Press Releases

With Voter Registration Brought to a Standstill Due to COVID-19, Citizens Union Calls for the State to Allow Online Voter Registration in New York City

July 6, 2020 - Citizens Union has renewed its call to allow New York City residents to register to vote online in advance of the November 2020 election.

Citizens Union Announces Candidate Preferences in June Elections

June 8, 2020 - Citizens Union Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum today announced Citizens Union’s candidate endorsements in 12 contested races for Assembly, State Senate and Queens Borough President.

Statement on Behalf of Citizens Union From Randy Mastro, Citizens Union’s Chair

June 1, 2020 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Board Chair Randy Mastro: As our country lurches from one crisis to the next, New York once again finds itself on high alert. And our country once again finds itself lacking the leadership and empathy we so desperately need from our federal government.

Citizens Union Reacts to Publicly Financed Elections Being Included in State Budget

April 2, 2020 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the inclusion of publicly financed elections in the state budget:

Statement from Citizens Union on the Passing of Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Founding Chair, New York City Campaign Finance Board

April 1, 2020 - Citizen’s Union, New York City’s leading good government group, issued the following statement on the passing of Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J:

Citizens Union Reacts to Postponement of April Primary Elections

March 28, 2020— Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum reacting to the news that the primary elections scheduled for April 28 will be postponed until June 23:

Reformers Urge NY Government to Adopt New Measures to Do the People’s Business

GROUPS URGE GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT NEW MEASURES TO DO THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS Common Cause/NY, League of Women Voters New York,…

Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak, Citizens Union Calls on Legislature and Board of Elections to Take Steps to Ensure 2020 Elections Run Smoothly

March 19, 2020 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum, urging the New York State Legislature and Board of Elections to take measures to ensure the 2020 elections in New York State run smoothly, while protecting public health and reducing community transmission of COVID-19

Citizens Union’s Statement on the 2020 Elections During the COVID-19 Outbreak

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency in New York State and…

As New York Tackles Coronavirus Outbreak, Citizens Union Urges New Yorkers Not to Forget to Fill Out Census Forms

March 16, 2020 - As the world grapples with how to address the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and New Yorkers are encouraged to practice social distancing, Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent nonpartisan good government group, encouraged New Yorkers to remember to complete the 2020 census.

Citizens Union Statement on Supreme Court Ruling that Public Campaign Financing and Election Commission is Unconstitutional

March 12, 2020 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum applauding the State Supreme Court for ruling the Public Campaign Financing and Election Commission unconstitutional

Statement of Randy Mastro, Chair of Citizens Union

February 19, 2020 - A cornerstone of our republic has always been a justice system committed to fairness, honesty and integrity. The rule of law is only as strong as the dedicated men and women who enforce it on our behalf in the U.S. Justice Department. But now, their work is under political attack by a President who thinks it appropriate to call for the prosecution of his political enemies and the protection of his political allies. If we are to keep our republic, this latest affront to our democracy cannot go unchecked and unchallenged.

Citizens Union Applauds Senate for Passing Automatic Voter Registration and On-Campus Polling Site Bills

January 9, 2020 - We have issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum applauding the Senate for passing Automatic Voter Registration and on-campus polling site bills

Citizens Union Calls on Legislature to Reject Proposals Put Forth by the New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission

December 18, 2019 - We urge the State Legislature to reconvene and reject proposals put forth by the New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission

Statement Regarding New York State Campaign Finance Commission Report

The purpose of campaign finance reform is to reduce the influence of large contributions in our political system, to encourage…

Citizens Union Applauds Governor Cuomo for Allocating Funding to Count Every New Yorker in the 2020 Census

November 19, 2019 - We thank Governor Cuomo for this funding will help ensure that all New Yorkers are counted in the 2020 census.

Citizens Union Celebrates Passing of Ranked Choice Voting and Reforms to the Civilian Complaint Review Board

November 5, 2019 - Citizens Union is pleased that New York City voters have embraced reforms to make our city elections more democratic, and increase oversight of the police department.

New York Implements Early Voting, Long Championed By Citizens Union

October 22, 2019 - Thanks to the advocacy of Citizens Union, this fall New York becomes the 38th state to implement early voting.

Citizens Union Endorses Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate; Melinda Katz for Queens District Attorney

October 22, 2019 - Citizens Union announced its endorsements of Jumaane Williams and Melinda Katz.

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 Applauds Charter Revision Commission for Putting Ranked Choice Voting, CCRB Reforms on November Ballot

July 25, 2019 — Citizens Union, a leading good government group committed to fostering accountability, accessibility, and transparency in our government issues the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the proposals put on the ballot by the Charter Revision Commission.

Statement from Citizens Union Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the Passing of Former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau

July 23, 2019 - Last night, New York lost a brilliant public servant and legal mind. For over four decades, first as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and then as Manhattan's long-serving District Attorney, Bob worked tirelessly to make New York a safer and fairer place for all. He was relentless and fearless, taking on corporate greed, organized crime and crooked politicians in the pursuit of justice.

Statement from Citizens Union on Supreme Court Decision on Citizenship Question

June 27, 2019 - Today's Supreme Court decision, denying the Commerce Department's request to include a "citizenship question" on the 2020 census is a victory for democracy.

Citizens Union Issues Preference for Gregory Lasak in Democratic Primary for Queens District Attorney

June 17, 2019 - After undertaking a rigorous evaluation of candidates running in the upcoming Democratic Primary for Queens District Attorney Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent nonpartisan good government groups today announced its preference of Gregory Lasak.

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