FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Board Launches Search for Next Leader of New York’s Oldest Good Government Organization
Under Gotbaum’s Leadership, Citizens Union Won Major Voting Rights Reforms and Expanded Civic Engagement Efforts
New York, NY (February 07, 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.
“Leading Citizens Union has been an incredible honor and the capstone of my lifelong commitment to public service,” said Gotbaum. “Throughout my career, I have always worked to make New York a better place for all who live here—whether as Public Advocate, Parks Commissioner, or as part of this historic organization. I am proud of all we have accomplished at Citizens Union to strengthen democracy and increase voter participation. I look forward to seeing the organization continue to thrive under new leadership.”
“Betsy Gotbaum has made a lasting impact on our city and on Citizens Union,” said John Avlon, Chair of Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation. “Her commitment to ethics, transparency, and civic engagement embodies the values Citizens Union was founded on over 125 years ago. Betsy’s deep understanding of government, politics, and policy and her strong connections to New York’s most influential leaders have solidified Citizens Union’s position in the city’s good government landscape. As we search for our next Executive Director, we are committed to finding someone who will build on her legacy and continue Citizens Union’s vital work.”
Under Gotbaum’s leadership, Citizens Union:
- Advocated for and won historic voting reforms in 2019 that expanded and protected the right to vote, including early voting, consolidating federal and local primaries, and pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds.
- Successfully championed the adoption and implementation of Ranked Choice Voting in New York City elections.
- Launched the Civic Conversation Series, a platform for engaging discussions with New York City leaders on critical issues.
- Established the organization as a leading advocate for moving local elections to even-numbered years to boost voter participation.
- Led work to monitor and reform New York City’s redistricting and Charter Revision processes.
- Launched ElectNYC, a 2021 civic education campaign led by former New York Times editorial board member Eleanor Randolph.
- Strengthened the organization’s candidate evaluation process, ensuring voters had clear, nonpartisan guidance on key races.
- Advocated for ethics reforms, including the replacement of JCOPE with a more independent oversight body.
- Gotbaum, a prolific fundraiser, also led the organization’s most successful development efforts.
Gotbaum joined Citizens Union as the Executive Director in 2018, bringing her extensive experience from the government and nonprofit sectors. She served as New York City’s Public Advocate from 2002 to 2009, becoming only the third woman in history to hold a citywide office.
As Public Advocate, Gotbaum introduced and co-sponsored over 340 bills to tackle critical yet often overlooked issues affecting New Yorkers. Her initiatives included creating help desks in public benefit offices to cut bureaucratic red tape, requiring pharmacies to provide prescription information in multiple languages, and protecting caregivers from workplace discrimination.
Gotbaum also played a key role in education reform, advocating for discussions on mayoral control, preventing forced dropouts, improving special education services, and expanding career and technical education. She advanced women’s health by increasing access to reproductive care, maternity information, and the HPV vaccine. To combat hunger, she streamlined food stamp access and enrollment. Committed to government efficiency, she launched a citywide satisfaction survey and established a municipal helpline that continues to assist thousands of New Yorkers each year.
Before serving as Public Advocate, she advised three mayors: John Lindsay, Abraham Beame, and David Dinkins. She has also held several important positions, including Executive Director of the New York City Police Foundation, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and President of the New York Historical Society.
In her nonprofit leadership roles, Gotbaum successfully raised millions of dollars and implemented new programs for the New York City Police Foundation and the New York Historical Society. Among her proudest career accomplishments before joining Citizens Union, she led efforts to secure bulletproof vests for all NYPD officers, revitalized the financial standing of the New York Historical Society, and championed the development of public parks and green spaces in the outer boroughs as Parks Commissioner.
Citizens Union’s Board of Directors has launched a search for the organization’s next Executive Director and will consider candidates with a strong background in civic engagement, government reform, and nonprofit leadership.
For more information about the transition process or to inquire about the Executive Director position, please visit www.citizensunion.org.
About Citizens Union
For over 125 years, Citizens Union has been a non-partisan force for reform, accountability, and ethics in New York City and State government. Learn more at www.citizensunion.org.