NYC Mayor Adams launches Charter Revision Commission with hours left in office

Josephine Stratman and Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News on Dec 31, 2025

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With just hours left in office, Mayor Eric Adams launched a Charter Revision Commission stacked with political allies on Wednesday afternoon, tasking the panel with considering changing city law to allow for open primaries in local elections.

The commission, made up of 13 members all appointed by Adams, will mainly be focused on exploring the option of allowing independent voters to cast their votes in the first round of elections, sources familiar told the Daily News.

Marty Connor, former State Senate minority leader and an election lawyer, will chair the commission. Adams appointed stalwart allies to the panel, including his former press secretary Kayla Mamelak, former Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker, deputy chief of staff Menashe Shapiro, homeless advocate Shams DaBaron and United Bodega of America founder Fernando Mateo.

Some members tapped for the 11th-hour commission weren’t asked until Wednesday morning if they would be willing to serve on it, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

“This historic commission will bring together trailblazing leaders from across the five boroughs to examine our city’s charter and explore ways to create a more inclusive, democratic city government,” Adams said in a statement issued just hours before his time as mayor was set to come to an end at midnight. “I want to personally thank the men and women who are stepping up to serve on this commission.”

The panel could also examine repealing aspects of the city’s sanctuary laws, though that element is not seen as a priority, according to sources.

The commission would technically have authority to advance ballot referendum questions for a future election to adopt changes to the City Charter.

But several city government officials familiar with the Charter Revision Commission process, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said incoming Mayor Mamdani may not be entirely powerless when it comes to undoing Adams’ last-minute panel.

While he may not be able to formally disband it, Mamdani could starve the commission of funding, staff and Law Department assistance, making it effectively toothless, a source said.

Connor, the chairperson of the new commission, still said in a statement that “making sure every voter has an equal say in our city’s governance is a goal that is always worth pursuing.”

“I am looking forward to hearing from every corner of New York about the best way to achieve this,” Connor’s statement added.

A spokesperson for Mamdani didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

Around 1 million New Yorkers are unaffiliated with a party and therefore can’t participate in primary elections, according to good government group Citizens Union, which has advocated for the change but against the formation of this commission.

A previous panel convened by Adams also considered the open primary concept earlier this year but ultimately decided in July not to move forward with it.

Adams previously brought together two other commissions, including one that advanced a series of housing production-related questions on the Nov. 4 ballot that passed despite fierce opposition from the City Council.

The outgoing mayor frequently sparred with the City Council during his four years in office and was accused by Speaker Adrienne Adams of using the Charter Revision Commissions to undermine the legislative body.

“This mayor abused the charter revision process repeatedly and there are many guilty enablers of this anti-democratic conduct, so it is no major surprise that his abuses of power continued into the last day and final hours,” Mandela Jones, a spokesperson for the outgoing speaker, said in a statement.

Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier in December vetoed a bill that would have prevented a mayor from bumping Council proposals off the ballot.

Asked by The News at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon about the charter revision push, Adams only repeatedly replied, “Cigar and a single malt Scotch” — referring to what he’ll do once his term ends.

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