Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation are committed to reforming New York City and State government by fostering accountability, accessibility, transparency, honesty and the highest ethical standards. Always nonpartisan, since 1897, we have devoted ourselves to holding our government accountable and the enfranchisement of all New Yorkers.
Fighting for reform, fighting for New York.
Our Most Recent Press Releases
Citizens Union Applauds Passage of City Council Resolution Urging State to Reform Charter Revision Process
March 12, 2025 – Citizens Union issued the following statement on the City Council’s passage of Reso. 740-2025 (Restler), which urges the State Legislature to pass S590 (Krueger)/A3665 (Simone), state legislation that would prevent mayors from blocking ballot questions by establishing their own charter revision commission and requiring minimum timeframes for charter commissions.
Citizens Union Calls on Charter Revision Commissions to Implement Bold Reforms to Strengthen Democracy and Government Accountability
February 24, 2025 – Citizens Union today released a new report urging both New York City Charter Revision Commissions to take decisive action to strengthen democracy and enhance government accountability. The report, published ahead of Citizens Union’s testimony before the Mayoral Commission this evening, calls for comprehensive reforms, including establishing a process to remove mayors for misconduct, implementing top-two open primary elections, moving city elections to even-numbered years, and expanding the powers and independence of the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB).
Eric Adams Should No Longer Be Mayor of New York City
February 19, 2025 – Mayor Eric Adams should resign from his office. His choices and actions over a sustained period of time have led to levels of ethical misconduct in City Hall unseen in decades. This has created a crisis of confidence in his ability to lead the government of our nation’s largest city and has led to the resignation of more than half of his current deputy mayors. Serious ethical lapses by the Mayor, and an absence of stability in any one of these roles, let alone all of them, threaten to undermine policymaking and the delivery of essential public services citywide.
Groups Applaud Court of Appeals Decision Upholding State Ethics Commission
February 18, 2025 – Watchdog and legal groups applauded today’s thoroughly-researched and argued decision by the NYS Court of Appeals that solidifies the constitutionality of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG). This victory for state ethics oversight will help ensure that the governor does not have undue control over the very body that ensures their conduct is ethical
Statement from Citizens Union on Former Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon’s Resignation and Allegations Against Mayor Adams
February 14, 2025 – Citizens Union issues the following statement from Board Chair John Avlon in response to the resignation of former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon and her letter detailing allegations against Mayor Eric Adams
Statement from Citizens Union on FEMA’s Seizure of NYC Funds
February 12, 2025 – Citizens Union issues the following statement from Board Chair John Avlon in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) unilateral seizure of $80.5 million from New York City’s bank accounts
Statement from Citizens Union on DOJ Directive Dropping Charges Against Mayor Adams
February 10, 2025 – Citizens Union issues the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum and Board Chair John Avlon in response to the directive from the Acting Deputy Attorney General to the Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York to dismiss the charges against Mayor Eric Adams.
Citizens Union Announces Retirement of Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum
February 7, 2025 – Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation announced today that Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum will retire after seven years at the organization’s helm. Gotbaum, a distinguished public servant and nonprofit leader, has spent more than five decades serving the people of New York City in various capacities, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s civic and political landscape.