What to know about the 5 Mamdani-backed measures New Yorkers are projected to pass

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) secured key wins on Election Day with several ballot proposals that would build upon his administration’s efforts to expand housing, outdoor dining and public safety projects in the city.

All five measures are expected to succeed, according to projections from The Associated Press.

“Tonight, New Yorkers voted for a government that moves as fast as they do,” Mamdani said in a Tuesday evening statement shared by his office.

“From opening outdoor dining faster to speeding up street safety projects to accelerating housing production, we are cutting red tape that will directly address the affordability crisis and help New Yorkers stay in the city they love,” the Democratic mayor continued. “Now comes the work of turning these votes into results.”

Here’s what to know about the five ballot proposals.

The first measure would simplify the process for installing ramps, planters and sidewalk cafes in the city.

Under this amendment, public hearings are no longer required to approve these additions, and the City Council can no longer vote to reject an approved permit for a sidewalk cafe. The public would still have an opportunity to weigh in on these public use issues through an online portal process.

The measure would shorten the outdoor dining application process from around eight months to two months, according to an estimate from the mayor’s office.

NYC Hospitality Alliance, a trade association advocating for restaurants and bars in the city, celebrated the amendment’s passage as “a welcome step toward opening outdoor cafes sooner” in a statement shared Wednesday on the social platform X.

The ballot proposal was opposed by watchdog group Common Cause, which cited concerns with a loss of public input on these additions.

“Streamlining administrative processes should not mean removing meaningful opportunities for New Yorkers and their elected representatives to weigh in on decisions affecting public spaces,” the group said in a statement ahead of the election.

The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York also expressed concerns that a reliance on written comments would create a “barrier to participation” for certain groups, including people with sensory or digital access limitations.

Contracting process for small businesses and nonprofits

This amendment proposal seeks to simplify steps currently mandated for vendors seeking contract approvals from New York City’s Procurement Policy Board.

The measure would reduce the required paperwork for vendors by simplifying the contractor questionnaire and removing mandatory hearings and the board’s quarterly meetings.

The city estimates changing the contractor questionnaire could save up to 30 days in the contracting process and take a burden off of city agencies for annual reporting requirements.

Common Cause supported the ballot proposal, lauding it for “reducing unnecessary administrative burdens” to boost support for small businesses and nonprofits.

Proposal 3 is a three-pronged amendment aimed at streamlining street construction projects, the transfer of unused city property and office leasing.

The proposal would permit the city’s transportation department to begin construction without consulting other city agencies, allow the sale of lots smaller than 10,000 square feet without City Council approval and lift hearing and approval requirements for the acquisition of new office space for city employees.

Fiscal watchdog group Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) supported the amendment , saying it would provide a needed acceleration for these initiatives. The change could speed up street safety projects, including bike lanes, by at least 33 percent, according to the mayor’s office.

Critics cited concerns with the amendment’s provisions related to the sale of public land. The Municipal Art Society of New York urged New Yorkers to vote no on the measure in October, arguing it would permit the sale or transfer of “valuable public land and development rights without sufficient safeguards.”

The fourth proposal seeks to streamline the process by which contractors apply for construction permits by creating a centralized online permitting hub. Under this amendment, the Department of Buildings (DOB) would have until 2030 to implement this new online platform.

Additionally, the measure would move the approval process for waterfront structure permits under the DOB and allow these permits to be approved at a faster pace.

This ballot proposal drew support from the CBC, Common Cause and pro-housing group Abundance New York.

Nonpartisan civic education coalition D9 Harlem Votes opposed the measure, expressing skepticism about how effectively the community will be able to weigh in on construction proposals through this new online portal.

The final ballot measure approved by New Yorkers on Tuesday creates a new savings goal for the city’s reserve funds, including its rainy day fund, to strengthen long-term financial planning.

The city would set a new target of 12 percent of the previous year’s total tax revenue, with the reserve fund goal methodology being updated every four years.

The measure was opposed by the CBC , which called this goal insufficient and said it would “enshrine the failing status quo in policy.”

Common Cause supported the target, noting this amendment would establish “clearer rules for maintaining and accessing financial reserves” and “strengthen accountability across administrations.”