Join or renew Citizens Union membership to be eligible for committee service.

Citizens Union’s policy committees are a key part of our policy-making apparatus. Made up of CU members and supported by staff, they convene to discuss public policy issues and make recommendations to the Board of Directors. The committees are:

The Municipal Affairs Committee, which takes positions that inform the organization’s policy agenda and advocacy goals at the New York City level;
The State Affairs Committee, which informs our agenda at the state level; and
The Local Candidates Committee, which evaluates candidates running for city or state office and makes preference and endorsement recommendations to the Board of Directors.

In 2018, the Municipal and State Affairs Committee began meeting jointly to better address policy matters that overlap New York City and Albany.

The Municipal Affairs Committee (MAC) takes positions on matters related to governmental processes in New York City. The committee’s discussions are influenced by long-term priorities of the organization, but also respond to current events in New York City. The committee makes proposals to the Board in a number of ways, including policy position statements, memos of support or opposition to particular pieces of legislation, or proposals for new legislation. In recent years, the MAC has considered topics related to municipal resident voting, police accountability, and civic engagement.

The State Affairs Committee (SAC) makes decisions that inform Citizens Union’s policy agenda and advocacy goals at the state level. Like the MAC, the SAC makes proposals to the Board related to support or opposition to a particular issue or piece of legislation in Albany. In recent years, the SAC has considered topics on a wide range of issues, including term limits for state officials, state budget, ethics, and open government.

The Local Candidates Committee (LCC) evaluates candidates running for both city and state office, and makes endorsement recommendations. The evaluation process involves a candidate questionnaire on issues important to CU, candidate interviews conducted by a subcommittee of LCC members, and a final vote by the entire LCC who then makes a recommendation to the CU Board. During the 2017 Primary Election, 35 volunteer LCC members, 6 interns, and 4 staff members evaluated 54 candidates in 17 races for New York City Council and Brooklyn District Attorney. In the General Election, the committee evaluated 17 candidates in 7 races for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, and New York City Council.

Issues

Memo of Support, S2543 (Myrie), provides for statewide voter guides

February 25, 2025 – Memo supporting legislation requiring the State Board of Elections to prepare and distribute “voting guides” to all registered voters as well as election notifications.

Statement from Citizens Union on Former Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon’s Resignation and Allegations Against Mayor Adams

February 14, 2025 - Citizens Union issues the following statement from Board Chair John Avlon in response to the resignation of former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon and her letter detailing allegations against Mayor Eric Adams

Testimony for the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing

Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.

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

February 3, 2025 - An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to the city charter referendum process; and to repeal paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 5 of section 36 of the municipal home rule law, relating to limitations on the submitting of a question to the qualified electors of a city when there is a question submitted by a charter commission.

Group Memo of Support for Intro 1020-2024, Strengthening the NYPD Office of the Inspector General

January 28, 2025 - Citizens Union joined several civic groups to urge the Council to pass Intro 1020-2024 (Brewer) to strengthen the NYPD Office of the Inspector General (the OIG) so that it can fulfill its purpose of providing independent and effective oversight of the NYPD.

Testimony before the Council Oversight Committee on the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD

January 29, 2025 - Citizens Union comments on the Department of Investigation’s Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD and Intro. 1020-2024

Memo of Support, Intro 77-A (Restler) Post-employment ban expansion

January 22, 2025 - Citizens Union submitted a memo in support of proposed legislation that would strengthen the City’s revolving door restrictions, preventing high-ranking government officials from leveraging their power, knowledge, and relationships after leaving public office to unfairly benefit private interests.

Watchdogs Support NY Post FOIL Lawsuit Requesting Police Disciplinary Records Prior to June 2020

December 6, 2024 - Watchdog groups Reinvent Albany, Citizens Union, and Common Cause NY submitted an amicus brief to the New York State Court of Appeals supporting the New York Post’s lawsuit seeking the public disclosure of police disciplinary records created prior to June 2020, when the state law repealing §50-a of the Civil Rights Law took effect. The groups advocate for open and accountable government in New York, including strengthening the state’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and supported the repeal of 50-a in 2022.

CU Joins Coalition to Push for State Amendment to Boost NYC Voter Turnout

December 4th - In considering the resolution, the City Council can send a clear message to Albany lawmakers that New York City prioritizes an inclusive local democracy that encourages, rather than discourages, New Yorkers to vote.

Testimony: 2024 Public Hearing of the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

November 13, 2024 - Citizens Union’s testimony before the state ethics commission, including comments on the commission's proposed 2025 legislative agenda

Citizens Union’s Positions on the 2024 Ballot Proposals

October 10, 2024 - write-ups of CU's positions on the 2024 ballot proposals. We recommend a YES vote on Proposal 1 and a NO vote on Proposal 2-6

Group Statement on NYC Campaign Finance Following the Indictment of Mayor Eric Adams

October 8, 2024 - Today, Citizens Union and seven other groups issued the following statement in response to numerous questions about the New York City public matching program since Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. According to the U.S. Attorney, foreign nationals used straw donors to make illegal campaign contributions to Eric Adams.

Citizens Union Comments on 2024 Proposed Changes to the Campaign Finance Board Rules

September 27, 2024 - Testimony to the New York City Campaign Finance Board about proposed 2024 Rule Amendments, in which Citizens Union proposes three comments on the proposed new factors for determining whether an expenditure is independent and the proposed requirement to maintain a website and social media site

Watchdog Groups File Amicus Brief to Court of Appeals that Ethics Commission Is Constitutional

August 26, 2024 - In a joint new Amicus Brief to New York’s highest court, groups argue the appointment process for the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) is clearly lawful

Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Public Safety Hearing

June 20, 2024 - Citizens Union has been studying police accountability and performance in New York City for more than a decade, and many of our recommendations have been implemented. We believe the best way to ensure the safe and democratic application of policing is to strengthen and streamline systems of oversight and accountability, both within the NYPD and among the independent entities that monitor police misconduct. Public safety is dependent on New Yorkers having faith in law enforcement.

Voting Rights, Disability Rights, Civic, and Community Groups Support Bill to Move City Election to Even-Years

May 21, 2024 – Citizens Union, the Let NY Vote coalition, and over two dozen advocacy groups signed on to a memo in support of S9126 (Skoufis)/A10466 (Walker), which would align city and other elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections. This change would strengthen our democracy by significantly increasing the number of people who vote for local offices and reducing racial and age-based gaps in voter participation.

Memo of Support, S6875 (Myrie)/A9612 (Walker), voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals

Watchdog Groups Call on Court of Appeals to Hear Ethics Commission Case

May 13, 2024 - Our groups, united in our belief that the law creating New York’s Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) is constitutional, are concerned that the alarming logic of the recent Appellate Court decision would create an imperial Governor who cannot be held accountable for defying the law – short of impeachment or the ballot box.

Testimony before the City Council – oversight hearings on lobbying reform

April 19, 2024 – Testimony on bills regarding prohibitions lobbying in connection with campaign-related fundraising or political consulting, the city’s post-employment restrictions, and other proposed reforms in lobbying oversight and enforcement.

Group testimony on proposed COIB rules regarding NYC’s policymaker list

April 17, 2024 – Citizens Union joined Reinvent Albany and Common Cause NY to testify in support of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB)'s proposed rule changes to the policymaker list. This testimony includes additional recommendations related to data transparency.