For Immediate Release
Contact: Lauren Mannerberg, 929-553-7702, lauren@anatgerstein.com
New York, NY (July 15, 2025) –Citizens Union Executive Director Grace Rauh issued the following statement in response to the passage of Intro 1020-2024 by the New York City Council:
“With serious allegations of corruption, cronyism, and retaliation surfacing at the highest levels of the NYPD in recent years, the need for credible, independent oversight has never been more urgent. We applaud the City Council for taking a vital step to strengthen police oversight in New York City. By mandating stronger transparency and accountability measures within the Office of the Inspector General, this bill gives New Yorkers more insight into when and how police monitoring is being obstructed—and where it may be falling short.
Intro 1020 is a common-sense reform that strengthens transparency and accountability within the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD. By requiring public disclosure when police officials block investigations or deny access to critical information, the bill exposes stonewalling that has too often gone unreported and unchallenged. It also increases visibility into the progress and delays of oversight investigations that matter deeply to New Yorkers.
This legislation sends a clear message: the NYPD is not above scrutiny, and those responsible for holding it accountable must have the authority and tools to do their jobs. The public deserves to know when oversight is being thwarted and why. This bill will help ensure that the NYPD Inspector General can serve as the strong, independent watchdog New Yorkers expect and deserve.
We commend Council Member Gale Brewer for her unwavering leadership and the Brennan Center for Justice for spearheading the coalition of civic organizations that helped advance this critical reform. Citizens Union was proud to support the bill and to testify in favor of it. This is a win for honest, effective government—and for every New Yorker who believes in the power of oversight to create change.”
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