March was a busy month in city and state government. In Albany, the state budget season is reaching its finale, and here in New York City, there is much back and forth between the Mayor and the City Council over the city’s budget. Additionally, primary election season has begun with all 51 City Council districts up for grabs. Citizens Union is gearing up for a busy spring.
This month, we advocated for a broad spectrum of issues, including election reform, fully investing in the new state-wide campaign finance program, investments in public safety, and more.
You can read more about all that and more in this edition of The Reformer.
Best,
Betsy Gotbaum
Executive Director, Citizens Union/Citizens Union Foundation
POLICY UPDATES
State Budget End is Near: Final Push for Campaign Finance Reform
For over two decades, we’ve fought against the influence of big donors in Albany. Now, after years of grassroots organizing, campaigning, and collaboration with legislators, we finally won a statewide matching funds program.
The landmark New York State Public Campaign Finance Program now exists, but it may be in jeopardy because of incumbent legislators, afraid of competition, who may delay the program before it even starts by not fully funding it in the state budget. Delaying the implementation of public campaign financing would be a step backward for democracy and for efforts to get big money out of politics.
This is where you come in. We need YOU to call or write your State Senator and Assembly Member TODAY and tell them to fully fund the public financing system with the necessary $100 Million in the state budget!
Click here to find your State Assembly Member.
Click here to find your State Senator.
Don’t let Albany lawmakers take away a key achievement of the reform agenda.
Fighting to Fund City Watchdogs: Advocating the City Council Budget
This month, Citizen Union fought for investment in government watchdogs to hold the city government accountable. We submitted a letter to the New York City Council expressing our concerns over significant budgetary reductions to key NYC government oversight agencies. Specifically, we are troubled by the proposed cuts to the Department of Investigation, including the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD and the Civilian Complaint Review Board. We believe that reducing their resources and personnel will severely hinder their ability to ensure accountability, ethics, and good governance across the municipal workforce and prevent waste and corruption.
We also testified before the City Council Committee on Public Safety at their Preliminary Budget Hearing to urge them to strengthen the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) by filling vacancies and providing the necessary funds to complete its new mandates. The City Council must support oversight agencies with the resources to carry out their critical work effectively.
Citizens Union Primary Candidate Evaluation is Underway!
Every election cycle, Citizens Union evaluates candidates for elected office. We assess candidates based on their support for Citizens Union’s reform agenda and their ability to advance these goals, including elections and voting, campaign finance, ethics, and police accountability.
This year, all 51 City Council Members are up for reelection under new district maps, and our evaluation of candidates running in those districts is now underway. Members of our Local Candidates Committee will review the candidate’s questionnaires, interview them, and discuss who should receive Citizens Union’s preference. Once the evaluation process is complete, Citizen Union publishes a Voters Directory with our decisions, as we have since 1910.
You can find more information about the process here.
Improving the New State Ethics Watchdog
Earlier this week, we testified before the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government at their first-ever public hearing since the Commission was established last year. Ethics regulation in New York State has been fraught, with the Commission being the fourth agency in recent years created to meet the state’s ethics responsibility.
We are hopeful that the Commission will demonstrate its independence and credibility. To do this, we make the following recommendations to the Commission:
• No ex parte communication between Commission members and those who appoint the Commission.
• Due process hearings are public.
• Disclose the status of investigations by developing clear rules.
• Set expeditious timelines for its procedures.
• Support the Lobbying Law; clients and lobbyists must report if they lobbied in support or opposition to a matter, or in confirmation of a nominee.
• Take measures to curb campaign contributions to officials involved in decision-making regarding business before the state.
Congratulations to members of our Board featured in City & State Law Power 100
Published earlier this month, City & State’s Law Power 100 recognizes the most influential legal professionals in New York politics and government. Congratulations to our Board Chair, Randy Mastro, and Board Members Gary Naftalis, Jim Walden, and Anthony Crowell, who all were featured on the list as top attorneys in their field.
CU IN THE NEWS
Albany Times Union
Hochul changes for chief judge selection could lead to another lawsuit
March 31, 2023
Crain’s New York
Mayor’s cuts to city watchdogs could foster corruption, advocates warn
March 30, 2023
The City
How Does Ranked Choice Voting Work in New York City?
March 23, 2023
New York Daily News
Sunshine weak in Albany: As predicted, New York Legislature does nothing to advance open government
March, 18 2023
GOTHAM GAZETTE
At the City Council, Library System Heads Argue Against Mayor’s Budget Cuts
by Samar Khurshid
As Psychiatric Beds are Slowly Brought Back Into Service, Officials Point to Workforce Shortage and Hochul Pushes Fines
by Ethan Geringer-Sameth
Adams Administration to Launch ‘MyCity’ Portal in Coming Weeks, Starting with Child Care Services
by Samar Khurshid
City Council Questions Mayor’s Additional Planned Cuts to NYC Government Watchdog
by Samar Khurshid