Statements and Letters – Page 3

Citizens Union Responds to NYC Districting Commission’s Release of the Draft Maps

July 15, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after New York City Districting Commission released the first draft of the district maps for New York City’s 51 City Council districts

Watchdogs Welcome Law School Deans’ New Vetting Procedures for Ethics Commission Candidates

June 22, 2022 - Our groups welcome the review procedures developed by New York’s law school deans (who by law compose the Independent Review Committee or “IRC”) to review candidates submitted to them by the state’s elected officials.

Watchdogs Ask Statewide Officials and Legislative Leaders to Appoint Independent Members to Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

June 8, 2022 - We write knowing that the adopting legislation in the budget sets a short time frame for appointing members to the new Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (“CELG”). We urge you, as you consider the statutory requirements of “background and expertise,” to abide by the following principles

Citizens Union Responds to NYC Districting Commission’s Decision to Delay Draft Maps and Hold Additional Public Hearings

June 6, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after New York City Districting Commission Chair Dennis Walcott that draft district maps would be delayed and drawn after additional public hearings

Citizens Union Applauds Legislature for Moving Voter Registration Deadline to 10 Days Before Election Day

June 1, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum after the NYS Assembly passed S2951A/A8858A which would reduce the time for mailing and receipt of voter registration applications to the Constitutional minimum of 10 days before election

Watchdogs Ask Gov Hochul to Keep Her Transparency Pledge, Show Public How $8B+ in Lump Sum Funds Are Spent

May 24, 2022 - Leading government and budget watchdog groups are once again asking Government Hochul to keep her promise to bring a “new era of transparency” to state government, this time by showing the public how billions in state lump sum funds are spent.

Citizens Union, LatinoJustice, APA VOICE urge NYC Districting Commission to hold public hearings before releasing first draft redistricting plan

May 18, 2022 - CU, LatinoJustice and APA VOICE writes to the NYC Districting Commission to reconsider their decision not to hold public hearings before releasing a first draft of the New York City Council district maps and instead hold one or more preliminary public hearings ahead of the publication of the initial draft maps.

Citizens Union Applauds State Senate for Taking Steps to Reform New York’s Broken Election Administration System

May 19, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum applauding the State Senate for passing a set of bills that will reform Boards of Elections throughout New York State

Letter to NYC Districting commissioners with Citizens Union’s recommendations for the redistricting process

May 6, 2022 - Citizens Union submits recommendations to the 2022 NYC Districting Commission meant to ensure independence, build public trust, and create fair and representative maps

Letter to the 2022 NYC Districting Commission Chair concerning a possible code of ethics

May 3, 2022 - A letter to the Chair of the New York City Districting Commission, Dennis Walcot, regarding the development of a Code of Ethics for the Commission's proceedings, including recommendations

Citizens Union, League of Women Voters of NYS urge postponement of all primaries until Aug 23

May 2nd, 2022 - Today, Citizens Union and the League of Women Voters of NYS sent a letter to Governor Hochul and legislative leaders urging the postponement of all elections scheduled to take place in June to August 23.

Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response NYS Court of Appeals Ruling on Redistricting Map

April 27, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the NYS Court of Appeals ruling on the state's redistricting maps

Citizens Union Files Amicus Brief Urging Court to Give Weight to Anti-Gerrymandering Provision in State Constitution

April 24, 2022 - Citizens Union filed an amicus brief in the matter of Harkenrider v. Hochul, the case challenging the newly drawn congressional and legislative district maps in New York, which is now before the New York Court of Appeals. Citizens Union joined the Campaign Legal Center in filing this brief.

Citizens Union Issues Statement in Response to 2022 State Budget Deal

April 8, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the details of the New York State budget deal: “Governor Hochul’s first state budget presented a rare opportunity to push for meaningful ethics reform in Albany. Unfortunately, the governor and the legislature failed to create an independent ethics oversight body. The new commission designed to replace JCOPE is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.

Governor and Legislature Have Failed to Create an Independent Ethics Oversight Body

April 9, 2022 - After careful review, we believe the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government created in the state budget is fatally flawed, will not have the public’s confidence and will not be able to oversee the state’s most powerful elected officials without fear or favor.

Citizens Union Slams Proposed Deal to Replace JCOPE with Another Toothless Ethics Commission

March 29, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to news that the Governor and Legislature have reached a deal to replace JCOPE with a new commission charged with enforcing ethics and lobbying laws

Citizens Union Issues Statement on In Response to Mayor Adams’ Nominations to the NYC Districting Commission

March 7, 2022 – Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on Mayor Eric Adams’ nominations to the New York City districting commission

Letter to the Legislature on reforming campaign finance oversight and enforcement, March 2022

March 2022 - Group letter to the State Legislature to reform campaign finance oversight in New York, particularly in regards to the work of the Chief Enforcement Counsel and its relation with the State Board of Elections

Watchdogs Urge Gov. Hochul and Legislative Leaders to Create an Independent State Ethics Commission in This Budget

February 9, 2022 - Groups back Governor Hochul’s basic “framework” of law school deans appointing ethics commissioners if there is a transparent selection process and specific measures increasing independence.

Letter to the Mayor with recommendations regarding the 2022 Districting Commission, February 2022

February 3, 2022 - Citizens Union sends a letter to Mayor Eric Adams with recommendations and proposals related to the appointment and work of the New York City Districting Commission

Citizens Union Issues Statement on Proposed Congressional Maps

February 2, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the proposed Congressional maps for New York State

Good government groups call the legislature to hold public hearings on amended redistricting maps

January 26, 2022 -

Letter to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams requesting a public hearing on possible reforms to the Rules of the Council 2022

January 20, 2022 - A group letter to new Council Speaker Adrienne Adams asking that she convene a public hearing on possible reforms to the Rules of the Council in the coming weeks

Citizens Union Responds to Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address

January 5, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address:

Groups Criticize the Independent Redistricting Commission’s Failure to Approve a Single Set of Maps

January 3, 2022 - Groups Criticize the Independent Redistricting Commission’s Failure to Approve a Single Set of Maps: The League of Women Voters, Citizens Union, and Reinvent Albany have submitted the following letter to the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission following the Commission’s failure to approve a single set of redistricting maps for submission to the Legislature.