For Immediate Release
Contact: Jake Oliver, jake@anatgerstein.com, 347 361 9983
The 5BORO Institute to Join Citizens Union as New Public Policy Program
New York, NY (May 19, 2025) – Citizens Union and the Citizens Union Foundation Chairman John Avlon today announced that Grace Rauh has been named the organization’s new Executive Director.
Rauh, an award-winning journalist, is the founding Executive Director of the 5BORO Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit public policy think tank. A former NY1 political reporter and longtime civic advocate, she brings a unique blend of journalistic integrity and policy acumen to New York’s oldest good government organization.
Rauh will oversee Citizens Union’s day-to-day work to promote reform, accountability, and increased civic engagement across New York City and State. She will lead transformation efforts with Avlon, Vice Chairman Anthony Crowell and other Board leaders alongside a highly capable staff. Rauh succeeds Betsy Gotbaum, former New York City Public Advocate, who served as Executive Director for seven years. Rauh will assume her new role on June 1 and the 5BORO Institute will join Citizens Union as a new policy program.
“I am honored to lead Citizens Union at this pivotal moment for our democracy – not only nationally, but here in New York,” said Grace Rauh, incoming Executive Director of Citizens Union. “Throughout my career as a journalist, I worked to hold public officials accountable and shine a light on government decision-making. I’m eager to carry that same commitment to transparency, ethics, and civic engagement into this new role. By bringing the 5BORO Institute to New York’s oldest good government group, we’re building a stronger, more powerful nonpartisan force for accountable and effective government.”
The move marks an exciting expansion for Citizens Union, whose advocacy and research work have helped shape democratic reform in New York for over 125 years. Under Avlon’s leadership, the organization has released a recommendation for creating a mechanism to remove a sitting mayor for ethical misconduct, and two election reforms the group has long championed – Open Primaries and moving local elections to even-numbered years – were included in the Charter Revision Commission’s preliminary report.
“Grace Rauh has the experience, energy and credibility to lead Citizens Union to new heights and help us build a new reform era in New York,” said John Avlon, Chairman of Citizens Union. “As a journalist, Grace spent years holding elected officials accountable, asking tough questions, and making government more transparent to the public. She understands the importance of ethics, accountability, and civic engagement—not just as ideals, but as essential tools to strengthen our democracy.”
Introducing the 5BORO Institute at Citizens Union. With Rauh’s appointment, the 5BORO Institute will conclude its operation as an independent organization by year’s end and be re-established as the “5BORO Institute at Citizens Union.”
This new program will build on 5BORO’s pragmatic and forward-thinking approach to policy solutions and programming on quality-of-life issues. This work will support Citizens Union’s core mission and look at ways to strengthen government effectiveness and economic vitality. Since its founding in 2022 by the late Richard Ravitch and Tom Allon, the publisher of City & State, 5BORO has advanced impactful policy reforms and research focused on effective government, affordable housing, civic engagement and childcare access, and will convene business and other leaders in support of universal child care at a conference in NYC this fall. 5BORO Co-Chairs Tom Allon and Raj Goyle will join the Citizens Union Board.
“With the 5BORO Institute at Citizens Union, we are expanding our capacity to advance practical policies that can improve the quality of life while reaching a broader audience and building an even stronger good government group to serve all New Yorkers,” Avlon said.
“Together, Citizens Union and the 5BORO Institute at Citizens Union will form an even stronger, more influential civic organization that is responsive to the urgent needs of today’s New Yorkers. This enhances the collective impact of both organizations, and reinforces Citizens Union’s position as New York’s preeminent good government group,” said Tom Allon, the co-founder of 5BORO and board co-chair.
“At a time when New York City is facing a deepening crisis of confidence in government, Citizens Union and the 5BORO Institute at Citizens Union will offer trusted government oversight and forward-thinking policy leadership to improve the lives of New Yorkers,” said Raj Goyle, 5BORO’s board co-chair.
“Congratulations to Grace Rauh as she becomes the next executive director of Citizens Union,” said Robin Hood CEO Richard R. Buery, Jr. “From her days as a leading political journalist to becoming founding director of the 5BORO Institute, Grace has long been an important voice in shaping our city. And both organizations have been stalwart champions for children and families. My deepest gratitude to Betsy Gotbaum for her long service to the people of New York throughout her exemplary career in public service, including most recently at Citizens Union. I know that under Grace’s leadership, this vital institution will continue to work to make New York City a more inclusive and affordable place for all families, and especially those who are struggling most right now.”
“Uniting Citizens Union and the 5BORO Institute under Grace Rauh’s impressive leadership is great news for communities across New York, especially at a time when we are working to boost civic engagement and trust in local government,” said Amy Freitag, president of The New York Community Trust. “Grace’s longstanding commitment to bringing more voices into the civic dialogue makes her the perfect fit for leading this important work.”
About Citizens Union
For more than a century, Citizens Union has been leading the fight for reform in New York. We are a non-partisan good government group that serves as a civic watchdog to combat corruption. We are New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds and political beliefs, united in our commitment to put the public interest ahead of all special interests. We work to ensure honest and accountable government, fair and open elections, and a civically engaged public. Principled and pragmatic, Citizens Union is an independent force for constructive reform, driving policy solutions to achieve responsible and responsive government in the City and State of New York.