January 24, 2025 - Citizens Union today published an analysis revealing that the number of senior City officials indicted or resigning under investigation in the three years since Mayor Eric Adams took office is double the combined totals across the Dinkins, Giuliani, Bloomberg, and de Blasio administration
December 4th - In considering the resolution, the City Council can send a clear message to Albany lawmakers that New York City prioritizes an inclusive local democracy that encourages, rather than discourages, New Yorkers to vote.
October 10, 2024 - write-ups of CU's positions on the 2024 ballot proposals. We recommend a YES vote on Proposal 1 and a NO vote on Proposal 2-6
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.
December 12, 2023 - Citizens Union issued a report on the state of sidewalk sheds in New York City, evaluating proposals to reform the scaffolding system in New York City. There are now 9,000 active sidewalk sheds in New York City, totalling 380 miles of wood and metal boxes.
Scaffolding report
November 15, 2023 - In last week’s elections, voter turnout decreased significantly across New York State, including in areas with important local races, according to an analysis from Citizens Union. The analysis compared voter turnout in key races for county and city offices in 2023 with voter turnout in overlapping areas in November 2022, finding that turnout in last year’s elections was higher by 42 percent to 169 percent. According to unofficial election night results, only 18 percent of eligible New York voters cast their ballots in the November 2023 general election. This highlights the need to shift local elections to even-numbered years and consolidate them with federal or statewide races, which see higher voter turnout.
August 3, 2023 - On Monday, July 31, Citizens Union sent a letter to Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the U.S. Southern District of New York, who oversees the matter of Nunez v. The City of New York, in support of the appointment of a federal receiver over the New York City jail system.
January 27, 2023 - Citizens Union issued a report outlining the benefits of moving New York City’s municipal elections to even-numbered years. This move would bring elections for city offices in line with gubernatorial or presidential elections. Municipal elections in New York City, which are currently held in odd-numbered years, have consistently seen lower voter turnout than elections held in even-numbered years. Consolidating municipal elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections will increase voter turnout, giving more New Yorkers a say over who governs them at the local level.
A new report by Citizens Union aims to examine the potential benefits and impacts of moving New York City's municipal elections "on-cycle" to even-numbered years, to coincide with the presidential or gubernatorial/midterm elections. We analyze how consolidating elections would affect overall turnout, demographics of the electorate, and administrative burdens and costs. The report also looks into the experience of cities that have moved their local elections on-cycle in recent years, like El Paso, Phoenix, and Baltimore, and charts a path to change the election year in New York.
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.
February 22, 2022 — Citizens Union today issued a report outlining measures to ensure a fair City Council redistricting process. Fair and Open City Council Redistricting recommends the city appoint City Council redistricting commissioners who will adopt expansive anti-gerrymandering criteria, ensure transparency and have not served in an elected office for the past five years.
New York, N.Y. (December 23, 2021)— Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent good government group, today released Public Safety and Policing in New York City: Recommendations to the New Mayor, a report outlining recommendations for the incoming Mayoral administration designed to promote public safety and make the NYPD more accountable and responsive. The report builds on Citizens Union’s comprehensive Agenda for Police Reform to make the NYPD more transparent and accountable, which the group released in March. You can read that report here.
July 19, 2021 - Citizens Union released a detailed analysis of the June primary elections in New York City, examining the impact of Ranked Choice Voting. The analysis found that Ranked Choice Voting gave more voters a say in elections, with fewer votes “wasted” on candidates who fell well short of winning their races. The analysis also found that voter turnout increased; voters embraced Ranked Choice Voting and navigated the system well; and the number of women running, and the number of women and people of color winning increased. These benefits were seen throughout the city.
March 23, 2021 - Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent good government group, today issued a report outlining a comprehensive agenda for reform to make the New York City Police Department more transparent and accountable
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.
February 7, 2019 Contact: Jake Oliver, jake@anatgerstein.com, (347) 361-9983 Report finds that implementing early voting, electronic pollbooks and a combined primary…
February 7, 2019 - Spending in the Shadows Executive Summary
February 7, 2019 - Spending in the Shadows Executive Budget
February 7, 2019 - Spending in the Shadows Enacted Addendum
October 25, 2018 Download as a PDF For Immediate Release Media Contact: Jake Oliver jake@anatgerstein.com 347 361 9983 CITIZENS UNION…
Noncitizen Voting in New York City - A Report from the Public Service Management Program at the Colin Powell School…
Legal Analysis of Noncitizen Voting in New York City, October 2015 CU Legal Analysis Summary - Legal Resident Non Citizen…
March 28, 2018 - Today, Citizens Union released Spending in the Shadows: Nonspecific Funding in the FY 2019 New York State Executive Budget.
New Yorkers need a clear way to be informed of billions budgeted, without any public reporting from the New York State Assembly or State Senate, over the past five years.