FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (January 8, 2025) – Citizens Union issues the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the report released today by the Department of Investigations revealing that NYC Board of Elections Executive Director Mike Ryan harassed employees and created a hostile work environment:
“Today’s Department of Investigation (DOI) report exposes not only the harassment of employees and creation of a hostile work environment, but also the Board of Elections’ (BOE) failure to uphold even the most basic standards of accountability and workplace protections.”
“The BOE, structured to answer solely to party bosses rather than the public it serves, is an institution plagued by patronage. This enables misconduct at the highest levels and perpetuates a culture that fails both its employees and New York City’s voters.”
“An agency responsible for safeguarding our democracy cannot operate as a political fiefdom lacking accountability. The current structure, codified in state law, shields the BOE from meaningful oversight.”
“New Yorkers deserve a Board of Elections that is ethical, transparent, and effective—one that respects its employees and fulfills its mission of serving the public. It is past time for the state legislature and governor to take decisive action to restructure the BOE. This must include establishing clear accountability mechanisms, professionalizing its leadership, and ensuring the agency is no longer controlled by party bosses.”
About Citizens Union
For over 125 years, Citizens Union has been a force for reform, accountability, and ethics in New York City and State government. A nonpartisan organization, our current priorities include advocating for moving local elections to even-numbered years to boost voter turnout, strengthening ethics oversight and enforcement, and ensuring a judicious Charter Revision process. Learn more at www.citizensunion.org.
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