Press Releases

Stop And Frisks Need To Be Used Less Frequently And More Judiciously

August 26, 2013 - Urges mayoral candidates to make clear what specific policies would be put in place to ensure stop and frisk practice complies with judge’s ruling and federal monitor.

Citizens Union Announces First Round Of Preferences For 2013 Primary Elections

August 26, 2013 - Prefers Gale Brewer for Manhattan BP, Melinda Katz for Queens BP, and Ken Thompson for Brooklyn DA. Supports the re-Election of councilmembers Jumaane Williams, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Donovan Richards; supports Carlos Menchaca over incumbent Sara González, and issues no preference in two other Council contests.

One-stop Nonpartisan Guide To NYC 2013 Elections Now Available Online

August 13, 2013 - Citizens Union Foundation and Gotham Gazette announce GothamVotes2013.

Bipartisan Election Reform Enacted In Albany Yesterday

June 21, 2013 - New Election Night Closing Procedures Will Mean Faster and More Transparent Vote Counting.

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.

Good Government & Civil Rights Groups In New York Oppose Lever Machines Returning New York State To The Past

May 22, 2013 - Good government groups issued this statement today voicing their strenuous opposition to S.4088-B (Golden/No Number Yet in the Assembly), a bill that would authorize the New York City Board of Elections (City Board) to use mechanical lever voting machines in and for any non-federal elections. The bill has passed the Senate and the Assembly is seriously considering a return to lever machines.

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.

Citizens Union Pleased By City Board of Elections’ Increased Transparency in 2012 Annual Report

March 19, 2013 - Good Government Group's request for more substantive and meaningful annual report met. Includes in-depth operational data for each election held this past year. Citizens Union provides its own analysis of high and low points; report highlights needed legislative and administrative changes to improve administration of elections and voter engagement.

Gotham Gazette Launches New Design & Editorial Focus

February 25, 2013 - Releases major investigative report On New York State’s Failure To Provide Oversight on nursing homes’ use of chemical restraints on older New Yorkers. First significant site redesign in 14 years for Citizens Union Foundation’s pioneering watchdog publication.

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.

Good Government Groups Commend Speaker Silver for Moving Forward Early Voting Legislation

February 12, 2013 - Assembly Committee Vote on A689/S1461 Makes Passage of Early Voting a Priority this Legislative Session.

Citizens Union Praises City Districting Commission’s Release Of Written Rationales For Drawing Of Council Districts

February 13, 2013 - Unprecedented transparency of decision-making can dispel cynicism and increase public confidence. Staff Memorandum’s robust disclosure can serve as a model for other jurisdictions.

Citizens Union Report Shows Gerrymandering Effects on 2013 and Historic Party Control of Legislature

January 23, 2013 - Number of seats held far apart from voters party registration or total number of votes cast. Twelve senate Democrats told their voters in Summer 2012 they will support constitutional amendment on redistricting.

Good Government Groups Question Use of Message of Necessity

January 15, 2013 - Public Safety Goal of Anti-Gun Violence Measure Laudable But Public Interest Not Served Well When Democratic Process Short Circuited.

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.

Citizens Union Releases Recommendations to Improve NYC Districting Commission’s Updated Maps and Increase Transparency

January 7, 2013 - Recommends publicly releasing written rationales for each district to make commission's decision-making more transparent. Concerns include protection of incumbents, underrepresentation of Asian Americans, and division of East Harlem.

Citizens Union Calls on Board of Elections to Investigate Assemblymember Carmen Arroyo to Determine Whether Election Law Was Violated

November 14, 2012 - Photographs and affidavits submitted to state supreme court and appellate division raise questions about election-day conduct warranting an investigation.