New York, NY (December 6, 2025) – Citizens Union issued the following statement on behalf of Executive Director Grace Rauh, in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s veto of legislation S590A (Krueger)/A3665A (Simone), which would have prevented mayors from blocking local ballot questions by creating charter revision commissions – a practice commonly known as “ballot bumping”:

“Citizens Union is deeply disappointed that the Governor vetoed this long-overdue reform, leaving in place a loophole that allows mayors to block ballot proposals brought by city councils or citizen-led petitions simply because they disagree with them.

“By vetoing this bill, the Governor has left in place an undemocratic authority that incentivizes abuse of power for political gain and gamesmanship. The practice known as ‘ballot bumping’ has been used by New York City mayors to control what gets on the ballot and what stays off. Unless this loophole in state law is closed, mayors will continue to ‘bump’ legitimate proposals from the City Council, and citizens will face serious obstacles when it comes to getting referenda on the ballot.

“Citizens Union has supported this legislation for decades. Mayor Eric Adams’ repeated use of this power – twice in two years – exposed just how vulnerable the City Charter is to political maneuvering and created a rare opportunity for the bill to pass the Legislature. With this gubernatorial veto, that opportunity is now lost.
“Revising the City Charter through popular referendum is a critical component of New York City governance and it must not fall victim to the political whims of a mayor.”

“Citizens Union believes it is essential that New York conduct a thorough review of the laws that govern ballot measures and charter revision commissions. We will continue working to ensure the city’s foundational governing document is amended through a thorough, open, and deliberative process that serves the public’s interest.”

Read our Group Letter to Governor Hochul: Sign the Bill Ending Mayoral Referenda “Bumping” Power

Read our Memo of Support for S590 (Krueger)/A3665 (Simone), Charter Revision Process Reform