Skip to content

Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation are committed to reforming New York City and State government by fostering accountability, accessibility, transparency, honesty and the highest ethical standards. Always nonpartisan, since 1897, we have devoted ourselves to holding our government accountable and the enfranchisement of all New Yorkers.

Fighting for reform, fighting for New York.

Advocacy Day 2

Our Most Recent Press Releases

Citizens Union Responds to ProPublica and The New York Times Report Outlining a Misuse of Disciplinary Rules by NYPD Leadership

 

June 28, 2024 – Citizens Union has released the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the ProPublica and The New York Times joint report on NYPD disciplinary practices

Read here

Citizens Union and Common Cause Say Charter Review Commission Must Delay Ballot Proposals Due to Rushed Process

June 25, 2024 – Yesterday, the New York City Charter Review Commission issued its preliminary report on potential changes to the City’s charter. In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York and Betsy Gotbaum, Executive Director of Citizens Union, issued the following statement about the Commission’s process and need to provide greater opportunity for public input

Read here

Statement from Betsy Gotbaum, Executive Director of Citizens Union and Former NYC Public Advocate on Assembly Candidacy of Hiram Monserrate

 

June 24, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the candidacy of Hiram Monserrate for Assembly in Queens

Read here

Citizens Union Calls on the Charter Revision Commission Not to Propose Major Changes in Such a Rushed Timeline and to Prevent Future Charter Gamesmanship

 

June 17, 2024 – Citizens Union testified before the 2024 New York City Charter Commission’s Government and Election Reform Hearing. Throughout its 125-year history, Citizens Union has supported periodic comprehensive reviews of the New York City Charter absent a political agenda via the appointment of an independent Charter Revision Commission to ensure that city government is operating effectively, efficiently, and in the public’s best interest.

Read here

Citizens Union Prefers Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Stefani Zinerman, Xavier Santiago, Micah Lasher and Jordan Wright for Assembly

 

June 12, 2024 – Citizens Union announced its preferences in six contested primary elections for Assembly seats in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Read here

Citizens Union Responds to Senate Passage of Bill to Move Local Elections to Even-Number Years, Excluding New York City

 

June 7, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the State Senate passage of bill S9826 that would move local elections in New York State, excluding New York City to even-numbered years

Read here

Citizens Union Responds to Poor Attendance at the First Public Meeting of the Hastily Planned Charter Revision Commission

 

June 6, 2024 – Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum following today’s first public meeting of the Charter Review Commission

Read here

Citizens Union Responds to Governor Hochul’s Announcement on Congestion Pricing

 

June 5, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that the implementation of Congestion Pricing will be delayed

Read here

Advocates respond to last-minute attempts to exclude New York City from even-year election reform

 

June 4, 2024 – The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Brooklyn Voters Alliance, Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, Disabled In Action of Metropolitan NY, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance (DCPAA), New York Civic Engagement Table, Reinvent Albany, Stand Up America, Village Independent Democrats, and YVote issued the following joint statement in response to a bill introduced in the state legislature yesterday (S9826 Skoufis/A10538 Jacobson) that would move local elections throughout New York State, excluding New York City, to even-numbered years

Read here

Statement from Randy Mastro, Chair of Citizens Union, on the Conviction of Former President Donald Trump

 

May 31, 2024 – Randy Mastro, Chair of Citizens Union, has issued the following statement on behalf of Citizens Union following the conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records

Read here

Citizens Union urges the City Council not to rush through advice and consent expansion

 

May 28, 2024 – Citizens Union submitted a testimony today a in response to proposed legislation in the New York City Council that would expand the Council’s power over the appointment of commissioners. The bill, Intro. 908-2024 (Speaker Adams) would amend the City Charter to require the advice and consent of the City Council for 21 commissioner appointments.

Read here

Back To Top