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.
Our Most Recent Press Releases
Watchdog Groups Ask Governor Hochul and AG James to Announce their Final Nominees to New Ethics Commission
Watchdog groups ask Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James to announce their final nominations to New York’s Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”). Four seats on the new ethics commission still remain unfilled.
Watchdog groups request the new Ethics Commission to investigate JCOPE’s approval of Governor Cuomo’s book
Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, N.Y. Public Interest Research Group, and Reinvent Albany sent a letter to the members of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, requesting they investigate JCOPE’s approval of former Governor Cuomo’s book deal as well as compliance with and enforcement of the terms of that approval. The letter also requested the Commission revise its rules to require Commission approval for outside income requests of agency heads statewide officials.
Citizens Union Responds to NYC Districting Commission Approval of the Final City Council District Maps, Ending a Ten-Month Long Process
Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum as New York City’s redistricting process reaches its conclusion
Citizens Union Announces Endorsement of Kathy Hochul for New York State Governor
Citizens Union announced its endorsement of Kathy Hochul for New York State Governor. Hochul received overwhelming support among Citizens Union’s board members.
Citizens Union Announces Endorsements of Three Candidates for State Senate and Assembly in Competitive General Election
Citizens Union announced its preferences in 3 contested seats in the general elections for State Senate and Assembly. After a rigorous evaluation of 6 candidates running for office in Brooklyn and Queens, Citizens Union has endorsed Mathylde Frontus for Assembly (AD 46, Brooklyn), and Iwen Chu (SD 17, Brooklyn) and Toby Ann Stavisky (SD 11, Queens) for State Senate.
Citizens Union Announces Positions on a Statewide Ballot Proposal and Three Citywide Ballot Proposals for 2022 General Election
October 24, 2022 – Citizens Union today announced Citizens Union’s recommendations on proposals on the ballot for this fall’s general election. The first proposal will be posed to all New York State voters, and the additional three proposals will only be on the ballots of New York City voters.
Groups Say Independent Contract Oversight Is Essential to Protecting Public Funds
Eight unions and 27 organizations sent a memo of support today urging Governor Hochul to sign S6809-A/A7925-A (Reichlin-Melnick/Zebrowski), which restores many of the State Comptroller’s contract oversight powers. District Council 37, CWA District 1, AFSCME, and NYSUT were among those calling on the Governor to sign the bill, which the legislature passed in June.
Citizens Union Responds to NYC Districting Commission’s Revised City Council District Maps, Calls on Council to Act Immediately
Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after New York City Districting Commission released and voted on their latest draft of district maps, as part of the redistricting process for New York City’s 51 council districts
Citizens Union Applauds NYC Districting Commission for Open Map Drawing Sessions, Allowing Public to See How City Council District Maps Are Drawn
Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after the New York City Districting Commission completed their two day process for drawing maps for New York City’s 51 council districts, which was open to the public
Watchdogs Ask New Members of Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government to Reset Expectations about NYS Ethics Oversight
In a letter to the new members of the NYS State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, watchdog groups said that the creation of the new Commission provides the opportunity to “reset” public and state officers and employees’ expectations about state ethics oversight.
Recent Events
Civic Conversations, Spring for Reform 2020
