Citizens Union has advanced reforms to create a more responsive, transparent, and accountable City Council that allow it to better address constituent needs, and be a stronger force for effective city governance. The challenge for the New York City Council is how to make it more democratic and effective when it is so largely controlled by one political party.
Citizens Union identified in 2006 five principles of reform to ensure a more transparent, democratic and effective City Council, including: greater transparency of City Council proceedings, deliberations and expenditures; stronger Council Committees; greater responsibility for individual Council Members; a clearer accounting of the distribution of funds across council districts and committee; and a more active role for Council Members in the budget process. Citizens Union has worked to achieve many of these goals, and will continue to work toward greater reform of the City Council.
- February 24, 2014 — Testimony to City Council Rule Committee on Reforming the City Council
- November 20, 2013 — CU Announces Majority Support for Rules Reforms
- May 2012 — Citizens Union Report: Creating a More Objective and Equitable Discretionary Funding Process in New York City
- May 1, 2012 — Press Release Regarding Release of CU Report on City Discretionary Funding
- January 19, 2010 — Citizens Union Report: Grading the New York City Council’s Rules and Budget Reforms
- May 7, 2008 — Statement in Support of City Council Discretionary Budget Reforms
- April 4, 2008 — Statement Regarding City Council Handling of Member Items and Proposal for Greater Oversight of Process
- November 15, 2007 — Statement Applauding the New City Council Rules on Advertisements
- October 23, 2007 — Statement Calling for Ban on Named Garbage Cans
- October 2007 — Citizens Union Report: Tax Dollars at ‘Work’: City Council Spending on Advertisements
- January 2006 —Citizens Union Report: Principles of Council Reform: Ideas for a More Democratic and Effective City Council