Citizens Union Statement on Proposed Changes in the State Budget
March 29, 2014 - On proposed changes in the state budget to campaign finance, election enforcement and ethics.
Board Of Elections Kicks Aside Yet Another Campaign Finance Investigation
March 26, 2014 - Board notifies citizens union it has ended “investigation” into assemblymember it never started.
Citizens Union Praises Speaker Quinn and City Council for Passage of New Lobbying Laws
December 10, 2013 Reforms will increase transparency and tighten oversight to further ensure a healthy democracy.
Reformers Urge Action on Moreland Commission Recommendations
December 9, 2013 - Stating that the board of elections “must go,” groups call for new campaign finance enforcement agency to regulate and enforce campaign finance laws for both public and private financing of elections.
Citizens Union Names its Top Ten List of Surprising and Shocking Findings from Moreland Commission Report
December 4, 2013 - We at Citizens Union know that corruption and influence peddling are widespread, but the Moreland Commission did a great job bringing to light specific details of how wrongdoing – even when it is legal - takes place in our state capitol.
Moreland Commission Report Details Extent Of State Corruption
December 3, 2013 - Citizens Union welcomes broad scope of recommendations.
Citizens Union Champions New Lobbying Reforms Before City Council
November 7, 2013 - Legislation and resolution sponsored by Mayor and speaker increase transparency and tighten oversight to further ensure a healthy democracy. Legislation results from 2011 city lobbying commission report includes many Citizens Union recommendations.
Electeds & Advocates Call For Instant Runoff Voting To Replace Runoff Election At Polls
October 2, 2013 - Council members Lander & Brewer, Comptroller Liu, other electeds & candidates, & election experts join Citizens Union to support instant runoff voting.
Citizens Union Issues Four Recommendations To Improve Jcope Deliberations
May 28, 2013 - Vito Lopez Scandal Highlights Need to Fix Flawed Voting Procedures and Increase Transparency. Calls On State Leaders to Address Legislatively this Session as Part of Anti-Corruption Reforms.
The Spirit Of Tammany Hall Lives On In Albany
May 18, 2003 - Good Government Group confronts State Legislature's failure to find common ground and pass anti-corruption laws.
Citizens Union Says New Ethics Law Is Working But Flawed
May 16, 2013 - Asks Why Assembly Itself Was Not Investigated And Points to Need for Strengthening JCOPE's Independence and Transparency.
Political Clubs’ Campaign Activities Hidden from Public Scrutiny
May 7, 2013 - Citizens Union report finds 224 clubs fail to register as political committees with state board of elections.
Citizens Union Calls For Systemic Change And Enactment Of Six Concrete Reforms To Stem The Crime Wave Of Public Corruption
April 3, 2013 - Responds To federal complaint against Senator Malcolm Smith and City Councilmember Dan Halloran with proposals for campaign finance reform, new power for State Attorney General and nonpartisan elections.
Citizens Union Believes Today’s JCOPE Decisions Result in More Transparency of Lobbying Activity
March 28, 2013 - Good Government Group Makes Additional Recommendations to Strengthen Disclosure.
Citizens Union Gives State Budget Process A Few Thumbs Up, And A Few Down
March 26, 2013 - Positive actions include no messages of necessity and open budget website. Role for rank-and-file legislators and use of conference committees still needs strengthening.
Substantial Basis Report Submission to Legislative Ethics Commission
February 13, 2013 - Good Government Watchdog Group Will Continue to Closely Monitor Process as First-Ever "Test-case" Unfolds.
Citizens Union Commends Governor Cuomo for Expansive Reform and Transparency Agenda in State of the State Address
January 9, 2013 - Citizens Union commends Governor Cuomo for again making the case for campaign finance reform in his annual State of the State address.
Good Government Groups React To Announcement Of JCOPE Investigation
September 10, 2012 - New York good government groups comprised of Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens Union of the City of New York, League of Women Voters - New York State, and New York Public Interest Research Group, this afternoon released the following joint statement in response to the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announcement that they will be conducting a “substantial basis” investigation.
Citizens Union Urges JCOPE to Perform Full Investigation of Lopez Matter
September 7, 2012 - Lopez Investigation is a Test of JCOPE & Future of Ethics Reform in Albany.
Citizens Union Files JCOPE Complaint Regarding Assembly Handling of Lopez Sexual Harassment Charges and Settlement
August 31, 2012 - Good Government Group calls for investigations to determine facts and whether public officers law was violated.
Citizens Union Responds To Ethics Commission’s Draft Guidelines On Disclosure Of Business Relationships
August 24, 2012 - Good Government Group supports guidelines that prioritize transparency.
Citizens Union Calls on Vito Lopez to Resign
August 24, 2012 - Citizens Union is alarmed to read the detailed and sordid findings of the bipartisan Standing Committee of Ethics and Guidance that Assemblymember Vito Lopez of Brooklyn verbally, physically, and repeatedly harassed two Assembly employees, but is pleased by the swift and strong action taken today by the Assembly to censure him and remove him from his leadership post and benefits of seniority.
Citizens Union Calls For Strong And Full Disclosure Of Funders To Organizations That Lobby In Testimony Before The Joint Commission On Public Ethics (JCOPE)
June 7, 2012 - Citizens Union testified today before the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), calling on the state’s ethics body to promulgate rules that will robustly disclose donors to lobbyists and clients.
Citizens Union Commends Appointment Of Ellen N. Biben To Head JCOPE
February 2, 2012 - Experienced prosecutor has the needed integrity to head new ethics body charged with enforcing state's new ethics law.
Citizens Union Commends Governor And Legislative Leaders For Agreeing On Far-reaching Ethics Reform
June 6, 2011 - With the crime wave of public corruption in our state government having tripled in the past six years, the formal announcement today by Governor Cuomo, Speaker Silver and Majority Leader Skelos that an agreement exists on a broad ethics package is welcomed news.