The New York City Charter is the framework for how our city is governed, laying the foundation for how our government operates and the roles and responsibilities of our elected officials and city departments. The City Charter has been revised countless times, and is a living document that reflects the form and priorities of our government over time.
Throughout its history, Citizens Union has supported periodic comprehensive review of the New York City Charter absent a political agenda via the appointment of an independent Charter Revision Commission to ensure that city government is operating effectively, efficiently and in the public’s best interest. We believe that revising the City Charter (whether through a commission or legislative action) should be conducted deliberately and judiciously by engaging a broad spectrum of experts and ordinary New Yorkers.
Citizens Union advised many efforts to revise the Charter and every Chater Revision Commission, and has recommended avenues for shared decision-making, local input, and independent oversight, while maintaining New York City’s strong mayoral form of government. CU’s Charter proposals that have transformed the lives of New Yorkers include the creation of community boards, abolishing the undemocratic Board of Estimate, the expansion of the City Council with increased powers, elections by proportional representation (in the 1930’s) and Ranked Choice Voting (in the 2020’s), empowering the Civilian Complaint Review Board to conduct investigations into police misconduct, strengthening the public campaign finance program, and many others.
Recent Activity – City Charter Revision
Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Preliminary Report Hearing
July 8, 2024
July 8th, 2024 - Throughout our 125-year history, we have supported periodic comprehensive reviews of the New York City Charter to ensure
that city government is operating effectively, efficiently, and in the public's best interest, and have
advised every Charter Revision Commission.
Citizens Union Report Finds Ample Opportunities for Public Input on Public Safety Bills in the City Council
July 8, 2024
July 8, 2024 - There is already ample opportunity for the public to comment on Public Safety bills before the New York City Council, according to a comprehensive analysis released today by Citizens Union. The report found that there were no major differences in time awarded for input on public safety bills compared with other bills; that the current Council does not provide less time for public input on public safety bills compared to previous Councils; and that high-profile public safety bills that drove the conversation took longer to approve than many other contentious bills.
Citizens Union and Common Cause Say Charter Review Commission Must Delay Ballot Proposals Due to Rushed Process
June 25, 2024
June 25, 204 - Yesterday, the New York City Charter Review Commission issued its preliminary report on potential changes to the City's charter. In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York and Betsy Gotbaum, Executive Director of Citizens Union, issued the following statement about the Commission's process and need to provide greater opportunity for public input
Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Public Safety Hearing
June 21, 2024
June 20, 2024 - Citizens Union has been studying police accountability and performance in New York City for more than a decade, and many of our recommendations have been implemented. We believe the best way to ensure the safe and democratic application of policing is to strengthen and streamline systems of oversight and accountability, both within the NYPD and among the independent entities that monitor police misconduct. Public safety is dependent on New Yorkers having faith in law enforcement.
Citizens Union Calls on the Charter Revision Commission Not to Propose Major Changes in Such a Rushed Timeline and to Prevent Future Charter Gamesmanship
June 17, 2024
June 17, 2024 - Citizens Union testified before the 2024 New York City Charter Commission's Government and Election Reform Hearing. Recommendations include establishing a minimum timeframe for future Charter Revision Commissions and for local laws sent to a referendum, maintaining Ranked Choice Voting, and more.
Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Government and Election Reform Hearing
June 17, 2024
June 17, 2024 - Dear members of the 2024 Charter Revision Commission. My name is Ben Weinberg, and I am the Director of Public Policy at Citizens Union. Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to speak before you today. Citizens Union is a nonpartisan good government group committed to reforming New York City and State government by fostering accountability, honesty, and the highest ethical standards, and advocating for political reform and fair and open elections.
Testimony on Intro 908-A, expanding advice and consent (before City Council vote)
June 6, 2024
June 6, 2024 - Citizens Union submits the following statement in response to the amended bill to expand the City Council’s advice and consent, scheduled for a vote on June 6, 2024.
Citizens Union Responds to Poor Attendance at the First Public Meeting of the Hastily Planned Charter Revision Commission
June 6, 2024
June 6, 2024 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum following today’s first public meeting of the Charter Review Commission
Citizens Union urges the City Council not to rush through advice and consent expansion
May 29, 2024
May 29th, 2024 - Citizens Union submitted a testimony in response to proposed legislation that would amend the City Charter to require the advice and consent of the City Council for 21 commissioner appointments. In the testimony, Citizens Union urges the Council not to rush through this Charter amendment process, and to allow for more time, committee meetings, and public hearings to fully consider the implications of this proposal.
Citizens Union Announces Positions on a Statewide Ballot Proposal and Three Citywide Ballot Proposals for 2022 General Election
October 24, 2022
October 24, 2022 - Citizens Union today announced Citizens Union’s recommendations on proposals on the ballot for this fall’s general election. The first proposal will be posed to all New York State voters, and the additional three proposals will only be on the ballots of New York City voters.
Citizens Union Celebrates Passing of Ranked Choice Voting and Reforms to the Civilian Complaint Review Board
November 6, 2019
November 5, 2019 - Citizens Union is pleased that New York City voters have embraced reforms to make our city elections more democratic, and increase oversight of the police department.
Citizens Union Announces Positions On Ballot Proposals For 2019 General Election
October 7, 2019
October 7, 2019 - Good Government Group Supports Ranked Choice Voting, Increasing Oversight of NYPD, Modifications to the City Budget, and Changes to Land Use Review; Opposes Proposed Changes to Ethics Rule.
Citizens Union Applauds Charter Revision Commission for Putting Ranked Choice Voting, CCRB Reforms on November Ballot
July 25, 2019
July 25, 2019 — Citizens Union, a leading good government group committed to fostering accountability, accessibility, and transparency in our government issues the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the proposals put on the ballot by the Charter Revision Commission.
2019 CRC – Response to Preliminary Staff Report
May 10, 2019
May 2019 - Throughout its history, Citizens Union has supported periodic comprehensive review of the
New York City Charter absent a political agenda via the appointment of an independent Charter
Revision Commission.
2019 CRC Testimony – Public Advocate
March 18, 2019
March 18, 2019 - Good evening Chair Benjamin and distinguished members of the New York City Charter Revision Commission. I am Betsy Gotbaum, executive director of Citizens Union and the former New York City Public Advocate from 2002 to 2009. We are happy to see that you are holding a
meeting on the Office of Public Advocate, and for giving Citizens Union and I the opportunity to share our recommendations with you.
2019 CRC Testimony – Police Accountability
March 7, 2019
March 7, 2019 - Good evening Chair Benjamin and distinguished members of the New York City Charter Revision Commission. My name is Rachel Bloom and I am the Director of Public Policy and Programs at Citizens Union. We thank you for holding this meeting on police accountability, and for giving
Citizens Union the opportunity to publicly share our recommendations with you.
2018 CRC Testimony – Community Boards
June 19, 2018
June 19, 2018 - Good afternoon Chair Perales and distinguished members of the New York City Charter Revision
Commission. My name is Rachel Bloom and I am the Director of Public Policy and Programs at Citizens Union. We thank you for inviting us here today and giving Citizens Union the opportunity to publicly share our recommendations on community board reforms with you.
2018 CRC Testimony – Campaign Finance
June 14, 2018
June 14 2018 - Good afternoon Chair Perales and distinguished members of the New York City Charter Revision Commission. My name is Rachel Bloom and I am the Director of Public Policy and Programs at Citizens Union. We thank you for inviting us here today and giving Citizens Union the opportunity to publicly share our recommendations on campaign finance with you.
2018 CRC Testimony – Hearing
May 7, 2018
May 7, 2018 - Good evening Chair Perales and distinguished members of the New York City Charter Revision
Commission. My name is Rachel Bloom and I am the Director of Public Policy and Programs at Citizens
Union. We thank you for holding this and other public hearings, and giving Citizens Union the
opportunity to publicly share our recommendations with you.
Citizens Union Testimony on Int. 241 – Charter Revision Commission
March 16, 2018
March 16, 2018 - Good morning Chair Cabrera and members of the Committee on Governmental Operations. My name is Ethan Geringer-Sameth and I am the Public Policy & Program Manager at Citizens Union. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the Council proposal for Charter Revision Commission