New York, NY (January 8, 2026) – Citizens Union today released the following statement from Executive Director Grace Rauh in response to New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin’s announcement that she would seek to study the salaries of elected officials through a quadrennial advisory commission rather than direct legislation that would allow officials to vote on their own raises without outside review:

“Citizens Union applauds City Council Speaker Julie Menin for affirming that any potential increases to elected officials’ salaries should be determined through the legally mandated compensation commission process, rather than through the legislation heard in December, which would have raised council members’ own pay without the normal outside review.

Her decision ensures that the long-awaited salary adjustment for council members is achieved through the same honest, transparent, and credible process that has served New York City well for half a century.

Citizens Union previously urged the Council to halt its eleventh-hour pay-bump measure and proposed alternative legislative options that would maintain the integrity of the salary-setting process. We join the Speaker in urging Mayor Zohran Mamdani to establish an Advisory Commission for the Review of Compensation Levels of Elected Officials, and we look forward to collaborating with this future commission to ensure elected officials are fairly and appropriately compensated.”

Read more:

• Watchdog Groups Oppose Rushed Council Pay Hike: Electeds Should Receive Fair Raise Through Outside Review Process 
• Explainer: How to Increase Elected Officials’ Salaries in New York City 
• Testimony to the City Council: Legislation to Increase Compensation Levels for New York City Elected Officials