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.
Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Public Safety Hearing
June 20, 2024 - Citizens Union has been studying police accountability and performance in New York City for more than a decade, and many of our recommendations have been implemented. We believe the best way to ensure the safe and democratic application of policing is to strengthen and streamline systems of oversight and accountability, both within the NYPD and among the independent entities that monitor police misconduct. Public safety is dependent on New Yorkers having faith in law enforcement.
Citizens Union Calls on the Charter Revision Commission Not to Propose Major Changes in Such a Rushed Timeline and to Prevent Future Charter Gamesmanship
June 17, 2024 - Citizens Union testified before the 2024 New York City Charter Commission's Government and Election Reform Hearing. Recommendations include establishing a minimum timeframe for future Charter Revision Commissions and for local laws sent to a referendum, maintaining Ranked Choice Voting, and more.
Testimony on Intro 908-A, expanding advice and consent (before City Council vote)
June 6, 2024 - Citizens Union submits the following statement in response to the amended bill to expand the City Council’s advice and consent, scheduled for a vote on June 6, 2024.
Citizens Union urges the City Council not to rush through advice and consent expansion
May 29th, 2024 - Citizens Union submitted a testimony in response to proposed legislation that would amend the City Charter to require the advice and consent of the City Council for 21 commissioner appointments. In the testimony, Citizens Union urges the Council not to rush through this Charter amendment process, and to allow for more time, committee meetings, and public hearings to fully consider the implications of this proposal.
Voting Rights, Disability Rights, Civic, and Community Groups Support Bill to Move City Election to Even-Years
May 21, 2024 – Citizens Union, the Let NY Vote coalition, and over two dozen advocacy groups signed on to a memo in support of S9126 (Skoufis)/A10466 (Walker), which would align city and other elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections. This change would strengthen our democracy by significantly increasing the number of people who vote for local offices and reducing racial and age-based gaps in voter participation.
Testimony before the City Council – oversight hearings on lobbying reform
April 19, 2024 – Testimony on bills regarding prohibitions lobbying in connection with campaign-related fundraising or political consulting, the city’s post-employment restrictions, and other proposed reforms in lobbying oversight and enforcement.
Group testimony on proposed COIB rules regarding NYC’s policymaker list
April 17, 2024 – Citizens Union joined Reinvent Albany and Common Cause NY to testify in support of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB)'s proposed rule changes to the policymaker list. This testimony includes additional recommendations related to data transparency.
Group Memo of Opposition to legislation making significant changes to the state public campaign finance program, S8969 (Skoufis)
April 9, 2024 – Citizens joins over a dozen groups in opposition for proposed legislation that would make significant changes to the public campaign finance law before the existing public matching law is used for the first time in an election.
Memo of Support, S6173B (Skoufis)/A7052 (Sillitti), requiring New York join multistate voter list maintenance organizations
February 7, 2024 – Memo supporting legislation requiring New York to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) or another multistate voter list maintenance organization
Testimony for the 2024 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing
February 6, 2024 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2025. 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: S7883/A8618, lobbying for the confirmation of persons to state office
January 16, 2024 - Citizens Union and several other good government groups submitted a memo in support of a bill to expand the term “lobbying” to include any attempts to influence the nomination or confirmation of any person to state office for a position that is subject to Senate confirmation.
Memo of Support: S995B/A3484A, LLC Transparency Act
December 15, 2023 - Citizens Union urges he Governor to sign the bill that would requirements for foreign and domestic limited liability companies (LLCs) in New York State to publicly disclose their “beneficial owners."