Ideas for Cutting Bureaucratic Hurdles and Getting Things Done in NYC

Mayor Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) has put forward five promising ballot proposals to make city government work better, faster, and more efficiently. But there are numerous other opportunities to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that slow government down, increase costs, and make it harder to get things done in New York—many of which do not require charter changes. Identifying and reducing these frustrating, costly, and time-consuming bureaucratic rules and processes will be increasingly important at a time when the city faces massive policy challenges but also growing fiscal constraints.

This forum will explore specific opportunities to reduce outdated, unnecessary, and redundant bureaucratic hurdles across city government—from approvals at the Department of Buildings and FDNY to contracting, procurement, hiring, and other core government processes. It will be a solutions-focused conversation that delves into rules and practices ripe for improvement and advances practical ideas for how city leaders can make these changes happen. It will discuss the ballot proposals put forward by COGE.