As New York voters prepare to choose from dozens of mayoral candidates, it is important to understand what the incumbent can and cannot do. You want to expand early childhood education, create a new municipal ID card, add more bike lanes – do it! Feel like imposing a millionaire tax, changing the metro fare or building a casino – not so fast. To help voters assess which candidate is best suited for that job and everything it entails, here’s a quick look at what the mayor of New York City does.
Serves as Chief Executive
The mayor serves as the city’s Chief Executive, with the power to nominate and dismiss the commissioners from more than 40 city bodies, including police, fire, education, sanitation, health and more. The mayor also appoints dozens of representatives to the city’s boards and commissions. Serving up to two four-year terms for an annual salary of $ 258,750, the mayor sets the agenda for the city in terms of budget policies and priorities. The mayor has full control over the city’s public schools, authorized through state approval, which means that the mayor is responsible for all educational matters. The mayor also serves as the main influencer with a pulpit of intimidation across the city and nationally. Work is often referred to as the second most important and difficult job in American politics and government.
Sets budget priorities to billions of dollars
The city follows a fiscal year calendar that begins on July 1 and runs through the end of June. The mayor oversees the preparation of a preliminary budget each January, as well as the capital budget and financial plans. This proposal becomes the first step in a months-long negotiation between the mayor and the City Council on how the city’s money should be allocated, which departments should increase or decrease, which programs should be expanded or contracted, and how large the municipal work. The mayor also oversees the office that hires the city’s municipal unions, negotiating wages and benefits.
Last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio presented a preliminary $ 92 billion budget plan for fiscal year 2022, which emphasizes essential services and the public response to the coronavirus pandemic. After receiving suggestions from the Council, the mayor will present an updated executive budget in late April. The mayor and the council must agree and approve a balanced budget by 30 June.
Manages relationships with state and federal legislators
The mayor acts as a defender, defender and negotiator of the city, (with luck) promoting productive relations with state and federal legislators. One of the first distinguishing features of Blasio’s city hall was its fractured relationship with Governor André Cuomo. Both Democrats, the two started battling since the early months of 2014 over how to pay for pre-kindergarten and expand charter schools. Each year, the feud seemed to increase, often transforming the mayor’s annual trips to Albany to testify before a joint state legislature committee on the city’s budgetary needs in times of great drama. This tense relationship persists and has continued to be problematic during the city’s response to Covid-19. The mayor also needs to promote productive relations with federal lawmakers. Ultimately, it is about ensuring that the city receives funding and sees legislation enacted that benefits those living in the five neighborhoods.
Proposes, promulgates and vetoes local laws
The mayor can propose new laws to be approved by the Council or signed by executive decrees. The mayor can also veto legislation passed by the City Council. (Any veto can be overturned by a two-thirds vote by the Council.) This may include smoking ban policies in the city’s bars and restaurants, a credit to Mayor Micheal Bloomberg; or the expansion of the city’s paid medical leave law, one of the mayor’s first achievements.
Supervises key zoning, land use and housing policy decisions
The mayor plays an important role in the development of the city when it comes to zoning and land use. This may mean proposing changes to zoning regulations across the city, such as de Compulsive Inclusive Housing (MIH) supported by de Blasio, a change that was aimed at encouraging the development of affordable housing across the city. The mayor also plays a decisive role in so-called ULURP decisions, those cases where a developer is applying to build something other than what the land is currently zoned to be used for. Essentially, the mayor can leave a lasting mark on neighborhoods, coastlines, urban landscapes and the people who love or hate them based on what is or is not built.
Makes court appointments
The mayor appoints judges from the criminal court, judges from the family court and judges from the provisional civil court, in accordance with state law.
Succession Line
If the mayor resigns, dies, or is removed from office, the Public Attorney acts as interim mayor until a special or general election is held, depending on when the vacancy occurs.
Cool stuff
The mayor is an ex officio member of the councils of the 33 cultural institutions owned by the city that are part of the Cultural Institutions Group, as well as the Brooklyn Public Library, Art Education Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Museum of Arts and Design, Museum of Modern Art, New York Public Library and Queens Borough Public Library.
Can the mayor raise taxes?
The mayor can raise property taxes if approved by the City Council, something that Mayor Michael Bloomberg did in 2002 to deal with the fiscal crisis triggered after the 9/11 attacks. For all other taxes (Millionaire, Mansion, Personal Income), the mayor must receive approval from the Council before seeking approval from state legislators.
The other collection options: fines, taxes and how much the city charges for the payment of water and sewage.
Can the mayor repair the subway?
The subways are controlled by the MTA, which is essentially controlled by the state. Several mayoral candidates, former and current, have proposed taking control of the system. But the idea would require changes to state law, a new budget structure and close cooperation with Albany.
The mayor can have a major impact on city streets in terms of parking rules, bike lanes, exclusive bus routes and outdoor restaurants, proposals that became part of the transformation of the urban landscape during the pandemic. The mayor can also create new forms of transportation, such as creating bicycle-sharing programs or launching a ferry system across the city.
Can the mayor open a new casino?
No. The state regulates gambling operations in the state and issues licenses for casinos. Although the idea has gained momentum among some real estate developers and at least one candidate for mayor, it is far from being something that fits the mayor’s role, without Albany’s help.