New York, N.Y. — Citizens Union today issued the following statement from Executive Director Grace Rauh regarding the upcoming vote by the New York City Council’s Charter Revision Commission on proposed ballot measures to strengthen local democracy and government accountability:

“We are encouraged that the City Council’s Charter Revision Commission is moving forward with a vote on reforms aimed at restoring public trust and strengthening oversight in city government. While the final ballot language has not yet been released, the Commission’s recommendations in their Executive Report reflect significant progress on two critical ideas advanced by Citizens Union: establishing a process to remove the mayor for serious misconduct and guaranteeing a minimum budget for the Conflicts of Interest Board.

“New York City remains one of the few major cities without a clear mechanism to remove a mayor for misconduct. Adopting this reform would fill a glaring gap in our city’s system of checks and balances and send a strong message that accountability applies to everyone.

“Equally important, ensuring stable, independent funding for oversight bodies like the Conflicts of Interest Board and the Department of Investigation will safeguard their ability to serve the public interest.

“We urge the Charter Revision Commission to finalize and advance strong, clear ballot measures that give New Yorkers a chance to vote for integrity, transparency, and accountability at the highest levels of city government.”

In April, Citizens Union released How to Remove the New York City Mayor Over Misconduct, followed by How to Restore Public Trust and Clean City Hall: Proposals for the Next Administration—a comprehensive blueprint to strengthen ethics, enforcement, and good governance across City Hall. The Commission’s forthcoming vote represents a major step forward in Citizens Union’s effort to rebuild public confidence in city government.