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.
July 2, 2012 - New York City’s model public financing system must be upheld, replicated statewide. Good Government Groups file brief in Ognibene v. Parkes.
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.
May 4, 2012 - These decisions demonstrate more clearly than ever before that we could not have relied on the courts or the Justice Department to correct our fatally flawed redistricting process.
April 18, 2012 - Diverse coalition represents unique opportunity to achieve much-needed campaign finance reform that includes public financing. New York State should replicate city’s successful matching system that empowers small donors, closes loopholes, robustly enforces the law and ends pay-to-play culture.
April 11, 2012 - Report card finds mixed results in state’s implementation of 2007 budget reforms. Further reforms needed to enhance transparency, integrity, and efficiency of budget process.
March 28, 2012 - Large number of CCRB substantiated cases in which recommended penalties are downgraded. Agreement will bring greater independence and transparency to the handling of police misconduct.
March 23, 2012 - Calls on Governor and Legislative Leaders to Address State Government Efficiency Concerns through Separate Legislation Modeled on NYC Budget Process. Citizens Union Also Urges Three-Day Aging for Final Budget Bills.
March 22, 2012 - Good Government Groups call for new Transparency for NY State Government. Use information technology to open NY State government.
March 20, 2012 - Undemocratic party nomination process undermines competition for vacant open seats and chooses insiders beholden to party interests, not voters. Reforms needed to open up the process of filling vacancies. Citizens Union urges the legislature to take up bills proposed by Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries and Linda Rosenthal.
March 14, 2012 - Fidler's commitment to reform campaign finance and restore integrity to representation in the district key factors in endorsement. Experienced Lawmaker would bring needed Gravitas to Albany.
March 12, 2012 - Proposal creates independent commission to draw state legislative and congressional district lines. Creates a more inclusive and independent commission while discouraging gerrymandering in future map drawing.
March 8, 2012 - Governor-negotiated constitutional amendment, mirroring statute, and improved 2012 district lines represent best reform option.
March 6, 2012 - Citizens Union urges Governor and Legislature to act now to improve maps for 2012 and enact permanent constitutional and statutory changes.
February 28, 2012 - "A Veto is Essentially A Spanking - It Stings, But It is Temporary."
February 24, 2012 - Former AG details legal framework for a constitutional amendment and statute.
February 23, 2012 - Good Government Groups wants Governor to seize the moment and seek permanent constitutional reform. LATFOR drawn maps demonstrate why fundamental and lasting redistricting reform is needed.
February 2, 2012 - Experienced prosecutor has the needed integrity to head new ethics body charged with enforcing state's new ethics law.
February 2, 2012 - Draft maps manipulate population deviation to maximize majority power. Opportunity to elect districts falls short of creating a legislature reflecting the state's diversity. Good Government Group's testimony before LATFOR follows appearance in Albany criticizing LATFOR for unnecessarily dividing cities and counties and violating the state constitution's requirement for compact districts.