Ethics – Page 2 – Citizens Union

Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response to 2022 State Budget Deal

April 8, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the details of the New York State budget deal: “Governor Hochul’s first state budget presented a rare opportunity to push for meaningful ethics reform in Albany. Unfortunately, the governor and the legislature failed to create an independent ethics oversight body. The new commission designed to replace JCOPE is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.

Governor and Legislature Have Failed to Create an Independent Ethics Oversight Body

April 9, 2022 - After careful review, we believe the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government created in the state budget is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.

Citizens Union Slams Proposed Deal to Replace JCOPE with Another Toothless Ethics Commission

March 29, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to news that the Governor and Legislature have reached a deal to replace JCOPE with a new commission charged with enforcing ethics and lobbying laws

Watchdogs Urge Gov. Hochul and Legislative Leaders to Create an Independent State Ethics Commission in This Budget

February 9, 2022 - Groups back Governor Hochul’s basic “framework” of law school deans appointing ethics commissioners if there is a transparent selection process and specific measures increasing independence.

Testimony for the 2022 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on the Governor’s ethics reform proposal

January 25, 2022 - Testimony for the 2022 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing regarding the Public Protection and General Government Article VII Legislation, and specifically the Independent Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022

Citizens Union Responds to Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address

January 5, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address:

Testimony before the Senate Ethics Committee on New York’s system of ethics oversight and enforcement, December 2021

December 9, 2021 - Citizen Union testifies on measures that could improve the system of ethics oversight in New York. JCOPE is not the only agency tasked with keeping our government clean, related to relevant enforcement agencies like the Attorney General, the Legislative Ethics Commission, the Inspector General, as well as the Board of Elections, including its Chief Enforcement Officer.

Testimony before the Senate Ethics Committee on New York’s system of ethics oversight and enforcement, August 2021

August 15, 2021 - Citizen Union testifies on the need to overhaul the system of ethics oversight in New York, and specifically to replace the ethics watchdog JCOPE with an independent agency.

Letters

Citizens Union Charter Revision Commission Letter COIB - 'agents of the city' inquiryEthics One-Pager_2016_Web Group Letter to Leaders Calling for…

Citizens Union Announces Positions On Ballot Proposals For 2019 General Election

October 7, 2019 - Good Government Group Supports Ranked Choice Voting, Increasing Oversight of NYPD, Modifications to the City Budget, and Changes to Land Use Review; Opposes Proposed Changes to Ethics Rule.

Statement from Randy Mastro, Chair of Citizens Union

October 4, 2019 - For the past 125 years, Citizens Union has sounded a clarion call for good government in New York, holding state and local officials accountable for their actions. But of late, we have also had to speak up for the first time in our history about events unfolding in Washington that are so troubling they compel people of conscience to call them out. Sadly, now is once again such a time.

Citizens Union Reacts to the Conviction of Former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano

March 12, 2019 - Ed Mangano betrayed voters by using the office of the County Executive for personal financial gain.

Citizens Union Comments on NYS Compensation Committee Recommendations

December 11, 2018 - In order to attract the best, brightest, and most independent to public service, elected officials need to be compensated fairly for the work they do.

Citizens Union Statement on Sentencing of Syracuse Developer in Buffalo Billions Scandal

December 7, 2018 - "The charges brought against Joseph Gerardi speak to a culture of corruption in Albany and the need for a serious assessment of New York State’s ethics laws. Mr. Gerardi's conviction and sentencing, and that of top state officials in recent years, should serve as a reminder to lawmakers that it is time for Albany to be serious about ethics reform.

CU Reacts to Charges Brought Against Assemblymember Joseph Errigo

October 11, 2018 - "The charges brought yesterday against Assemblyman Joseph Errigo speak to a culture of corruption in Albany, where lobbyists and powerful interests can literally purchase lawmakers and legislation to suit their needs. This corruption is especially prevalent when it comes to decision making around economic development, and it should come as no surprise that nefarious interests looking to take advantage of the system are seeking to muddy the waters of oversight over huge sums of taxpayer dollars,"

Citizens Union Reminds New Yorkers to Vote in the Primary Elections on September 13

September 9, 2018 - “Voter participation in New York’s primary elections is historically low,”

Transparency Cannot Wait

July 1, 2018 - State Economic Development Contracts In Buffalo and Syracuse Worth Over $1 Billion Rigged

As Massive Bid Rigging Trial Gets Underway Watchdogs Call On Assembly Speaker Heastie to Stop Stalling and Allow Vote on Database of Deals and Comptroller’s Procurement Integrity Act

June 18, 2018 - State Economic Development Contracts In Buffalo and Syracuse Worth Over $1Billion Rigged. Bills that would increase transparency of state business subsidies and fairness of economic development contracts have already passed State Senate 62-0 and 60-2.

Progressive Groups, Government and Budget Watchdogs Call On Assembly Speaker Heastie to Allow Vote on Database of Deals and Comptroller’s Procurement Integrity Act

June 7, 2018 - Bills have already passed State Senate 62-0 and 60-2 Would increase transparency of state business subsidies and fairness of economic development contracts.

Watchdog Groups Applaud Senate for Passing Bills to Increase the Transparency and Accountability of State Economic Development Programs

May 9, 2018 - Good government and fiscal watchdog groups commend the Senate for passing a package of bills intended to improve the transparency and accountability of the state’s multitude of economic development programs.

Brooklyn Pol Runs Campaign Out of His Nonprofit’s Housing

April 10, 2018 - "The senator identified that address as his campaign headquarters in a candidate questionnaire submitted to the good-government group Citizens Union when he first sought his central Brooklyn seat in 2014."

Citizens Union Faults State for Proposed $11.7 Billion in Unaccounted Spending

March 28, 2018 - Today, Citizens Union released Spending in the Shadows: Nonspecific Funding in the FY 2019 New York State Executive Budget.

Testimony to the New York City Council on Sexual Harassment Best Practices and Policies in New York City

March 1, 2018 - At this early stage in the review of the city’s sexual harassment policy, we offer three recommendations

#MeToo Advocacy in NYC Council

February 28, 2018 - Sexual harassment is not only a labor rights issue, it is not only a public safety issue – it is a good government issue when sexual and gender-based harassment goes unaddressed in city government. It is a matter of democratic representation, broadly speaking.

Year Of “Albany On Trial” Starts With Former Top Aide To Governor Cuomo And Big Political Donors Facing Bribery And Extortion Charges

January 22, 2018 - A series of major government corruption trials begin today with former executive deputy secretary to Governor Cuomo, Joseph Percoco and top political contributors to the governor facing bribery and extortion charges.