Press Releases

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.

Citizens Union Issues Report Outlining Public Safety and Policing Recommendations for New Mayoral Administration

New York, N.Y. (December 23, 2021)— Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent good government group, today released Public Safety and Policing in New York City: Recommendations to the New Mayor, a report outlining recommendations for the incoming Mayoral administration designed to promote public safety and make the NYPD more accountable and responsive. The report builds on Citizens Union’s comprehensive Agenda for Police Reform to make the NYPD more transparent and accountable, which the group released in March. You can read that report here.

Citizens Union Announces Endorsement of Eric Adams for Mayor in 2021 General Election

October 15, 2021 - Citizens Union, New York's pre-eminent, non-partisan good government group, today announced its endorsement of Eric Adams for Mayor in the 2021 general election in New York City. Citizens Union also today announced its endorsements of Tony Avella (City Council District 19, Northeast Queens) and Sal Albanese (City Council District 50, Mid-Island Staten Island) in contested City Council races in the 2021 general election.

Citizens Union Analysis Shows Positive Impact of Ranked Choice Voting in June Election

July 19, 2021 - Citizens Union released a detailed analysis of the June primary elections in New York City, examining the impact of Ranked Choice Voting. The analysis found that Ranked Choice Voting gave more voters a say in elections, with fewer votes “wasted” on candidates who fell well short of winning their races. The analysis also found that voter turnout increased; voters embraced Ranked Choice Voting and navigated the system well; and the number of women running, and the number of women and people of color winning increased. These benefits were seen throughout the city.

Citizens Union Outlines Steps the Board of Elections Must Take to Regain the Trust of Voters After Latest Blunder

July 2, 2021 - After a counting error from the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) threw New York City’s June primary into chaos, Citizens Union has issued a series of recommendations aimed at restoring the faith voters have in the BOE. The recommendations call on the BOE to be fully transparent as votes are counted, accelerate the release of raw vote count data and agree to an independent inquiry. Citizens Union also renewed their call to make the BOE independent of party leaders, and called on the state legislature to take steps to create a more effective, independent agency. 

Citizens Union Announces Preferences of Kathryn Garcia, Eric Adams for Mayor, and Brian Benjamin, Corey Johnson for Comptroller, in Ranked Choice Voting

June 11, 2021 - Today, Citizens Union announced its candidate preferences in the races for Mayor and Comptroller under New York City's new ranked choice voting system. After rigorously evaluating 7 candidates for Mayor and 9 candidates for Comptroller, Citizens Union prefers Kathryn Garcia and Eric Adams for Mayor and Brian Benjamin and Corey Johnson for Comptroller.
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