

All events were open to the public and live streamed over the internet. Language translation services, American Sign Language interpreters, and L.O.O.P devices were provided. All events were held at accessible spaces. Public comments have also been submitted at tabling events and additional community forums focused on youth, immigrant New Yorkers, and veterans. The Commission continues to accept comments through email, mail, and over social media.

The public was alerted to the Commission's "Charter Week" hearings through advertising in community and ethnic papers, and messages through organizations with large distribution lists. Notice was given to every Community Board, as well as City, State, and Federal elected officials. Media advisories were issued to a list of more than 3,000 people at least twice per public hearing. Public notices for each hearing were published in the City Record and on the Commission's website, nyc.gov/Charter. All notices were translated into several languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese), French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.