How to vote on NYC ballot proposals this Election Day

These proposals are on the back of the ballots, and I cannot emphasize this enough. Turn the ballot over because this is where you're going to be finding this information. These are very important causes. All right, the first proposal addresses the permit process for outdoor structures on public streets and sidewalks. So think outdoor dining. Supporters say it speeds up the process by, among other things, making public hearings optional. Opponents say it reduces the opportunities for New Yorkers to weigh in on the matter. Proposal 2, reform the city contracting process to improve procurement. Those in favor says this speeds up how long it takes the city to decide which organizations or companies to award contracts to. Opponents question whether it would truly work in favor of the nonprofits and small businesses who actually submit bids. Mayor Mamdani addressing ballot proposals during a Q&A this morning. Whether you are a New Yorker and you want a small business to succeed, proposal number one would cut $1,800 from that small business's fees, speed up outdoor dining processing by 75%. If you work for a non-profit, you want to see that non-profit get your money faster from the city, proposal two speeds up that process. Prop 3 fast track street safety infrastructure, acquisition of office space and activation of city land. Now those in favor believe this will speed up the construction of, say, bike and bus lanes, though New Yorkers who aren't fans of bike lanes are likely to vote no here. The next one, simplified building permitting is exactly what that says. If you want one entity as opposed to multiple city agencies to get construction done in the city, vote yes here. Would be kind of hard-pressed to find opposition to this one, to be perfectly honest. The last proposal is set contribution goals for a rainy day fund. Now, this will allow the city to keep more money on hand in case of a recession or severe economic downturn. Critics argue it gives City Hall the ability to withdraw more than 50% of those funds If the mayor feels there's a commitment compelling fiscal reason and without city council approval. Ben Max with the New York Law School Center for New York City Law Policy breaks down the proposal's significance. These five proposals are all different. Four of them deal with speeding up government, but there's actually nuance to all the proposals that people can review individually, whether you like more outdoor dining permits or faster development of street projects. Or think that the Department of Buildings should more quickly be able to provide building permits. There are different questions in each that people should consider. Many feel the proposals give too much say to City Hall, rather, with very little oversight. Still, others feel the proposals streamline processes that have been viewed as non-efficient for decades. And the bottom line, Natasha, turn the ballot over.