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 Announces Endorsement of Kamala Harris for President
October 16, 2024 – Citizens Union announced its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President in the 2024 election. This marks only the second time in the organization’s 125-year history that it has endorsed a candidate for the highest office in the nation.
Citizens Union Announces Positions on 2024 Ballot Questions
October 10, 2024 – Citizens Union announced its official positions on the six ballot questions that New York City voters will consider in the upcoming November 2024 general election. These questions include a statewide constitutional amendment and five proposed amendments to the New York City Charter.
Citizens Union Responds to Onondaga Supreme Court Ruling Striking Down Law Aligning Local Elections with Even-Numbered Years
October 9, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to a New York state Supreme Court judge’s ruling that the new state law that will move many local elections in line with state and federal elections in even-numbered years violates the state Constitution
Statement from Citizens Union in Response to the Indictment of Mayor Eric Adams
September 26, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement in response to the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams
Citizens Union Responds to the Resignation of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban
September 12, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the resignation of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban
Citizens Union Applauds Court of Appeals Ruling Upholding Early Mail Ballot Law
August 20, 2024 – Citizens Union has released the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum applauding the Court of Appeals ruling upholding the law allowing any registered voter to request an early mail ballot
Citizens Union Responds to Independent Budget Office Findings on Fiscal Savings of Moving Local Elections to Even-Numbered Years in NYC
August 15, 2024 – the City of New York Independent Budget Office (IBO), released a letter outlining how moving local elections on-cycle with state and federal elections would result in approximately $42 million in savings every other year. Citizens Union welcomes the findings, which highlight yet another benefit of consolidating New York City’s municipal elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections.
Statement from Betsy Gotbaum, Executive Director of Citizens Union, in Response to the New York Times’ Decision to Discontinue Endorsements in Local NYC Races
August 13, 2024 – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to The New York Times’ Decision to Discontinue Endorsements in Local NYC Races
Statement from Randy Mastro, Chair of Citizens Union
July 15, 2024 – The recent attempt on the life of a former President and current Presidential candidate is a shocking and reprehensible act of violence. Our democracy is built on the principles of peaceful discourse and the rule of law, and any act of violence against our leaders, past, present or future, is an attack on these fundamental values.