Ken Fisher is quoted in a Crain’s New York Business article discussing member deference in New York City, which has been responsible for the loss of over 3,500 potential housing units since 2022. With this practice, City Council members effectively hold veto power over developments in their districts, often leading to project rejections or major alterations. While council members defend the practice as a way of securing community benefits and affordability, critics argue it exacerbates the housing crisis by prioritizing local politics over citywide needs.

Mayor Adams’ Charter Revision Commission has proposed ballot questions to reduce the council’s control over land use decisions, including creating an appeals board and fast-tracking certain affordable housing projects. These proposals, which will go before voters in November’s general election, have sparked debates among developers, council members, and labor unions, with supporters seeing them as a necessary reform and opponents warning of diminished community influence and labor leverage.

If approved, it will be the developer’s decision to either take advantage of the proposals or gamble on a site represented by a hostile council member in hopes that the appeals board will support the project if the council does not. Ken predicts that some developers will take the risk, particularly if the local borough president is considered pro-development. “I definitely think that there are some developers that would be more inclined to go through the process with that [board] as the outcome than currently having the uphill fight to get the speakers to go along,” said Ken.

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