(The Center Square) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Is moving to disband a “zombie” commission created by his predecessor Eric Adams to review proposed changes to the city’s charter, which has continued to meet despite the change of leadership.
On Thursday, Mamdani announced the creation of a Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE, that will be tasked with reviewing the city’s charter and soliciting public feedback on potential charter amendments at upcoming public hearings over the next few months. The move effectively disbands a charter review panel set up by Adams on his last day in office.
Mamdani said the new panel, inspired in part by Elon Musk’s now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency, will “take a hard look at how city government functions and identify the reforms we need to deliver faster, smarter and more effectively for working people.”
“New Yorkers deserve a government that works as hard as they do – and a government as careful with their money as they are,” he said in remarks. “For too long, bureaucracy has stood in the way of delivering the housing, transit, child care and public services our city needs. Restoring faith in government starts with proving government can actually deliver.”
The new 13-member commission will be headed by Patrick Gaspard, a former executive director of the Democratic National Committee and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. He said Thursday that the new panel will be “listening to New Yorkers to develop the charter for the 21st century government we need.”
“New Yorkers deserve and need a government of the possible — one that can urgently build infrastructure, promote small business growth, and make the city more livable with accessible childcare and affordable groceries,” Gaspard said.
Adams created the Charter Revision Commission on his final day as mayor after choosing not to seek reelection last year. He tasked it with crafting a referendum for the November ballot to create an open primary system in local elections. The move was viewed as an effort to undermine his successor by making it difficult to see reelection in 2029.
Despite the change of leadership, the panel convened this year with Adams former First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro serving as its chairman. That earned the panel a dubious title of ‘zombie’ commission.
Members of the commission have threatened to sue the city if they disband the panel and halt their work. It’s not clear whether they will follow through on their threats.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic legislative leaders gave Mamdani the option to disband Adams’ chart review commission and create his own panel with the provision tucked into the state budget, which was approved on Wednesday. Lawmakers gave Mamdani until June 1 to disband the panel.
