Public Comment for Voting Rights Act Preclearance – Moving New York City’s Elections to Even Years
August 18, 2025 - Citizens Union respectfully urges the Office of the Attorney General to grant preclearance for Preclearance Submission No. 701, a proposal to shift elections held for City office in New York City from odd years to even years, contingent upon a change to the New York State Constitution, which was adopted by the Charter Revision Commission to be voted on at a referendum held on November 4, 2025
Testimony before the City Council Committee on Technology Intro. 1235-2025 (Brewer)
June 26, 2025 - New York City government offers some of the most advanced tools for data transparency. Countless New Yorkers rely on platforms like NYC Open Data to find information about their city, DCP maps to learn about land use in their neighborhoods, and OpenRecords to access public records.
Testimony to the 2025 Charter Commission for Local Democracy Government Accountability Hearing
June 16, 2025 - Our testimony offers comments and recommendations on several issues we view as top priorities. We may also submit further input on additional proposals included in your report that we are still in the process of reviewing.
Memo of Support for the Uncap Justice Act, S3849 (Hoylman-Sigal)/A1100 (Bores)
June 15, 2025 - Citizens Union supports S3849 (Hoylman-Sigal)/A1100 (Bores), which would remove the constitutional limitation on the number of Supreme Court justices able to serve in each specific judicial district.
Memo of support for S1356A (Skoufis)/A3649B (Taylor), requiring New York join multistate voter list maintenance organizations
May 9, 2025 - S1356A/A3649B would amend article five of the Election Law by adding a new title that details the authority, requirements, and process of joining multistate voter list maintenance organizations. Section 2 of the bill allows the State Board of Elections (SBOE) to join such organizations, including the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), and pay for their membership
Testimony before the 2025 Charter Revision Commission – Government Reform April Hearing
April 9, 2025 - Citizens Union's testimony addresses two key areas of government reform, both expanding on our February testimony: (1) moving city elections to even-numbered years, and (2) establishing a mechanism for the removal of the Mayor for misconduct.
Group memo of support: Council Resolution on Charter Commission Reform
March 11, 2025 - Citizens Union, the League of Women Voters of the City of New York, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Reinvent Albany submitted a memo in support of Resolution 740-2025 (Restler), calling on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.590/A.3665
Memo of Support, S2543 (Myrie), provides for statewide voter guides
February 25, 2025 – Memo supporting legislation requiring the State Board of Elections to prepare and distribute “voting guides” to all registered voters as well as election notifications.
Testimony before the 2025 Charter Revision Commission – Government Reform February Hearing
February 24, 2025 - Today, Citizens Union published a report outlining a series of recommended reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, enhancing ethics laws, and improving the system of checks and balances within City government. While this testimony highlights key proposals, we encourage the Commission to review our full report for additional recommendations and welcome any questions on such proposals.
Testimony before the 2025 Charter Revision Commission – Housing and Land Use
February 11, 2025 - Citizens Union comments on proposals to substantially alter the powers of city officials on land use matters
Testimony for the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing
Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.
Memo of Support for S590 (Krueger)/A3665 (Simone), Charter Revision Process Reform
February 3, 2025 - An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to the city charter referendum process; and to repeal paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 5 of section 36 of the municipal home rule law, relating to limitations on the submitting of a question to the qualified electors of a city when there is a question submitted by a charter commission.
Group Memo of Support for Intro 1020-2024, Strengthening the NYPD Office of the Inspector General
January 28, 2025 - Citizens Union joined several civic groups to urge the Council to pass Intro 1020-2024 (Brewer) to strengthen the NYPD Office of the Inspector General (the OIG) so that it can fulfill its purpose of providing independent and effective oversight of the NYPD.
Testimony before the Council Oversight Committee on the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD
January 29, 2025 - Citizens Union comments on the Department of Investigation’s Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD and Intro. 1020-2024
Memo of Support, Intro 77-A (Restler) Post-employment ban expansion
January 22, 2025 - Citizens Union submitted a memo in support of proposed legislation that would strengthen the City’s revolving door restrictions, preventing high-ranking government officials from leveraging their power, knowledge, and relationships after leaving public office to unfairly benefit private interests.
CU Joins Coalition to Push for State Amendment to Boost NYC Voter Turnout
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.
Testimony: 2024 Public Hearing of the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government
November 13, 2024 - Citizens Union’s testimony before the state ethics commission, including comments on the commission's proposed 2025 legislative agenda
Testimony on Intro 1088-2024, Establishing a New Charter Revision Commission
Oct 30, 2024 - Citizens Union's testimony before the City Council Committee on Governmental Operations on proposed legislation by Speaker Adrienne Adams that would establish a new Charter Revision Commission
Citizens Union Comments on 2024 Proposed Changes to the Campaign Finance Board Rules
September 27, 2024 - Testimony to the New York City Campaign Finance Board about proposed 2024 Rule Amendments, in which Citizens Union proposes three comments on the proposed new factors for determining whether an expenditure is independent and the proposed requirement to maintain a website and social media site
Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Preliminary Report Hearing
July 8th, 2024 - Throughout our 125-year history, we have supported periodic comprehensive reviews of the New York City Charter to ensure that city government is operating effectively, efficiently, and in the public's best interest, and have advised every Charter Revision Commission.