Our History & Victories
Since 1983, Citizen Action of New York has been fighting for working New Yorkers. We’re laser-focused on building people power alongside communities and delivering a New York where every person’s basic needs are met.
Here’s what we’ve achieved so far:
Since 1983, Citizen Action of New York has been fighting for working New Yorkers. We’re laser-focused on building people power alongside communities and delivering a New York where every person’s basic needs are met.
Here’s what we’ve achieved so far:
2022
Steps towards Universal Childcare
Lea Webb to the NYS Senate
NYS John Lewis Voting Rights Act
Kingston Good Cause Eviction
End Medical Debt bills pass
$4 Billion in Progressive Taxation
Won full funding of Foundation Aid
Strongest implementation of federal monies in Rent Relief for Tenants countrywide
Albany Good Cause Eviction
2021
2020
Statewide Public Financing of Elections
Repeal of 50a/Police STAT Act
NYS Paid Sick Days Law
Expanded Democratic Majority in NYS Senate
Bail and Discovery Reform
Major Tenant Protections
Climate Leadership And Community Protection Act
Expanded Voting Rights
2019
2018
Central New York Chapter was Founded
Rochester Chapter was Founded
Public Campaign Financing in Suffolk County
Global Oil Removes Request for Heater at Port of Albany
Democratic Majority in State Senate
Lavern’s Law Protecting Patients
2017
2016
Paid Family Leave
New Code of Conduct for Rochester Schools
Defeated Constitution Pipeline
Increased NY’s Minimum Wage to $15
Hudson Valley Chapter was Founded
Created Essential Plan through NY State of Health
Increased Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers
2015
2014
Banned Hydrofracking in NYS
Full Day Pre-K Program
New Code of Conduct for Buffalo Schools
Gale Brewer to Manhattan Borough President
2013
2012
Opened Hudson Valley Office
Cecilia Tkaczyk to New York State Senate
Brad Hoylman to New York State Senate
Created Justice Works
Millionaire’s Tax
Established Green Jobs, Green New York Program
2011
2010
The Affordable Care Act
Ended Prison-Based Gerrymandering in NYS
Passed Law Requiring State to Approve Health Insurance Rate Increases
Eric Schneiderman to New York State Attorney General
Fair Share Tax Reform
Jimmy Van Bramer to New York City Council
Leah Golby to Albany City Council
2009
2007
Landmark Fair Education Funding Legislation
WFP Took Majority on Binghamton City Council
Lea Webb to Binghamton City Council
Sean Massey to Binghamton City Council
Require Hospitals to Stop Overcharging & Provide Discounts to Low & Moderate Income People
Kirsten Gillibrand to Congress
Antoine Thompson to New York State Senate
2006
2005
Metro Justice Affiliated with Citizen Action of New York
Opened Syracuse Office
Defeated Privatization of Social Security
Byron Brown to Mayor of Buffalo
Matt Ryan to Mayor of Binghamton
Volunteer Program Reached 650,000 Voter Contacts and 176,420 GOTV Calls
David Soares to Albany County District Attorney
Donna Lupardo to New York State Assembly
2004
2003
Launched Community Partnership for Diversity to Increase People of Color in Health Profession
Danny O’Donnell to New York State Assembly
Crystal Peoples-Stokes to New York State Assembly
John Hutchings to Broome County Legislature
2002
2001
Founded the Coalition for After-School Funding
Co-Founded the Alliance for Quality Education
Chris Burger to Broome County Legislature
$25 Million for After-School
Voter Referendum for $175M for School Construction in Albany
Rolled Back Teacher Layoffs in Buffalo
Paul Webster and Pat Fahy to Albany School Board
Antoine Thompson to Buffalo City Council
2000
1999
Family Health Plus
Buffalo Living Wage Ordinance for City Contractors
New York City Chapter was Founded
Co-Founded the Working Families Party
Major improvement in NYC’s Campaign Finance System
1998
1997
Defeated Referendum to Hold Constitutional Convention
Managed Care Bill of Rights
1996
1993
Nancy Burton to Albany City Comptroller
Crystal Peoples to Erie County Legislature
Single-Payer Health Care Passes in State Assembly
Saved Kenfield-Langfield Public Housing (1200 Units) in Buffalo
1992
1991
Child Health Plus established
LIPC Affiliated with Citizen Action of New York
Passed Medicare Assignment Bill Protecting Seniors from Medical Overcharges
Passed Albany Human Rights Ordinance
Stopped Building of the Broome County Incinerator
1990
1989
Keith St. John to Albany City Council
Sharon Ward to Albany City Council
Capital District Chapter was Founded
Major Expansion of Medicaid
1988
1986
Name Changed to Citizen Action of New York
Founded the Citizen Action Fuel Group
EPIC Drug Coverage Program for Seniors
Sunshine disclosure law in liability reform
Estelle Diamond to Broome County Legislature
NYCAN and CLEC Merged into New Coalition
Established Long Island Power Authority to Over Private Company
1985
1984
Citizen Labor Energy Coalition (Helped Mondale/Ferraro Presidential Campaign)
Cleaned Up Toxic Dump Sites
Suzi Oppenheimer to NYS Senate
New York Community Action Network (chapters in Buffalo, NYC, Long Island and Binghamton)
Stopped Utility Price Hikes
1983
2022
Steps towards Universal Childcare
Lea Webb to the NYS Senate
NYS John Lewis Voting Rights Act
Kingston Good Cause Eviction
End Medical Debt bills pass
2021
$4 Billion in Progressive Taxation
Won full funding of Foundation Aid
Strongest implementation of federal monies in Rent Relief for Tenants countrywide
Albany Good Cause Eviction
2020
Statewide Public Financing of Elections
Repeal of 50a/Police STAT Act
NYS Paid Sick Days Law
Expanded Democratic Majority in NYS Senate
2019
Bail and Discovery Reform
Major Tenant Protections
Climate Leadership And Community Protection Act
Expanded Voting Rights
2018
Central New York Chapter was Founded
Rochester Chapter was Founded
Public Campaign Financing in Suffolk County
Global Oil Removes Request for Heater at Port of Albany
Democratic Majority in State Senate
2017
Lavern’s Law Protecting Patients
2016
Paid Family Leave
New Code of Conduct for Rochester Schools
Defeated Constitution Pipeline
Increased NY’s Minimum Wage to $15
2015
Hudson Valley Chapter was Founded
Created Essential Plan through NY State of Health
Increased Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers
2014
Banned Hydrofracking in NYS
2013
Full Day Pre-K Program
New Code of Conduct for Buffalo Schools
Gale Brewer to Manhattan Borough President
2012
Opened Hudson Valley Office
Cecilia Tkaczyk to New York State Senate
Brad Hoylman to New York State Senate
2011
Created Justice Works
Millionaire’s Tax
Established Green Jobs, Green New York Program
2010
The Affordable Care Act
Ended Prison-Based Gerrymandering in NYS
Passed Law Requiring State to Approve Health Insurance Rate Increases
Eric Schneiderman to New York State Attorney General
2009
Fair Share Tax Reform
Jimmy Van Bramer to New York City Council
Leah Golby to Albany City Council
2007
Landmark Fair Education Funding Legislation
WFP Took Majority on Binghamton City Council
Lea Webb to Binghamton City Council
Sean Massey to Binghamton City Council
2006
Require Hospitals to Stop Overcharging & Provide Discounts to Low & Moderate Income People
Kirsten Gillibrand to Congress
Antoine Thompson to New York State Senate
2005
Metro Justice Affiliated with Citizen Action of New York
Opened Syracuse Office
Defeated Privatization of Social Security
Byron Brown to Mayor of Buffalo
Matt Ryan to Mayor of Binghamton
2004
Volunteer 2004 Campaign – 650,000 Voter Contacts and 176,420 GOTV Calls
David Soares to Albany County District Attorney
Donna Lupardo to New York State Assembly
2003
Launched Community Partnership for Diversity to Increase People of Color in Health Profession
2002
Danny O’Donnell to New York State Assembly
Crystal Peoples-Stokes to New York State Assembly
John Hutchings to Broome County Legislature
2001
$25 Million for After-School
Voter Referendum for $175M for School Construction in Albany
Rolled Back Teacher Layoffs in Buffalo
Paul Webster and Pat Fahy to Albany School Board
Antoine Thompson to Buffalo City Council
2000
Founded the Coalition for After-School Funding
Co-Founded the Alliance for Quality Education
Chris Burger to Broome County Legislature
1999
Family Health Plus
Buffalo Living Wage Ordinance for City Contractors
1998
New York City Chapter was Founded
Co-Founded the Working Families Party
Major improvement in NYC’s Campaign Finance System
1997
Defeated Referendum to Hold Constitutional Convention
1996
Managed Care Bill of Rights
1993
Nancy Burton to Albany City Comptroller
Crystal Peoples to Erie County Legislature
1992
Single-Payer Health Care Passes in State Assembly
Saved Kenfield-Langfield Public Housing (1200 Units) in Buffalo
1991
Child Health Plus established
1990
LIPC Affiliated with Citizen Action of New York
Passed Medicare Assignment Bill Protecting Seniors from Medical Overcharges
Passed Albany Human Rights Ordinance
Stopped Building of the Broome County Incinerator
1989
Keith St. John to Albany City Council
Sharon Ward to Albany City Council
1988
Capital District Chapter was Founded
Major Expansion of Medicaid
1986
Name Changed to Citizen Action of New York
Founded the Citizen Action Fuel Group
EPIC Drug Coverage Program for Seniors
Sunshine disclosure law in liability reform
Estelle Diamond to Broome County Legislature
1985
NYCAN and CLEC Merged into New Coalition
Established Long Island Power Authority to Over Private Company
1984
Citizen Labor Energy Coalition (Helped Mondale/Ferraro Presidential Campaign)
Cleaned Up Toxic Dump Sites
Suzi Oppenheimer to NYS Senate
1983
New York Community Action Network (chapters in Buffalo, NYC, Long Island and Binghamton)
Stopped Utility Price Hikes
Back Our Future Victories
For Another 40 Years of Progress