NYC Voters Approved All Five Government-Efficiency Ballot Proposals

New York City voters approved all five ballot proposals on Tuesday, each aimed at cutting bureaucratic red tape and accelerating city operations. Question 1 (63.2% approval) eliminates mandatory public hearings and City Council veto power for individual outdoor dining permits, expected to cut approval times from eight months to two months by March 2027. Question 2 (61.6%) simplifies contractor questionnaires by contract size, potentially saving 30 days on procurement timelines. Question 3 (65.5%) speeds up street safety projects such as bike lanes and streamlines approvals for small city-owned properties. Question 4 (67.5%) creates a centralised permitting hub consolidating 40 permits currently spread across 18 agencies, with a target launch of December 2029. Question 5 (72.3%) sets city reserve-fund targets at 12% of prior-year tax revenue. The measures were advanced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Commission on Government Efficiency. Mamdani welcomed the results, saying the changes would directly address the city's affordability crisis and help New Yorkers stay in the city they love.