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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
February 11, 2025 - Citizens Union comments on proposals to substantially alter the powers of city officials on land use matters
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.
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.
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.
January 29, 2025 - Citizens Union comments on the Department of Investigation’s Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD and Intro. 1020-2024
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.
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.
November 13, 2024 - Citizens Union’s testimony before the state ethics commission, including comments on the commission's proposed 2025 legislative agenda
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.