Press Releases

Watchdogs, Community Groups Urge NYC Districting Commission to Hold Mapping Deliberations in Public

August 10, 2022 - Citizens Union was joined by dozens of good government and community groups in urging the New York City Districting Commission to hold mapping deliberations on the new City Council district plan as part of an open public meeting, and to provide the public with a detailed explanation of how and why new lines are drawn.

Citizens Union Announces Preferences of Eight Candidates for State Senate in Competitive August Primaries

August 9, 2022 - Citizens Union announced its preferences in 8 contested primary elections for State Senate. Citizens Union undertook a rigorous evaluation of 19 candidates running for office in all five boroughs.

Citizens Union Responds to NYC Districting Commission’s Release of the Draft Maps

July 15, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after New York City Districting Commission released the first draft of the district maps for New York City’s 51 City Council districts

Watchdogs Welcome Law School Deans’ New Vetting Procedures for Ethics Commission Candidates

June 22, 2022 - Our groups welcome the review procedures developed by New York’s law school deans (who by law compose the Independent Review Committee or “IRC”) to review candidates submitted to them by the state’s elected officials.

Citizens Union Announces Preferences of Kathy Hochul in Democratic Primary and Harry Wilson in Republican Primary for Governor

June 17, 2022 - Today, Citizens Union announced its preferences of Kathy Hochul in the upcoming Democratic Primary for New York State Governor and Harry Wilson in the upcoming Republican Primary for New York State Governor.

Citizens Union Announces Preferences of Three Candidates for Assembly in Competitive June Primaries

June 13, 2022 - Today, Citizens Union announced its preferences in 3 contested primary elections for State Assembly.

Watchdogs Ask Statewide Officials and Legislative Leaders to Appoint Independent Members to Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

June 8, 2022 - We write knowing that the adopting legislation in the budget sets a short time frame for appointing members to the new Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (“CELG”). We urge you, as you consider the statutory requirements of “background and expertise,” to abide by the following principles

Citizens Union Responds to NYC Districting Commission’s Decision to Delay Draft Maps and Hold Additional Public Hearings

June 6, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after New York City Districting Commission Chair Dennis Walcott that draft district maps would be delayed and drawn after additional public hearings

Citizens Union Applauds Legislature for Moving Voter Registration Deadline to 10 Days Before Election Day

June 1, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after the NYS Assembly passed S2951A/A8858A which would reduce the time for mailing and receipt of voter registration applications to the Constitutional minimum of 10 days before election

Citizens Union Applauds State Senate for Taking Steps to Reform New York’s Broken Election Administration System

May 19, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum applauding the State Senate for passing a set of bills that will reform Boards of Elections throughout New York State

Citizens Union, League of Women Voters of NYS urge postponement of all primaries until Aug 23

May 2nd, 2022 - Today, Citizens Union and the League of Women Voters of NYS sent a letter to Governor Hochul and legislative leaders urging the postponement of all elections scheduled to take place in June to August 23.

Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response NYS Court of Appeals Ruling on Redistricting Map

April 27, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the NYS Court of Appeals ruling on the state's redistricting maps

Citizens Union Files Amicus Brief Urging Court to Give Weight to Anti-Gerrymandering Provision in State Constitution

April 24, 2022 - Citizens Union filed an amicus brief in the matter of Harkenrider v. Hochul, the case challenging the newly drawn congressional and legislative district maps in New York, which is now before the New York Court of Appeals. Citizens Union joined the Campaign Legal Center in filing this brief.

Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response to Resignation of Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin

April 12, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the news that Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin has resigned

Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response to 2022 State Budget Deal

April 8, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the details of the New York State budget deal: “Governor Hochul’s first state budget presented a rare opportunity to push for meaningful ethics reform in Albany. Unfortunately, the governor and the legislature failed to create an independent ethics oversight body. The new commission designed to replace JCOPE is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.

Governor and Legislature Have Failed to Create an Independent Ethics Oversight Body

April 9, 2022 - After careful review, we believe the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government created in the state budget is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.

Citizens Union Slams Proposed Deal to Replace JCOPE with Another Toothless Ethics Commission

March 29, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to news that the Governor and Legislature have reached a deal to replace JCOPE with a new commission charged with enforcing ethics and lobbying laws

Citizens Union Issues Statement on In Response to Mayor Adams’ Nominations to the NYC Districting Commission

March 7, 2022 – Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on Mayor Eric Adams’ nominations to the New York City districting commission

Citizens Union Issues Report Outlining Recommendations For A Fair City Council Redistricting Process

February 22, 2022 — Citizens Union today issued a report outlining measures to ensure a fair City Council redistricting process. Fair and Open City Council Redistricting recommends the city appoint City Council redistricting commissioners who will adopt expansive anti-gerrymandering criteria, ensure transparency and have not served in an elected office for the past five years.