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.
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.
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.
February 13, 2013 - Good Government Watchdog Group Will Continue to Closely Monitor Process as First-Ever "Test-case" Unfolds.
February 12, 2013 - Assembly Committee Vote on A689/S1461 Makes Passage of Early Voting a Priority this Legislative Session.
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.
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.
January 15, 2013 - Public Safety Goal of Anti-Gun Violence Measure Laudable But Public Interest Not Served Well When Democratic Process Short Circuited.
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.
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.
January 4, 2013 - Introduction of A689/S1461 Makes Early Voting Priority for 2013 Legislative Session.
December 3, 2012 - Good Government Group concerned over flawed process, tainted decision on District 34, and need for more public input.
November 19, 2012 - Council races are more contested, feature more candidates, with campaigns more evenly financed than state legislative races. Public matching programs play a large role; campaign finance reform needed for state elections.
November 14, 2012 - Photographs and affidavits submitted to state supreme court and appellate division raise questions about election-day conduct warranting an investigation.
November 7, 2012 - 501c4 Organization that sent political mail against Addabbo, Latimer, O'Brien senate races has not registered with the charities bureau, avoiding disclosure of financial information mandated by law.
October 24, 2012 - As senator, Addabbo has a record of support for redistricting and election reform.
October 15, 2012 - Effort Aims to Eliminate Persistent Challenges on Election Day.
October 11, 2012 - Eric Adams, Tony Avella, Marty Golden, And Diane Savino for State Senate; Joe Borelli, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Ron Kim, Nicole Malliotakis, And Nily Rozic for State Assembly.
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.
September 7, 2012 - Lopez Investigation is a Test of JCOPE & Future of Ethics Reform in Albany.
August 31, 2012 - Good Government Group calls for investigations to determine facts and whether public officers law was violated.
August 30, 2012 - Supports challengers to ethically challenged incumbents Shirley Huntley, Naomi Rivera, William Boyland, Jr., and Carmen Arroyo. Supports Barbara Jaffe for Manhattan surrogate. Issues preference for nine challengers, two incumbents; 19 Senate and 42 Assembly primaries in New York City are uncontested.
August 24, 2012 - Good Government Group supports guidelines that prioritize transparency.
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.
July 17, 2012 - Good Government Group provides legal justification for implementing changes administratively without amending state law.