Citizens Union - Homepage

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. CITIZENS UNION RELEASES REPORT CARD ON COUNCIL RULES Citizens Union released a report card, "Grading the New York City Council's Rules and Budget Reforms," on how well the City Council has performed since it issued its 2006 report: "Principles of Council Reform: Ideas for a More Democratic and Effective Council." The report notes areas of progress in making the council's operations more transparent, but also called upon the Council to enact further reform by cutting the number of Council committees in half and ending the practice of awarding stipends to committee chairs. 1/19/10 CITIZENS UNION TESTIFIED BEFORE THE NYS SENATE ABOUT WAYS TO IMPROVE NEW YORK'S BUDGETARY PROCESS Citizens Union testified before the State Senate's Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform about ways to make New York's budget process more transparent, user-friendly and efficient. Citizens Union reiterated its work in this area through the organization's recently released budget reform report card - analyzing the state legislature's compliance with the 2007 budget reform, and its 2008 issue brief and position statement on budget reform. 12/17/09 CITIZENS UNION TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF INT. 1025 TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT POLICE CIVIL ACTIONS Citizens Union testified to the City Council Government Operations Committee in favor of Intro 1025, which would require the Corporation Counsel to submit quarterly report to the City Council detailing information regarding civil actions filed against the New York City Police Department. The organization also reiterated its support for additional reforms geared towards improving public oversight of police misconduct. 12/11/09 CITIZENS UNION TESTIFIED AT PUBLIC MEETING OF JOINT ADVISORY BOARD ON THE BROADCAST OF STATE GOVERNMENT PROCEEDINGS Citizens Union testified to the State Legislature's Joint Advisory Board on the Broadcast of State Government Proceedings on the state's plan to implement a state government public affairs channel similar to C-SPAN. The organization recommended that the Advisory Board develop concrete and measurable goals for adding new content to the channel, and provided a series of best practices for the use of the channel's corresponding website with regard to archival footage and ease of public use. 12/10/09	Upcoming Events Presented by Citizens Union Foundation and Baruch College Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 6:00-7:30 PM Reception at 5:30 PM Baruch College, Library Building Newman Conference Center, 151 East 25th Street, 7th Floor Please RSVP to 212.227.0342 x43 or events@citizensunionfoundation.org Open to the Public Gotham Gazette's New Website The award-winning site on NYC has a new look in 2010! Sign up for the Eye Opener, bringing you New York morning news straight to your email. Contribute to Citizens Union To learn more about joining CU, click here
Recently in Gotham Gazette Teaching and Electioneering Don't Mix, Court Finds - Read Full Article The teachers' union has lost a legal battle with the city over whether its members can wear political buttons in class. Pioneering E-Waste Bill Remains Stuck in Legal Limbo - Read Full Article n 2008 New York became the first U.S. city to pass a law requiring manufacturers to dispose of old computers and other electronics. So why is the toxic trash continuing to pile up? A Barrage of Bills - Read Full Article Former Councilmember Alan Gerson introduced more legislation than any other councilmember in the last session. Penning Legislation: The Winners and Losers - Read Full Article Find out who has sponsored the most bills in the last session at the City Council -- and who has the least. Schools Arts Program Range from Four Star to Nonexistent - Read Full Article Despite some strong programs, arts education in New York City schools must still struggle against the focus on testing and a shortage of funds, CU In the News An ethics bill compromise? - Read Full Article February 8, 2010; Legislative Gazette Picking the Public Pocket: Few Council Members Kept Promise to Reject Lulus - Read Full Article February 5, 2010; NY Daily News Ulrich's Good Deed: One More Council Member Stepped Up and Spurned Lulu - Read Full Article February 6, 2010; NY Daily News Lawmakers Weigh In on Ethics-Reform Veto - Read Full Article February 6, 2010; Poughkeepsie Journal Veto: Ethics Rot Remains - Read Full Article February 2, 2010; Times Union Paterson Vetoes Legislature�s Ethics Bill, Goo-Goos Unhappy - Read Full Article February 2, 2010; Times Union Rebuked Together By Paterson And Split On Ethics, Goo-Goos Regroup - Read Full Article January 27, 2010; The Capitol Governor, Swallow the Pill and Sign the Bill - Read Full Article January 29, 2010; Downtown Express What a Wa$te: Bins Promote Ex-Councilman - Read Full Article January 25, 2010; New York Post North Shore Councilwoman Debi Rose named head of Council panel on senior centers - Read Full Article January, 22, 2010; Staten IslandAdvance