Dear Friend and Fellow Citizens:

It has been a busy spring for Citizens Union and the fight for reform in New York.
We’ve taken the lead in proposing new non-partisan election reforms to increase voter participation, and the Charter Revision Commission has taken notice. In their interim report, they advanced open primaries and even-year elections – getting us that much closer to putting the reforms on the ballot this November. At the same time, we’ve proposed new reforms to remove a mayor in the case of serious misconduct. That’s the CU way – to be principled and pragmatic by proposing solutions to the problems we face.

To kick off April, Citizens Union held a Civic Conversation with New York State Attorney General Letitia James. She urged us to stand up for democracy against all attacks, saying “Authoritarianism requires consent and cooperation. Democracy requires courage.”

That same morning, we heard the troubling news that Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption charges had been dropped. In response, we raised the alarm that the federal government appeared to be extracting policy concessions from the Mayor in exchange for legal impunity. We reaffirmed that New York City is not for sale, and that New Yorkers deserve a government that operates transparently, independently, and in service of the public good.

It’s exactly when times are tough that we all need to stand up and straighten our civic backbones. This is exactly the time to fight for reform. And if we do the work, it promises to be one of the most important and exciting years in New York politics. Thanks for standing with Citizens Union.

All the Best,
John Avlon
Board Chairman, Citizens Union/Citizens Union Foundation

POLICY UPDATES

Building Momentum on Charter Reform

Two of Citizens Union’s long-standing priorities moved closer to fruition this month. In its interim report, the 2025 Charter Revision Commission advanced our proposals to open up the city’s primary system and to align city elections with even-year statewide contests. It’s a crucial step toward getting them on the ballot. Additionally, the New York Daily News Editorial Board also threw its weight behind our proposals, saying they are “long overdue,” as did Vital City’s Josh Greenman.

Meanwhile, the Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy, established by the City Council, issued its preliminary report, outlining several of our recommended proposals to help root out corruption, including an independent budget for the Conflict of Interests Board.

Better Accountability in the Big Apple: Creating a Mayoral Removal Process

The crisis of governance and corruption in the Adams administration has made it clear that New York needs a practical process to remove a mayor for serious misconduct. That is why Citizens Union released a report outlining a proposal to establish a clear, fair, and effective process to do just that.

The report recommends a locally-controlled, hybrid mechanism for removal that begins with the City Council and ends with voters. We presented this proposal to the Charter Revision Commission, urging it to consider sending the process to voters for approval.

To read the full report, click here

To read the Gothamist coverage of the report, click here

How would the Mayoral Removal Process work?

South Shore Staten Island Special Election

Frank Morano’s victory in the NYC Council District 51 Special Election proves that voters prioritize civic engagement, transparency, and good government policies.

Citizens Union endorsed Morano, a longtime talk radio host and community board member. A Republican running in a nonpartisan election, he was the only candidate to meaningfully participate in our evaluation process. He supports key reforms to improve our local democracy, including ranked choice voting and nonpartisan primary elections. Even where he disagreed with us, he articulated principled positions.

Be on the lookout for Citizen Union’s endorsements in the upcoming City Council and citywide races!

Read our statement endorsing Frank Morano.

Advocacy Day in Albany

As Washington pushes voting rights restrictions and electoral participation atrophies here in New York, it is more important than ever to improve engagement in our elections. This month, we helped lead an advocacy day in Albany with the Let NY Vote Coalition, urging state lawmakers to enact reforms to improve election administration, boost turnout, and improve the voting experience.

We rallied with Senators James Skoufis and Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymembers Latrice Walker, Jonathan Jacobson, and Steven Raga, calling for bold changes, including better notice for voters in case of registration cancellation, time extenders for polling place disruptions, and same-day voter registration for every day of in-person voting.

Read Let NY Vote’s legislative agenda here.

Civic Conversation with NYS Attorney General James

New York State Attorney General Letitia James headlined our latest Civic Conversation at King and Spaulding. She joined Board Chair John Avlon for a dynamic, hour-long, and was introduced by Betsy Gotbaum. She hit on major hot-button legal issues, from voting rights to law firms’ deals with the Trump administration.

James delved into her specific gameplan if the Trump administration defies court orders, including the possibility of holding officials in contempt. And she more broadly discussed the Trump administration’s authoritarian actions, highlighting the stakes for our state and nation, saying, “This is a moral moment for all of us to defend democracy.”

Watch the full conversation here

You’re Invited!

CU at Jane’s Walks: Free Walking Tour on Money, Power, and Party Bosses in the 19th Century

The Civic Center is the heart of New York City’s government, law, and justice system. But how did it all come to be?

Citizen Union’s Director of Public Policy Ben Weinberg will host a special tour for Jane’s Walk 2025 weekend, tracking the roots of corruption, reform, and political intrigues of 1900s New York through a walk around City Hall Park.

Join this free walk to meet Tweed and other party bosses, government bureaucrats, captains of industry, and diligent journalists; learn how they fought to gain power and erect buildings to prove their power’s worth.

Sunday, May 5
11: 00AM
RSVP to attend here.