TODAY IN GOTHAM GAZETTE
Citizens Union Foundation's watchdog publication Gotham Gazette, provides New Yorkers with illuminating analyses on policy, long-form interviews with thought leaders, and underreported stories about the actions of government and government officials. Read Gotham Gazette's latest stories.
CITIZENS UNION TESTIFIES IN SUPPORT OF NYC PUBLIC MATCHING SYSTEM AND NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE REFORM
Citizens Union testified in support of the NYC public matching system at a public hearing called by the Senate Elections Committee, also noting the need for comprehensive reform to stem the wave of corruption in Albany. Read the testimony. 05/7/13
CITIZENS UNION SAYS 'ENOUGH ALREADY' AND CALLS FOR SIX NEEDED REFORMS
Citizens Union is calling for systemic change and the enactment of six concrete reforms to stem the crime wave of public corruption, in response to the federal complaint against Senator Malcolm Smith and City Councilmember Dan Halloran. Read Citizens Union's statement. 04/3/13
CITIZENS UNION BELIEVES JCOPE DECISIONS RESULT IN MORE TRANSPARENCY OF LOBBYING ACTIVITY
Citizens Union believes the recent decision by JCOPE are positive steps that will result in greater disclosure of lobbying activity to New Yorkers. Citizens Union also made additional recommendations to increase disclosure. Read Citizens Union's statement. 03/28/13
CITIZENS UNION REVIEWS THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
Citizens Union reviewed the process behind the state budget and is pleased by the existence of an Open Budget website and there being no messages of necessity. Citizens Union believes that the role of rank and file legislators the use of conference committees still need strengthening. Read Citizens Union's statement. 03/26/13
CITIZENS UNION PLEASED BY CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS' TRANSPARENCY IN ANNUAL REPORT
Citizens Union is pleased by the transparency provided by the City Board of Elections in its 2012 Annual Report. Citizens Union provided its own analysis of the high and low points of the report, including the need for legislative and administrative changes to improve the administration of elections and voter engagement. Read Citizens Union's statement. 03/19/13
CITIZENS UNION APPLAUDS FINAL APPROVAL OF CITY LOBBYING COMMISSION REPORT
Citizens Union today commended the final report of the City Lobbying Commission which included 7 reforms originally advocated for by Citizens Union. The City Council is now expected introduce legislation, hold hearings and pass laws on recommendations in the Commission’s final report. Read Citizens Union's statement. 03/13/13
GOTHAM GAZETTE LAUNCHES NEW DESIGN & EDITORIAL FOCUS
Citizens Union's watchdog publication released a major investigative report on New York State's failure to provide oversight on nursing homes' use of chemical restraints. The new website for Gotham Gazette is the first significant redesign in 14 years. Read Citizens Union Foundation's press release. 02/25/13
CITIZENS UNION TO MONITOR JCOPE'S FIRST EVER TEST CASE
For the first time ever an investigation involving a legislator or legislative employee is being referred by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) to the Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC). Citizens Union is encouraged that the process as outlined in the 2011 state ethics law is working as required and will continue to monitor it closely. Read Citizens Union's statement. 02/13/13
GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS COMMEND SPEAKER SILVER FOR MOVING FORWARD EARLY VOTING LEGISLATION
Citizens Union joined leading good government groups in a statement commending Speaker Sheldon Silver on moving forward legislation to implement early voting in New York State. 02/12/13
CU PRAISES CITY DISTRICTING COMMISSION’S RELEASE OF WRITTEN RATIONALES FOR DRAWING OF COUNCIL DISTRICTS
Citizens Union today praised the City Districting Commission for releasing to the public detailed information regarding how the Commission drew each city council district, and commended the Commission for releasing the maps for public review in advance of its February 6 public meeting. 02/05/13
CITIZENS UNION REPORT SHOWS EFFECTS OF GERRYMANDERING ON PARTY CONTROL OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE
As the legislature votes today on second passage of a constitutional amendment to reform redistring in New York State, Citizens Union has released a report showing how gerrymandering allows the majority party in each house to preserve their power, protecting incumbents and reducing competition in elections. 01/23/13
CITIZENS UNION PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO ATTORNEY GENERAL ON DISCLOSURE OF INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Citizens Union testified at a hearing by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on the attorney general's proposed rules for the disclosure of independent expenditures, in his office's capacity of overseeing charities conducting business in New York State. CU's recommendations included the integration of disclosure data into the NYOpenGovt.com platform on the attorney general's website. Read Citizens Union's testimony. 01/15/13
GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS QUESTION USE OF MESSAGE OF NECESSITY TO PASS GUN LEGISLATION
Citizens Union joined other good government groups today in releasing a statement questioning the use of the message of necessity procedure to pass state gun legislation. While recognizing that protecting the safety of New Yorkers is a paramount public policy interest of the state, this large and multi-faceted change to the state’s approach to gun violence is occurring without the benefit of a more transparent public process. 01/15/13
CU RELEASES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC DISTRICTING COMMISSION
Citizens Union today released its recommendations to the New York City Districting Commission, expressing strong concerns over the need for transparency and protection of incumbents which could result in the underrepresentation and division of Asian American communities in lower Manhattan, Bensonhurst and Bayside. Read the release. 01/07/13
GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS PRAISE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FOR ADVANCING EARLY VOTING
Citizens Union joined leading good government groups in a statement commending Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for introducing and sponsoring legislation to implement early voting in New York State. 01/04/13
CU CALLS ON CITY DISTRICTING COMMISSION TO RESCIND MAPS
In a statement today, Citizens Union called on the City Districting Commission to rescind its proposed maps and allow further public input at a hearing tomorrow, citing concern over a flawed process and a tainted decision on District 34. 12/03/12
CITIZENS UNION CALLS ON AG TO INVESTIGATE POLITICAL ORGANIZATION FOR POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF DISCLOSURE LAWS
Citizens Union filed a complaint with the state attorney general calling on his office to investigate whether Common Sense Principles, a charity that sent attack mailers in three state senate districts, violated state disclosure laws by failing to register with the Charities Bureau. Read the press release. 11/07/12
CITIZENS UNION JOINS CIVIC GROUPS IN URGING PASSAGE OF CITY ELECTION REFORM BILLS
In a press conference today, Citizens Union and other civic groups called for passage of a package of election reform bills intended to help improve election administration and encourage voter participation in New York City. 10/15/12
GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS REACT TO ANNOUNCMENT OF JCOPE INVESTIGATION
Yesterday Citizens Union joined the Brennan Center for Justice, the League of Women Voters - New York State, and New York Public Interest Research Group, in releasing a joint statement in response to the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announcement that they will be conducting a “substantial basis” investigation reiterating their call to JCOPE to conduct a full and broad examination into the Assembly’s handling of the Vito Lopez matter, and not limit itself to Lopez in particular. 09/11/12
CITIZENS UNION CALLS ON JCOPE TO PERFORM FULL INVESTIGATION OF LOPEZ MATTER
On Friday, Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey released a statement calling on JCOPE to conduct a full and thorough investigation not only of the multiple instances of sexual harassment committed by Assemblymember Vito Lopez but of all parties who had a role in negotiating, reviewing, advising, processing or settling the first confidential settlement. 09/10/12
CITIZENS UNION FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT ON ASSEMBLY HANDLING OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE
Citizens Union filed a letter with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) regarding the Assembly's handling of Assemblymember Lopez's sexual harassment cases to investigate potential violations of the Public Officers Law. It also sent a letter to the Assembly asking for it to provide documentation regarding its process for handling sexual harassment cases. Read the release for more information. 08/31/12
CITIZENS UNION CALLS ON VITO LOPEZ TO RESIGN IN WAKE OF ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARRASMENT
Citizens Union Friday released a statement calling on Assemblymember Vito Lopez to resign following findings of the bi-partisan Standing Committee of Ethics and Guidance that he verbally, physically, and repeatedly harassed two Assembly employees. 08/27/12
CITIZENS UNION RESPONDS TO ETHICS COMMISSION’S DRAFT GUIDELINES ON DISCLOSURE OF BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
Citizens Union today publicly released its comments on the newly released draft guidelines by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) on the disclosure requirements of business relationships between lobbyists and clients and elected and appointed officials and state employees. Citizens Union submitted its recommendations as part of its continued monitoring of the implementation of the state ethics bill, the Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011 (PIRA). 08/24/12
CITIZENS UNION CALLS ON CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO MODERNIZE REPORTING OF UNOFFICIAL RESULTS ON ELECTION NIGHT
Citizens Union today called on the Board of Elections in the City of New York to vote in favor of a resolution at its weekly Commissioners’ meeting to modernize its reporting of unofficial election results- the unofficial winners and losers of races- on election night. CU issued a legal analysis that showed how the Board could act administratively without the need for state legislation. 07/17/12
CITIZENS UNION CALLS FOR STRONG AND FULL DISCLOSURE OF FUNDERS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT LOBBY CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENT
Citizens Union testified yesterday before the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), calling on the state’s ethics body to promulgate rules that will robustly disclose donors to lobbyists and clients. In its testimony Citizens Union highlighted four of twelve recommendations it provided in commentary to JCOPE in May. Read the press release. 06/08/12
RECENT REDISTRICTING RULING SHOWS WHY PERMANENT REFORM WAS NEEDED
Citizens Union released a statement on Friday in response to two recent court rulings - the New York State Court of Appeals unanimous ruling upholding the partisan decision of the majority in the senate to add a 63rd state senate seat, and the decision by the U.S. Department of Justice pre-clearing the senate’s legislative lines under section five of the federal Voting Rights Act. CU says that both rulings show how our laws allow partisan gerrymandering and why permanent reform was needed. 05/08/12
CITIZENS UNION REPORT SHOWS NYC COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING PROCESS NEEDS MORE REFORM
In a press conference today Citizens Union released a report on New York City Council discretionary funding showing that funding decisions lack objective measures with politics playing too large a role, and that there is little correlation between a district's socioeconomic status and the amount of council discretionary funding it receives. The report shows for the first time what each council member got in both expense and capital funding over the past four years, and makes recommendations for reforms. 05/01/12
CITIZENS UNION JOINS FAIR ELECTION CAMPAIGN PUSHING FOR STATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Citizens Union announced today its participation in the Fair Elections campaign, a diverse coalition of good government groups, issue-advocacy organizations, community groups, unions, and business leaders united in support of achieving change to New York State’s campaign finance laws.04/18/12
CITIZENS UNION BUDGET REFORM REPORT CARD GIVES STATE AN "I" FOR "IMPROVED BUT INCOMPLETE"
Citizens Union released today its 2012 State Budget Reform Report Card giving the state a grade of "I" for "improved but incomplete." The report card reviewed the state’s adherence to elements of the 2007 budget reforms and found mixed results regarding implementation of major aspects of the 2007 reforms. The report card also pointed out where additional reforms are needed. 04/11/12
CITIZENS UNION COMMENDS AGREEMENT ON OVERSIGHT OF POLICE MISCONDUCT; RELEASES REPORT SHOWING WHY REFORM IS NEEDED
Citizens Union today commended an agreement between the City and the NYPD to allow the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) to prosecute cases of police misconduct that it substantiates. CU also released a report showing how the CCRB's recommendations for police discipline are regularly downgraded by the NYPD. 03/28/12
CITIZENS UNION OPPOSES BUDGET LANGUAGE ALLOWING FOR EXECUTIVE TRANSFER OF FUNDS WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL
Citizens Union today announced its opposition to language contained in the Governor’s proposed state budget legislation, which would give the governor authority to transfer funds between agencies or programs without legislative approval. In its position statement, CU provided alternative means of implementing the goals of creating greater efficiencies and consolidations in state government. 03/23/12
GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS CALL ON ALBANY TO USE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO OPEN UP STATE GOVERNMENT
At a press conference in Albany today, Citizens Union joined with other leading civic groups to call on the governor, legislature, attorney general and comptroller to use the explosion in affordable information technology to make New York State government more transparent, responsive and accountable. The groups issued a report outlining specific recommendations on how to do this. 03/22/12
WITH TODAY'S SPECIAL ELECTION, ONE THIRD OF STATE LEGISLATURE WAS FIRST ELECTED BY SPECIAL ELECTION
Citizens Union released today updated research showing that with today's Special Election for five state legislative seats the number of legislators first elected in a special election has increased to 30 percent - nearly a third of all state legislative seats. Special elections in New York for state legislature are filled through low-turnout special elections, after the Republican and Democratic parties nominate their candidates in closed-door proceedings rather than through a competitive primary election by the voters. Citizens Union calls upon the State Legislature and Governor to support two reform bills that allow voters greater choice of candidates. Read the press release. 03/20/12
STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL ON REDISTRICTING REFORM
Early this morning the state legislature passed a a constitutional amendment and accompanying statute to enact permanent, structural redistricting reform. Citizens Union and the League of Women Voters NYS commend the governor, legislative leaders and the legislature for this achievement. Read the press release. 03/15/12
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REFORM REDISTRICTING
Citizens Union and the Leauge of Women Voters NYS today released a set of Frequently Asked Questions to clarify the provisions of the constitutional amendment released earlier this week by the legislative leaders to create a permanent independent redistricting commission. 03/14/12
CITIZENS UNION AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SUPPORT JUST RELEASED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON REDISTRICTING
Citizens Union and the League of Women Voters New York State announced in a press conference today their support for the constitutional amendment released by the legislature late last night that will finally put an end to New York’s partisan redistricting process and create permanent structural reform for decades to come. More details. 03/12/12
NATIONAL REDISTRICTING EXPERTS CALL ON GOVERNOR TO USE VETO THREAT TO ACHIEVE PERMANENT REDISTRICTING REFORM
In a press briefing today, leading redistricting experts from across the country voiced their support for Citizens Union’s call for Governor Cuomo to use his veto threat to achieve permanent redistricting reform through a constitutional amendment rather than opting for an actual veto that would not necessarily achieve any lasting reform. 02/28/12
FORMER STATE AG AND CUF PRESIDENT ROBERT ABRAMS OUTLINES STRONGEST PATH TO REDISTRICTING REFORM
In a press conference today, former State Attorney General and Citizens Union Foundation President Robert Abrams outlined the legal framework to achieve permanent redistricting reform through a constitutional amendment. 02/24/12
IN LETTER TO CUOMO CU URGES GOVERNOR TO USE VETO POWER TO ACHIEVE PERMANENT REDISTRICTING REFORM
In a letter to Governor Cuomo, Citizens Union urged the governor to use his threat to veto gerrymandered district lines to achieve two important goals: secure lasting and permanent redistricting
reform through statutory change and a constitutional amendment; and pursue
meaningful changes to this year's lines by holding direct negotiations with the
legislature. Read the release. 02/23/12
GERRYMANDERED DISTRICT MAPS ARE THE INEVITABLE RESULT OF A POLITICIZED PROCESS
In testimony today in Manhattan before LATFOR, the state's task force on redistricting, the state's task force on redistricting, Citizens Union called on LATFOR to improve its maps by reducing the overall population deviation used, drawing districts that better adhere to communities of interest, respecting boundaries of cities and counties, and creating opportunities for minorities to elect candidates of their choice, rather than blatantly manipulating district size and shape to maintain the majority parties' grip on power.02/02/12
PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAPS FOR STATE LEGISLATURE FAIL TO ADHERE TO OBJECTIVE CRITERIA
Citizens Union testified in Albany today to the legislative task force responsible for drawing district lines, LATFOR, noting that the proposed lines fail to adhere to reform principles to provide fairer maps. The testimony noted that counties and cities are divided unnecessarily, and that districts are far from compact and fail to protect communities of interest. The maps also paired minority legislators against each other, while preserving the districts of incumbent majority members. CU also made clear to LATFOR that it would ask Governor Cuomo to veto these lines if they are not changed to be fair and reflect the criteria outlined in his redistricting reform legislation. 01/31/12
ReShapeNY CALLS FOR IMPARTIAL REDISTRICTING PROCESS BEFORE 2012 MAPS ARE FINALIZED
As state legislators return to Albany, ReShapeNY today released a statement calling on them to honor their commitments to reform the redistricting process before 2012 legislative districts are finalized. 01/11/12
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ENOUGH ALREADY!
Since 1999, 21 state legislators have left office due to ethical or criminal issues. It could get as high as 26. Read our turnover report summary on NY state's most notorious characters.
We are calling for six needed reforms to stop this crime wave.
CU testifies on IDC's Campaign Finance Package
On May 1, Citizens Union executive director Dick Dadey and director of public policy Alex Camarda testified on the legislative package proposed by the Independent Democratic Conference. The hearing was held at the New York State Senate's offices in New York City.
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