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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
February 2, 2022 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum on the proposed Congressional maps for New York State
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
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:
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.
Citizens Union released the following statement in reaction to the rejection of ballot proposals 1 (Amending the Redistricting Process), 3…
September 21, 2021 - GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS ASK COUNCIL LEADERS TO VET THE NOMINEE'S EXPERIENCE AND FITNESS TO ADMINISTER ELECTIONS
January 27, 2022 - Citizens Union sends a letter to City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli with recommendations and proposals related to the appointment and work of the New York City Districting Commission
January 27, 2022 - Citizens Union sends a letter to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams with recommendations and proposals related to the appointment and work of the New York City Districting Commission
January 4, 2021 - Group letter to the four legislative leaders urging them to make it a top priority to reform the rules governing the proceedings and operations of the legislature in order to address new challenges stemming from remote legislative work under the COVID-19 pandemic and improve public confidence in the legislative process.
July 6, 2020 - Citizens Union has renewed its call to allow New York City residents to register to vote online in advance of the November 2020 election.
April 24, 2020 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum, applauding Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement of an executive order ordering the New York State Board of Elections to send a postage paid absentee ballot application to every registered voter in the state for the upcoming June primary election
April 1, 2020 - Citizen’s Union, New York City’s leading good government group, issued the following statement on the passing of Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J:
March 28, 2020— Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum reacting to the news that the primary elections scheduled for April 28 will be postponed until June 23: