As the year comes to a close, I’m reflecting on all that has happened over the past 12 months.
From completing the state and city redistricting process to the midterm elections, 2022 was a busy year in New York government and politics.
I am proud of the role Citizens Union has played in
- Monitoring the city’s redistricting process and providing trainings to community groups.
- Evaluating the candidates and ballot initiatives for the midterm election.
- Advocating for greater transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in government.
Not bad for an organization celebrating its 125th anniversary!
And we’ve been busy up until the very end of the year. You can read more about what we’ve been up to this month in this edition of The Reformer.
We wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy new year!
Best,
Betsy Gotbaum
Executive Director, Citizens Union/Citizens Union Foundation
POLICY UPDATES
Transparency and Accountability in the State Legislature
Just days before the current legislature adjourned at the end of this month, New York’s state lawmakers approved legislation to increase their annual salaries by almost 30%. We opposed this change, which passed during a last-minute special session, because it included weak controls on lawmakers’ outside income and did little to reduce corruption risk. Instead of implementing the recommendations of a 2018 blue-ribbon Pay Commission, lawmakers left out crucial sections: they did not eliminate legislative stipends, did not ban outside income from employment with “fiduciary relationship,” and delayed a new cap on outside income by two years.
Additionally, this month we called legislative leaders to pass new rules that ensure that all public meetings in the legislature are webcast. Due to recent changes to the Open Meetings Law, lawmakers must adopt a resolution to authorize videoconferencing in meetings. They should use this opportunity to increase transparency and accessibility in the state legislature. As of now, the legislature has yet to make this change.
Proper vetting process for the next NYC Board of Elections Commissioner
A recent vacancy in the New York City Board of Elections gives the City Council an opportunity to ensure that New York City has qualified, independent, and voter-centric election officials.
We called the Council to hold a public confirmation hearing to fill the vacancy for the New York County Democratic nominee for Commissioner of Elections. Council Members must take measures to appoint qualified commissioners, such as holding public hearings with adequate notice and only appointing party-recommended candidates if they demonstrate the necessary experience or commitment.
Supporting Public Campaign Finance
This month, we joined advocates, candidates, and elected officials on the steps of City Hall to mark the launch of the new statewide public campaign finance program. The new program will provide public matching funds to participating candidates for state offices beginning with the 2024 legislative elections.
The program is designed to maximize the impact of small, local donations, and five dollars is all it takes to be eligible for matching funds. The first step in ensuring the program’s success is funding it sufficiently. We asked the governor to include the budget requested by the New York State Public Campaign Finance Board in her next executive budget.
In New York City, we testified before the City Council on how our local campaign finance program worked in the previous elections. The city’s unique system led to a more diverse, competitive, and fairer election cycle. However, more can be done to protect our local democracy from growing super PAC spending and reduce pay-to-play practices related to campaigns. You can read our testimony here.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Developed by Columbia University researchers and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Communities Speak partners with organizations like Citizens Union to ensure that the city understands our community’s unique challenges and has the information to do something about it.
Communities Speaks aims to increase the diversity and influence of community voices in policy-making by developing data-driven dialogue between community leaders, constituents, and governments.
Share your input and take the quick and anonymous Communities Speak survey here
CU IN THE NEWS
Gothamist
NY lawmakers seek nearly 30% pay bump, likely to meet for special session Thursday
December 21, 2022
Associated Press
NYC’s rat-fighting mayor fined over infestation at own house
December 7, 2022
GOTHAM GAZETTE
Nearly A Year In, No Sign of Adams’ Promised NYPD Watchlist
by Ethan Geringer-Sameth
At Hearing, City Council Criticizes Mayor Adams on Budget Decisions, Depleted Agencies
by Samar Khurshid
Police Have Removed Over 1,300 ‘Emotionally Disturbed People’ from Transit in 2022; Where Did They Go?
by Ethan Geringer-Sameth
As Hochul Promises ‘Bold’ Agenda, Many Housing Policies on the Table for 2023 in Albany
by Samar Khurshid
Max Politics Podcast: Borough President Donovan Richards on What’s Next in Queens
by Gotham Gazette
CU FLASHBACK
When the new Congress is sworn in next month, Brooklyn’s Hakeem Jeffries will assume the role of minority leader, becoming the first Black American to lead a major party in Congress. Rep. Jeffries has a long history with Citizens Union. When CU endorsed him for Assembly in 2006, we said, “Jeffries’ strong grasp of the issues facing his district and the state, and his willingness to build coalitions around reform ideas make him a refreshing candidate for State Assembly, earning CU’s endorsement.”
Read more from our 2006 General Election Voters Guide.