Citizens Union - Homepage

about usWHAT ARE CITIZENS UNION AND CITIZENS UNION FOUNDATION?CU & CUF BOARDS OF DIRECTORSCU & CUF STAFFCU IN THE NEWSORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATIONCITIZENS UNION FOUNDATIONGOTHAM GAZETTE111 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP FOR GOOD GOVERNMENTINTERNSHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESCONTACT UScity affairsCITY POLICY AGENDATERM LIMITS ACTION CENTERCU'S MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEECAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMCITY COUNCIL REFORMISSUES OF CITYWIDE IMPORTANCEOVERSIGHT, EFFECTIVENESS, & ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUESCOUNCIL LULU WATCHstate affairsSTATE POLICY AGENDACU'S STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEEBUDGET REFORMCAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMJUDICIAL REFORMETHICS REFORMISSUES OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCELEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING REFORMOVERSIGHT, EFFECTIVENESS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUESvoting + electionsVOTERS DIRECTORIESELECTIONS AND VOTING REFORMGOTHAM GAZETTE COVERAGELOCAL CANDIDATES COMMITTEEPOLL WORKER RECRUITMENTnews roomNEWS RELEASESpositions + publicationsISSUE BRIEFS AND POSITION STATEMENTSVOTERS DIRECTORIES & CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRESPOLICY REPORTSAMICUS BRIEFSTHE REFORMEReventsMEMBERS EVENTSSPRING FOR REFORMBREAKFAST BRIEFSANNUAL DINNERCIVIC CONVERSATIONSPAST EVENT HIGHLIGHTSDinner Honoree Biosjoin + supportBECOME A CU MEMBERSUPPORT CITIZENS UNION FOUNDATIONSUPPORT GOTHAM GAZETTEGIFTS OF STOCK AND PLANNED GIVINGAPPLY TO SERVE ON A CU COMMITTEE

TODAY IN GOTHAM GAZETTE Gotham Gazette, a publication of Citizens Union Foundation, brings New Yorkers smart and insightful coverage of local news and issues. Click here for today's stories. CU'S 2010 PRIMARY VOTERS DIRECTORY NOW ONLINE! Citizens Union's 2010 Primary Voters Directory, including candidate preferences, complete evaluations, and candidate responses to questionnaires is now available online and in a pdf version. CITIZENS UNION ANNOUNCES ITS REMAINING CANDIDATE PREFERENCES FOR STATE OFFICE IN THE SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 PRIMARY ELECTION In its 100th year of candidate evaluation, CU supports the reelection of only six incumbent legislators and the election of seven challengers over current incumbents, backs four candidates in open seats and passes on supporting the reelection of seven incumbent legislators. CU also chooses Rick Lazio over Carl Paladino in Republican Primary Election for Governor. Read the press release and the candidates' responses to CU's reform questionnaire. 8/26/10 CITIZENS UNION BACKS SCHNEIDERMAN IN DEMOCRATIC STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL PRIMARY After evaluating a talented pool of candidates for the Democratic nomination for New York State Attorney General, Citizens Union announced its preference for Eric Schneiderman. The attorney general and state legislative candidates� responses to Citizen�s Union�s reform issues questionnaire are now available on our website. 8/24/10 CU GAINS LEGISLATIVE VICTORY IN ALBANY AS BUDGET PASSES In approving the final part of the state budget last night, the legislature approved a measure to count prisoners at their places of residence prior to incarceration rather than as residents of their places of incarceration. Under the current system, prisoners are counted in upstate prisons even though they cannot vote, inflating the population total of many upstate legislative districts and lowering NYC's hometown population. Citizens Union supported the measure, along with many of its good government colleagues, and pushed the legislature to act on this bill over the past several months. 8/4/10 CU RELEASES REPORT SHOWING INCREASED VOTER TURNOUT IN NONPARTISAN NYC SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAN PARTISAN STATE SPECIAL ELECTIONS Citizens Union released analysis comparing nonpartisan and partisan special elections for New York City and State legislatures. Citizens Union found that in New York City voter turnout for council special elections was greater than the partisan elections held for state vacancies. If the city's experience with nonpartisan special elections serves as a guide, Citizens Union believes that voter turnout with the proposed Top-Two system for city elections, could increase the number of people voting. 8/2/10 CU UNVEILS CHARTER REVISION RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE AVENUES FOR PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNING AND ELECTIONS Citizens Union released its report and recommendations for charter revision in New York City, making recommendations to ensure checks and balances, open elections, strengthen accountability, protect integrity and increase transparency. Citizens Union was tapped as a resource for the City Charter Revision Commission in March, as was announced by Mayor Bloomberg. The report followed an extensive three-month process in which CU formed an internal Task Force on Charter Revision and utilized its Municipal Affairs Committee in forming its recommendations which were approved by the CU/CUF boards. A press conference was held at which CU presented its nearly fifty recommendations, news releases, the full report as well as the executive summary and list of recommendations. 6/30/10 HISTORIC SUPPORT FOR REDISTRICTING REFORM EMERGES The Assembly Governmental Operations Committee unanimously passed redistricting reform legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Michael Gianaris that would create an independent redistricting commission to fairly draw district lines. Citizens Union applauded its passage in a news release, and has worked to build greater support for the legislation, which now has a total of 46 co-sponsors in the Assembly, and 21 in the Senate - with 18 or a majority of Democrats as co-sponsors in the Senate. The Senate bill is sponsored by Senator David Valesky, and has passed two senate committees. The bills are now in the Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee. 6/24/10	Upcoming Events Purchase tickets online More Information Event Hightlights Watch the Citizens Union Candidates Debate! Attorney General Democratic Primary: Part One Part Two Read brief bios of the candidates Contribute to Citizens Union To learn more about joining CU, click here NYC Council Stipends COUNCIL LULU WATCH 12 Councilmembers have donated or refused their lulus--so far. Find out who has and who hasn't. Follow CU
Recently in Gotham Gazette Attorney General Candidates Struggle to Break Away From the Pack - Read Full Article With less than two weeks until the primary, each of the five Democrats running for attorney general struggles to emerge from the pack. But are the voters listening? Free Concerts Rocked the City as Controversy Rolled On - Read Full Article This year's free performances brought funding challenges for organizers, angry disputes over noise and even a fight about prison labor. But most New Yorkers just enjoyed the show. Ethics, Economy Dominate Upper Manhattan Race - Read Full Article Ethics and the economy dominate the hard-fought contest in Upper Manhattan to replace State Sen. Eric Schneiderman. Agencies Almost Always Have the Last Word - Read Full Article Courts have little power to overturn decisions by agency hearing officers -- as two evicted public housing tenants recently learned. Nunes Takes on Huntley in Queens - Read Full Article Incumbent Shirley Huntley faces an opponent almost 50 years her junior in a State Senate race in southeast Queens. And age is hardly the only thing that divides them. CU In the News Convicted pols such as Guy Velella, Joe Bruno and Alan Hevesi get fat pensions - Read Full Article September 1, 2010; New York Daily News 'Retirement' sweet for 8 double-dippers in Congress who collect state pensions - Read Full Article Monday, August 30; New York Daily News Term Limits Will Be on November Ballot in New York - Read Full Article August 23, 2010; The New York Times Schneiderman gets Citizens Union endorsement - Read Full Article August 24, 2010; Capitol Confidential Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada runs afoul of state Board of Elections over food giveaways - Read Full Article August 23, 2010; New York Post Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's firm gets cut of 9/11-suit payouts - Read Full Article August 22, 2010: New York Post Nonpartisan elections a non-starter - Read Full Article August 10, 2010; Crain's New York Business Charter Commission To Vote On Ballot Issues Wednesday - Read Full Article August 10, 2011; NY1.com Bloomberg Abandons Nonpartisan Elections, but Not Rangel - Read Full Article August 11, 2010; City Room Blog - NYTimes.com Mayor Bloomberg to end nonpartisan election push - $7 million later - Read Full Article August 10, 2010; NY Daily News

Upcoming Events

Event Hightlights

Contribute to Citizens Union

NYC Council Stipends

Follow CU

Recently in Gotham Gazette

CU In the News