The Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Manhattan all have open seats for Borough President this year. The notable exception is the Queens BP slot, where the incumbent—who just won his seat—has to run again.
The BP position may appear to carry a lot of weight, but that depends on who you talk to in your borough. On one hand, it's the highest position in a borough, complete with a large staff and the ability to hold hearings and issue reports. On the other hand, the role is largely ceremonial.
That wasn't always the case. Up until 30 years ago, borough presidents were in the room where it all happened, making decisions as a member of the now-defunct Board of Estimate that included the mayor, Council president (equivalent to the speaker), and comptroller. The Board of Estimate's powers included shaping the New York City budget, deciding the appointment of cushy city contracts or where to place city-run facilities, and voting on land use matters. While the mayor, the Council president, and the comptroller each had two votes, borough presidents had just one vote. Even so, borough presidents had some real leverage, and it was better than the City Council, which had virtually no power.
But the U.S Supreme Court dismantled the Board of Estimate in 1989 after several lawyers challenged its constitutionality. In a unanimous decision, the court found the board violated the Fourteenth Amendment, specifically the "one person, one vote" rule, since one borough president with a much larger population had the same representation over another borough president with a smaller population.
This forced New York City to update its City Charter, and by the time 1990 rolled in, the New York City Council and the mayor's office truly controlled the levers of power. Borough presidents were no longer in the room, left only with a fraction of the power they once possessed.
The loss of power doesn't make the job completely futile. To this day, it's still a sought-after gig, as this year demonstrates (there are myriad of candidates running in all borough president races after all). The job still comes with an enormous megaphone to help amplify critical borough-based issues, in addition to some other perks:
An Official Ambassador
The borough president largely serves as an ambassador for their borough with a direct line to the mayor or even governor to discuss prevailing issues impacting their corner of New York City. Sometimes the relationship can be frosty, as in the case of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Mayor Bill de Blasio, or incredibly beneficial as is the case with Diaz and Governor Andrew Cuomo. Borough presidents can gain the upper hand on an issue by weaponizing what got them into office to begin with: charm and people skills. It's perhaps the greatest tool in their limited bucket.
A Say In Land Use
The borough president does not make the final call on land use matters, specifically the rezoning of a given neighborhood (that is left up to the Council member where said rezoning would happen, with members honoring their vote), but they are empowered to offer an advisory vote during what is often a lengthy public review process. And they can do this by holding public hearings on any proposed rezoning (and, really, on any issue, though it seldom happens), using it as an auxiliary bully pulpit to make the case for or against a rezoning.
They Appoint Members To Various Panels
A borough president's reach extends to the members appointed by BPs to various boards and panels, including half the members to a borough's community boards; one member to the Panel for Educational Policy to decide on school-related matters; and one member to the City Planning Commission that reviews zoning applications. Borough presidents are also ex-officio members of local business improvement districts that help maintain and market commercial strips. These appointments serve as proxy votes for the borough president, whose politics and policy beliefs are aligned with the BP's. They are also self-appointed members to the New York City Employees' Retirement System, which has influence over the pension fund.
Tiny Control Of The Budget
As the top executive and intermediary between local and more centralized New York City government, the borough president is allocated 5% of the city's annual discretionary capital budget each year, which is then earmarked for schools, community-based organizations, hospitals, transportation projects, and historic landmarks. Applications are sent to the borough president's office for review during budget season.
Propose Legislation
Like the public advocate, a borough president can propose legislation through a Council member who then introduces the bill "at the behest of the borough president." Such a practice has worked out for borough presidents, including current Manhattan BP Gale Brewer, who introduced various legislation that included the expansion of paid sick time, accessible pedestrian signals, and the Fair Chance Act, which makes it illegal for employers to ask about a prospective employee's criminal record. All of those bills were passed.
