Press Releases – Page 16

Statement On Governor Cuomo’s Decision To Call For Low Turnout Special Elections To Fill Six Vacancies In State Assembly

July 1, 2011 - As New York’s leading civic reform organizations, we are disappointed in Governor Cuomo’s decision not to hold regular primaries and general elections this fall for six vacant State Assembly seats and instead issue proclamations to hold special elections for these seats on September 13th. We strongly disagree with this decision, which we believe will result in lower voter turnout, increased confusion at the polls and potentially higher costs to localities.

Independent Commission For Mandate Relief But Not For Redistricting: How Can Senate Say It Is Ok For One, But Not The Other?

June 24, 2011 - Citizens Union is confused about how the Senate can justify the creation of an independent commission for mandate relief but not for redistricting.

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.

MinKwon Center, Coalition of Asian-American Groups Announce Support for Citizens Union’s ReShapeNY Campaign

May 27, 2011 - Citizens Union identifies 15 Assembly and 6 State Senate Districts with Asian Americans equal to or exceeding 20 percent of the population.

Citizens Union Calls For Reforms To The City’s Lobbying Laws

May 11, 2011 - Reforms would limit disproportionate influence of lobbyists also involved in political campaigns and money raising. Good Government Group urges restrictions on public funds for political candidates connected to lobbyists. Fourteen recommendations to be formally presented at city lobbying commission tonight also include moving oversight and enforcement from the city clerk's office to the campaign finance board.

ReShapeNY: Nonpartisan Statewide Redistricting Reform Campaign Refutes Claims That Redistricting Legislation Is Not Constitutional

April 6, 2011 - Campaign unveils legal memo by respected international law firm exposing false assertions. Cuomo bills gain overwhelming majority support in Assembly from both Democratic and Republican conferences with 89 cosponsors.

Citizens Union Supports Pension Forfeiture Option For State Officials

March 23, 2011 - Urges judges be given discretion to deny automatic pension benefits to those officials convicted of public corruption. Calls upon state legislature and Governor to make pension forfeiture part of ethics reform package.

ReShapeNY: A Statewide Campaign For Redistricting Reform Is Launched

March 14, 2011 - Nine distinguished New Yorkers lead call for change including Harry Wilson, Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, John Avlon, Gerry Benjamin, Grace Lyu-Volkhausen and Lillian Rodríguez López, and former elected officials from both parties - Robert Abrams, Ed Koch and Frank Padavan.

Koch And Dadey Heap Praise On Speaker Silver And The State Assembly

March 3, 2011 - Over half the chamber is now supporting Gov Cuomo's redistricting bill, introduced by Silver. Duo calls on Senate Majority Leader Skelos to honor pledge to enact redistricting reform in time for 2012 election.

Citizens Union Issues 2nd Report On Turnover In The State Legislature

February 14, 2011 - Crime wave is accelerating: number of legislators who left in the past six years because of ethical and criminal misconduct has tripled over the previous six years.

Gotham Gazette Unveils Councilpedia, An Innovative Online Tool to Track Money in City Politics

February 3, 2011 - New project opens up local government activity to information sharing by New Yorkers.

Citizens Union Calls For An Independent Commission To Draw District Maps At State Senate Hearing

December 14, 2010 - Urges ending partisan gerrymandering and removing the legislative conflict of self interest in drawing district lines.

Citizens Union Report Finds 27 New York Counties Posted Sample Ballots Online Prior To Election Day

November 4, 2010 - Numerous ballot-related complaints from NYC voters on election day reveal need for this common-sense reform. Citizens Union repeats call for City Board of Elections to post sample ballots online for future elections.

Civic Groups Release Top Five Tips for Voters on Election Day Offer Voters Handy

October 30, 2010 - Troubleshooting Guide to Take Into the Polls And Solve Common Problems That Arose During the Primary.

Citizens Union Issues Recommendations On City Charter Revision Proposals On The Ballot November 2nd 2010

October 27, 2010 - Recommendations on ballot questions are part of historic Good Government Group's 100th anniversary voters directory now available online along with candidate questionnaires. Opposes question #1 reducing the term limits of city elected officials to two terms. Supports a "yes" vote on question #2 requiring disclosure of independent campaign expenditures and easing access to the ballot for candidates.

Citizens Union Endorses Harry Wilson For NYS Comptroller And Eric Schneiderman For NYS Attorney General

October 17, 2010 - Visionary and innovative approaches Make Wilson and Schneiderman best choices over capable opponents. Historic Good Government Group also endorses 13 reform-minded State Legislative Candidates in NYC Padavan, Gianaris, Addabbo and 2 challengers - Vincent Tabone and Donna Maria Caltabiano - among the 13.

New Report: New York’s Redistricting Practices Undermine Democracy Report Underpins Statewide-grassroots Effort To Build Support For Reforms Groups Urge Creation Of An Independent Redistricting Commission

October 4, 2010 The state’s Redistricting Process: The Case for Reform, examined the state’s redistricting practices and found ... Read more

Citizens Union Backs State Senator Eric Schneiderman In Democratic Primary For Attorney General

August 24, 2010 - Citizens Union today announced its support for Eric Schneiderman by "preferring" him over the four other strong and appealing candidates

Citizens Union Announces State Candidate Preferences In September Primary Elections In NYC

August 24, 2010 - In its 100th year of candidate evaluation, historic civic group supports the reelection of only six incumbent legislators. Good Government Group also supports the election of seven challengers to current incumbents, backs four candidates in open seats and passes on supporting the reelection of seven incumbent legislators.

Citizens Union Report on Special Elections In New York City Convincingly Shows Voter Turnout is Greater in Nonpartisan Elections than Partisan Elections

August 2, 2010 - Good Government Group's study reveals turnout is 57 percent higher for City Council nonpartisan special elections than partisan contests for state legislative seats. Report shatters opponents' argument that voter turnout is similar for non partisan and partisan elections. Citizens Union calls on city charter to embrace a top-two election system and begin the process of giving greater voter choice to New Yorkers.

Citizens Union Unveils 50 Specific Recommendations For City Charter Revision

June 30, 2010 - Calls for increasing avenues for participation in both elections and governing in a diverse and large city. Calls for independent budgeting for the public advocate, borough presidents, community boards and the conflicts of interest board (COIB.)

Historic Support Emerges For Redistricting Reform As Momentum Builds To End Partisan Gerrymandering

June 25, 2010 - Assembly governmental operations committee unanimously passes Gianaris bill to create an independent redistricting commission and draw fair districts. Passage follows recent approval by two committees in the State Senate as majority of Senate Democrats now support Valesky companion bill to reform redistricting as support rises and public clamors for reform.

Citizens Union Endorses David Greenfield in 2010 New York City Council Special Election

March 1, 2010 - Good-Government Organization Backs Greenfield as Best Candidate in Council District 44 Race

Citizens Union Pleased Over Announcement that CCRB Will Have Power to Prosecute Some Cases of Police Misconduct

February 19, 2010 - Move is heralded, but more independence and permanence are needed. Clear definition of work’s Scope and proper funding of CCRB are key to initiative’s success.

Citizens Union Releases Report Card on Council Rules and Operations

January 19, 2010 - Hails 4-year progress in transparency but urges end to committee stipends. Report calls for number of committees to be halved and council meetings to be webcast. Asks twenty-one supportive councilmembers to vote their position and end stipends.