By Phil Orenstein
May 29, 2026
As we begin celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, it is a fitting time to reflect on the meaning of our nation’s founding and the historic moment proclaimed on July 4, 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At that moment, our Founders declared to the world that the United States of America was born free from the chains of tyrannical British rule. With their lives hanging in the balance, they proclaimed the revolutionary truth that free people could govern themselves and that our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come not from government, but from our Creator.
Two hundred and fifty years later, the greatest experiment in self-government in human history is still unfolding. In these contentious times, President Trump’s call to “Make America Great Again” has resonated with millions who believe America’s founding ideals must be restored, defended, and preserved for future generations. Ronald Reagan warned of the danger of taking freedom for granted when he famously said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It has to be fought for and defended by each generation.” That struggle is playing out locally, right here in New York City, where the principles of self-government are once again being put to the test.
At our packed May 7th club meeting themed “All Politics is Local,” we focused on local elections, grassroots activism, voter integrity efforts, and plans for America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations. We were especially honored to welcome New York attorney Jimmy Wagner as our featured speaker. Jimmy presented a bold grassroots voter referendum initiative aimed at changing the governing structure of New York City through a petition campaign to place ten Charter Reform proposals on the ballot. The campaign’s motto, “Change the Charter, Change the City,” reflects a sweeping vision to restore accountability and self-government to the people of New York City.
Jimmy Wagner, our Lincoln Dinner “Legal Advocate for All New Yorkers” honoree this past March, is a lifelong New Yorker raised in a proud union household where he learned the values of hard work, accountability, loyalty, and fairness. Throughout his career, he has refused to remain silent when government power harms ordinary citizens. He became a fierce defender of workers’ rights, religious liberty, and constitutional due process during the COVID-19 era, when thousands of public employees were terminated without hearings or meaningful recourse under sweeping executive mandates.
These were everyday New Yorkers: teachers, sanitation workers, first responders, and countless others who lost jobs, pensions, and livelihoods because they refused the COVID vaccine for religious or personal reasons. Many found themselves abandoned by a government that is supposed to protect them. Jimmy Wagner fought tirelessly on behalf of many of these workers, helping some achieve justice, and he remains committed to continuing that fight until fairness and due process are restored for all.
Now he is bringing that fight for justice to the entire voting population of New York City. As president of the newly formed Donald J. Trump Republican Club of Kings County, he has launched WeReformNYC, a nonpartisan initiative designed to place ten Charter Reform proposals before New York City voters. The goal is simple yet profound: to create a city government that is more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the more than eight million New Yorkers it is meant to serve.
The mission of WeReformNYC is clear: “New York City’s Charter is the foundation of how our city governs itself. It defines which offices exist, how elections are conducted, and what powers elected officials hold. When that foundation is sound, government works for the people it serves. When it is not, the results are predictable: low voter participation, limited accountability, and a widening gap between the public and the officials who represent them.” The reforms are aimed not at individuals or political parties, but at the systems themselves and the rules that determine how leaders are chosen, how they are held accountable, and how voters are informed. Basically, it returns power back to the people it serves.
Among the proposals is the establishment of a formal recall process for elected officials, including the Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough Presidents, and City Council Members. New York City is one of the few major American cities without a mechanism allowing voters to remove elected officials before the end of their terms. A recall process makes the elected officials directly accountable to the people. Another proposal would create an independent Office of Municipal Fairness to protect workers and residents from abuses of executive authority. Additional reforms include stronger oversight of emergency powers, preventing repressive powers that last in perpetuity, a “Resign to Run” requirement preventing elected officials from using public office as a stepping stone for higher office, and the establishment of an elected Office of Constitutional Rights. Together, the proposals seek to address longstanding structural flaws in the city’s governing framework and return greater power to the people themselves.
These ten Charter Reform proposals represent a blueprint for structural reform and renewed civic participation. They put into action the timeless principle stated in the Declaration of Independence that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Jimmy Wagner shared his vision for the city’s future by declaring that “we are going to build the greatest democracy the world has ever seen right here in New York City.”
You can learn more about this ambitious initiative at WeReformNYC.com. We invite you to pick up a petition to amend the New York City Charter at our June 11th club meeting, or sign up through the website. The campaign’s goal is to collect 50,000 signatures by mid-August to place these ten proposals on the ballot and give New Yorkers the opportunity to reshape the structure of city government. As we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary, this movement serves as a reminder that self-government requires participation, vigilance, and courage. It is a grassroots effort to restore accountability, transparency, and power back to the people of New York City.
Phil Orenstein is President of Queens Village Republican Club, America’s oldest Republican club, founded in 1875.
