October 9, 2025
Our Reform Agenda
Highlights:
1996
CU lawsuit leads to creation of NYC Independent Budget Office after long delay.
2011
New York enacts ethics reforms after CU advocacy and reporting on misconduct.
2013
CU-backed reforms improve efficiency of reporting election night results.
Recent Action on Transparency
Statements
Testimonies
September 23, 2025
Testimony on Proposed Changes to the Rules of the New York City Council, September 2025
June 26, 2025
Testimony: Intro. 1235-2025 (Brewer), Centralized system for processing FOIL requests
April 28, 2009
Testimony to the City Council Committee on Governmental Operations on Int. No. 952–requires City Record to be published online and free of charge
June 29, 2009
Testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Technology in Government on Int. No. 991 – to create open data standards
Reports
January 1, 2006
Citizens Union Report on Principles of Council Reform
May 1, 2012
Citizens Union Report: Equitable and Objective Reforms to NYC Discretionary Funding
June 30, 2010
Citizens Union Issues Report with Recommendations for Increasing Avenues for Participation in Governing and Elections in New York City
November 19, 2013
NYC Open Data Law: Progress and Challenges
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