NYC City Council Flashcards
What can City Council of New York do?
City Council of New York makes laws that NYC residents, businesses, and other institutions must follow. There is one City Council member for each of the city’s 51 City CouncilDistricts. It has 4 main funstions: Making and passing laws, changes and approves the city budget after the mayor proposes it, approves changes to how city lands are used, and makes sures that city agencies are serving the people of NYC.
How long are city council terms and how many consecutive terms may a city councilman have?
City Councilmember terms are 4 years with a max consecutive terms of 2 years.
When we say that the City Council has jurisdiction over city land use, what do we mean? What does it have oversight over?
It means that the Council can approve or disapprove the type of buildings and infrastructure which are placed in neighborhoods, directly affecting population density, living standards, housing equity, and affordability. It has oversight over how NYCHA manages, improves, or reduces living standards for the 400,000 people who currently live in public housing in NYC.
What jurisdiction does the City Council have over jobs and wages?
The city Council may pass laws expanding or contracting workers benefits and wages, and bolster these efforts by providing oversight over publicly funded development projects to assure whatever agenda they wish to push through.
What Jurisdiction does the City Council have over education?
May pass legislation to make schools safer and can fund new programs for NYC schools, presumably shut them down as well.
What oversight and budget policy can the city council do/enact regarding criminal justice?
It may determine funding for the NYPD, conduct oversight over NYPD policy, and can decide whether certain violations should count as criminal offenses.
What jurisdiction and oversight does the city council have over traffic and transportation?
Can pass laws to determine how streets are used and can set penalties for traffic violations. it can also demand the Department of Transportation to improve dangerous intersections.
