Online Petitions Proposed to Offer New Yorkers a New Way to Speak Out

New York City lawmakers are considering a local model of the White House’s We The People: an online petition system that would allow residents to ask anything they want of their public officials and, with sufficient support, receive a response.

The proposal to create something resembling a Reddit for the body politic was introduced by Councilman James Vacca (D-Bronx) and referred to the City Council’s Committee on Technology, of which he is chairman. Spokesmen for Mayor Bill de Blasio and Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Council speaker, said their offices were reviewing the bill.