Reformer: Nov/Dec 2011 – Citizens Union

IN THIS ISSUE

About Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation

Citizens Union of the City of New York is an independent, nonpartisan force dedicated to promoting good government and political reform in the city and state of New York. For more than a century, Citizens Union has served as a watchdog for the public interest and an advocate for the common good. We work to ensure fair elections, clean campaigns, and open, effective government that is accountable to the citizens of New York. We do so by informing the policy debate and influencing the policy outcomes that affect the lives of all New Yorkers. Believing that an informed citizenry is the cornerstone of a thriving local democracy, Citizens Union Foundation – the nonprofit research, education, and advocacy organization affiliated with CU – publishes Gotham Gazette, a front row seat to New York City policies and politics.

Join Citizens Union

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from Dick Dadey, Executive Director

The end of the year is closing with one major state policy victory and one city policy change having been achieved – state ethics reform and sample ballots for voters appearing online before elections – and one more major issue just ahead: redistricting reform.

We can’t bring change to government accountability and openness or make voting more accessible without the interest and support of members like you. So if you haven’t yet renewed your membership this year in Citizens Union, please do so. And you could also make a year-end tax-deductible contribution to the Foundation.

Your support helps us remain effective in our efforts to advance good government and achieve political reform. Best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season.

State Updates

Redistricting Reform

Citizens Union recently released our comprehensive redistricting report that makes a definitive case for ending partisan gerrymandering. The report demonstrates how redistricting has for decades undermined our democracy and governance by making elections increasingly uncompetitive, contributing to declining voter turnout, marginalizing the representation of minority groups and delaying the passage of important public policy. The report also provides an in-depth look at how gerrymandering is done, with case studies revealing how cities and communities are divided to ensure the reelection of incumbents and the maintenance of majority power in the state senate and assembly.

The report received widespread press coverage and reignited the media’s focus on the issue. See also the Executive Summary and Appendices (map at left can bee seen in greater detail in appendices). Below are links to some of the coverage and support we received.

Citizens Union continues to be engaged in discussions with lawmakers on redistricting reform. While progress has been slow-going, conversations are ongoing and so we remain hopeful that our years-long effort will bear fruit. Two days before we released our report, the New York Times reported that Assembly Speaker Shelley Silver announced his support for a commission entirely consisting of non-legislators to draw district lines and equally balanced between majority and minority parties, a key principle Citizens Union has supported.

City Updates

Progress on Independent Expenditures

Citizens Union testified at the Campaign Finance Board’s hearing on draft rules related to regulating independent expenditures on October 27th. An independent expenditure is campaign spending, typically on ads, that is done by independent groups with the intent to influence an election, but it not coordinated with any candidate. While the CFB’s proposed rules mirrored many of our earlier recommendations at a March 2011 hearing, Citizens Union made several new recommendations:

That the CFB narrow the window from 90 days before an election during which electioneering (spending on issue ads that are actually targeted at candidates) would have to be reported so routine lobbying would not be confused with an independent expenditure;
that “safe harbor” example language be provided to clearly demonstrate what is considered lobbying and what would be considered an independent expenditure; and
that exemptions for member-to-member communications between non-profit organizations and unions be expanded, provided they are not targeted to a general audience.

Citizens Union’s second set of recommendations also reiterated our continued support for establishing a broad interpretation of independent expenditures to include communications made just before an election that are intended to influence voting at the polls, but do not contain language such as “vote for” or “vote against” a particular candidate or proposal. We also called for greater transparency about those making independent expenditures as well as the targets of such spending.

Advancing Citizens Union’s City Policy Agenda

CU’s focus at the city level has been to, where possible, introduce and/or move forward legislation related to our 50 recommendations to the 2010 City Charter Revision Commission . CU staff has been working to draft bills for introduction following meetings we held over the summer and into the fall with numerous councilmembers. We are also pursuing administrative changes at the Board of Elections in the City of New York and through the Office of Media and Entertainment in lieu of or in addition to legislation in the Council depending on the proposal.

Below are a few highlights of our work in this area the last two months:

The City Board of Elections for the first time enabled voters to provide online feedback of their Election Day experience, an initiative pioneered by Citizens Union and the City Council following the 2010 General Election.
Citizens Union is working with the City Board of Elections to create a system to receive poll worker applications online that will be up and running for next year’s elections.
Citizens Union persuaded the Council Technology Committee to hold a hearing on the little-known and recently created Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and made recommendations in our testimony to utilize city resources to make more transparent city government decision-making, such as broadcasting and webcasting government proceedings in real time, and creating mobile applications that make government more accessible to the public.

Election Updates

Sample Ballots and New Voting Machines

Sample ballots were available online in New York City this year for the first time ever before a regularly scheduled election: the November General Election. Due to the advocacy of Citizens Union with the City Board of Elections, we received a commitment from the board earlier this year to post ballots online for future elections. The posting of ballots online in November was a fulfillment of that commitment , and will hopefully serve as a model for other boards of election in the state. The online ballots were downloaded by over 7,575 users in just two weeks, or 4 percent of the number of voters who turned out on Election Day in New York City.

Citizens Union has been actively monitoring the transition to new voting machines, and had the opportunity to testify before the Assembly Elections Committee and Subcommittee on Election Administration and Voter Disenfranchisement. Citizens Union presented in its testimony findings from a survey of counties which have posted sample ballots online for the 2011 elections, as well as recommendations regarding the state’s transition to new voting machines.

Gotham Gazette Highlights

Councilpedia Updated

As fundraising for the 2013 mayoral race heats up, Gotham Gazette has been adding candidates to Councilpedia and updating fundraising information for council members. Councilpedia will help make sure that voters have a good sense of candidates’ records and funders before they head into the voting booths. Of particular interest to those following the mayoral race is new fundraising info for Christine Quinn, Bill de Blasio and John Liu. New to Councilpedia? Take the tutorial.

Also recently in Gotham Gazette:

A New Watchdog

As the deadline for creation of Albany’s new ethics watchdog approaches, state government editor David King monitored the old agency and progress toward its replacement. King also exclusively convered a conflict of interest of a commissioner whose firm is involved in lobbying.

Who Judges the Judges?

King also broke an exclusive story about a series of hearings in 2009 on judicial conduct that were essentially buried and why advocates say the commission overseeing conduct must be reformed.

30 Years of AIDS

As the world recognized World AIDS Day, Gotham Gazette looked at the tragedies and triumphs New Yorker’s have faced in the battle with this terrible disease.

Monitoring the Police

The Gazette took a look at recent scandals involving the New York Police Department, asking whether there is enough police oversight. Another piece looked at public perception of the NYPD after episodes of police violence during Occupy Wall Street, and the treatment of the press.

Events

2011 Citizens Union Awards Dinner

At The Pierre on October 27th, over 350 guests enjoyed good wine and a sumptuous meal while celebrating five individuals whose commitment to New York has strengthened our city and helped assure that New York remains a vital, vibrant place to live and work. Following cocktails and conversation, dinner guests gained a variety of perspectives from both honorees and presenters about the critical role of accountable, effective government in New Yorkers’ lives. Close to $800,000 was raised, attesting to the respect this year’s honorees command and the belief in Citizens Union’s strong work. For those who couldn’t join us, we hope these photos convey the flavor of the evening!

All photos by Mike Sheehan. Clockwise from top left (from left to right in photo): Dick Dadey with honoree Monica Azare; CU Chair Peter Sherwin, former CU Chair Rich Davis, honoree Gary Naftalis, and Dick Dadey; CUF Board Member Grace Lyu Volkhausen and friends; CU Chair Peter Sherwin; James Conroy, CUF President Bob Abrams, Senator Michael Gianaris, and Tim Gilles; CU Board Member Ester Fuchs with NYC Partnership President Kathy Wylde.

Pension Reform Civic Conversation

Citizens Union is in the process of organizing a civic conversation focusing on state pension reform in collaboration with Baruch College, likely to be held early next year. The panel discussion will seek to reach common ground on how pension reform might be achieved in New York State and provide an overview of the political landscape in Albany. It will likely include various stakeholders, such as labor and elected representatives from both sides of the aisle. We are also seeking to discuss best practices in other states to provide a comparative perspective, and will be making invitations to national experts on pension reform. The invitation will be following in the coming weeks.

Who is Citizens Union?

Shekar Krishnan

Shekar Krishnan joined Citizens Union’s Municipal Affairs Committee in January 2011, a little less than two years after graduating from law school at the University of Michigan. Shekar, 26, now a litigation associate at the law firm of Weil, Gotshal and Manges, spent his first year out of law school working at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, representing low-income tenants in housing and community-wide civil rights litigation. He saw in Citizens Union a great way to advocate for good government and transparency outside of the legal profession.

“Citizens Union provides the opportunity to amplify the voices of New Yorkers, by advocating on the political level for the same kind of change we are working for at a legal level in courts, and at a communal level in the neighborhoods,” said Shekar.

On the Municipal Affairs Committee Shekar has most enjoyed working on reform of the City Board of Elections where the MAC has focused on putting sample ballots online, email notification of election information, and increased transparency and accountability. Shekar has enjoyed the chance to address the policy behind many of the legal issues he has worked on around voting rights.

“I’ve seen on the ground in Brooklyn how people can be adversely affected by lack of outreach,” said Shekar, “and have their fundamental right to vote hindered by bureaucracy or because important information was not transmitted to them.”

Shekar grew up in Rockland County, born to parents who emigrated from India. Shekar, who will clerk for federal judge Jack Weinstein in Brooklyn next year, appreciates the sacrifices that they made so that he and his sister would have the opportunities they have today-including opportunities to give back to their communities.

“This city is like no other in that there is such a great amount of opportunity yet also a great amount of need,” said Shekar. “So many New Yorkers are making the most of those opportunities–and also coming together to try and address the serious need.”

Internships at Citizens Union

Interns play a central role in the work of Citizens Union. They contribute their time by helping out in our office, researching issues, assisting staff, writing articles, staffing events and much more. We are always keen to meet talented students who would like to work as interns for Citizens Union. Please share the opportunity!

– Policy and Research Internship 2012
– Development and Communications Internship 2012
– Gotham Gazette Internships

Make a Year-End Gift to Citizens Union

State ethics reform. NYC lobbying rules that make sense and are strictly enforced. Online sample ballots that prepare voters for NYC elections. Redistricting reform that restores competitive elections in New York State. CU’s vigilant work advanced each of these critical areas this year, and you can expect the same persistence in 2012.

Support CU today! Become a member or renew your membership! Make a tax deductible year-end gift to underwrite our research and policy work! Support Gotham Gazette! We will maximize every dollar you donate to create more accountable, transparent effective government in NYC and NYS.

Citizens Union In the News

To read recent coverage of our work visit the In the News section of our website