MWBE officer role on ballot to be added to the New York City charter

Earlier this summer, New York City addressed how its Charter would be revised as requested by Mayor Eric Adams. Public hearings were held by a Revision Committee in all five boroughs, with proposals ranging from renaming the Comptroller to giving Community Boards more power. The charter acts as a playbook on how the city’s government works.

On July 23rd, the committee announced five proposals will go on the ballot for November’s general election. Among them, codifying in the charter the position of Chief Business Diversity Officer. It is a role Adams created in early 2023 and appointed Michael Garner to this position, to improve the city’s Minority Women Business-Owned Enterprises (MWBEs) program. 

“I think the Commission recognized the need to really focus and assist MWBE firms,” said Carlo Scissura, the chair of the Charter Revision Commission. “This now creates a new office within City Hall and has the force of the Mayor’s office behind it and it has the power to monitor and coordinate with every city agency.”  

However, Garner proposed a different idea during the hearings. He suggested an MWBE agency that would allow more accountability and greater chances for city contracts for MWBEs. Currently, MWBEs are part of the Department of Small Business Services.

Despite an agency not in the works, Garner said he was thrilled his role could be preserved.

“It is a great thing to have this codified and empowered in order to drive the Mayor’s aggressive MWBE vision,” he told New York Nonprofit Media. “This codified strategy now is going to allow the City of New York to drive their MWBE outcomes and programming in a centralized and more cost-effective manner. In essence, it’s going to institutionalize the role.”

Garner was not the only one proposing an agency. Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn also proposed this and said she and Garner have worked together since she became the chair of the Assembly’s Subcommittee of Oversight on MWBEs. She said the point of including the Chief Business Diversity Officer role in the charter is to define it, create limitations, and serve as the point of contact for MWBEs

“Although a centralized MWBE agency is an initiative we both agreed on and ended up working on together,” the Assemblymember said. “The concept of centralizing resources, eliminating red tape, increasing accountability, and more to empower MWBEs is nothing new. Let’s not forget that MWBEs have been facing a decades-long uphill battle to get their fair share of the multibillion-dollar economic pie.”

Although an agency was the original proposal, Scissura said an agency may happen in the future and Garner claims there are “internal conversations” on it. But now, the focus is on the Chief Business Diversity Officer role. 

But including the position can only happen if voters decide this November. Bichotte-Hermelyn points out that since this year includes the presidential election, the Brooklyn Democratic Party may primarily focus on that. But, “we always ensure voters are educated on these ballot proposals,” she said.

Garner is optimistic that his role will be added to the charter. He will spread the word about this ballot proposal, particularly among the MWBE community. 

He also noted the city’s MWBE program is improving under Adams’ leadership. Last October saw the announcement of a record-breaking $6 Billion in contracts to MWBE firms. Last August, the Mayor signed an executive order to enhance the MWBE program by tracking performance outcomes. Adams aims to increase the contracts to $25 billion by 2026, and $60 billion by 2030. 

It is to be seen whether adding Garner’s role to the charter would add fuel to the city’s MWBE program. “It’s a position within City Hall,” said Scissura. “Whoever the Mayor is in the future, this role exists at City Hall and that’s a big deal.”