Looking forward to tonight’s CUF’s George S. Kaufman Forum — What’s Next? A Post-Primary Analysis! Hear from Morris Katz, Susan Del Percio, Christina Greer, and moderator Grace Rauh on what NY primary results mean and what comes next. Watch live here at 6:30pm ET: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0csw...

George S. Kaufman Forum | What’s Next? A Post-Primary Analysis

YouTube video by Citizens Union

youtube.com

The indictment of former Adams Chief of Staff Frank Carone raises serious concerns about NYC’s emergency contracting system, revolving-door rules, and conflicts of interest. City leaders must act on stronger ethics and anti-corruption reforms. Read more: citizensunion.org/document/202...

Statement on the Indictment of Former Adams’ Chief of Staff Frank Carone | Citizens Union

Democracy Is Our Business

citizensunion.org

Congrats to Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on his victory in the Democratic primary for State Comptroller! Citizens Union supported DiNapoli for his record of careful stewardship, ethical integrity, government transparency, and independence in managing one of the most important oversight offices in NY.

NYC is competing for talent with a hiring system built for another era. Searchlight’s latest, penned by Caitlin Lewis, argues the Charter Commission can help bring public hiring into the present, while preserving merit, fairness, and accountability. searchlight.citizensunion.org/nyc-has-the-...

NYC Has the Power to Fix Its Hiring Process — The Charter Commission Should Use It

NYC hiring is tangled beyond reason — COGE must clear the path.

searchlight.citizensunion.org

Today is Primary Election Day! Polls are open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Make your plan, check your poll site, and cast your ballot. Review Citizens Union’s preferred candidates before heading to the polls: citizensunion.org/voters-guide... Happy voting!

Today, CU’s Ben Weinberg testified before the City Council on AI-generated campaign content and public servants’ use of prediction markets, offering comments on strengthening existing legal & ethics frameworks as technology changes to protect public trust. citizensunion.org/wp-content/u...

In a new Searchlight op-ed, @errollouis.bsky.social argues that @nycibo.bsky.social's proposals to save the city money and raise revenue deserve more attention. searchlight.citizensunion.org/charter-refo...

Charter Reform Should Bring IBO’s Evidence‑Based Options Into the Policy Mainstream

The charter reform commission doesn’t have to look far for efficiency reforms.

searchlight.citizensunion.org

“Our tax dollars, including the billions undocumented people pay every year, should go toward healthcare, housing, schools, childcare, and transit instead of detention camps, surveillance machines like Palantir, and mass deportation.” - @bkbpreynoso.bsky.social in Searchlight on immigration policy.

The State Comptroller oversees New York’s money. In our new op-ed policy journal, Searchlight, three candidates for the top fiscal job discuss how they would use the office to help New Yorkers:

In NY-10, Congressman @repdangoldman.bsky.social and former Comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social talk about updating tax codes so billionaires pay more, and getting dark money out of our elections.

We launched a new policy platform at Citizens Union Foundation. Welcome to Searchlight! Our editor, @robgeorge.bsky.social, kicked things off by candidates for Congress and State Comptroller to share one big policy idea.

There’s a lot of competition in NY-12: @alexbores.nyc, @gtconway.bsky.social,  @micahlasher.bsky.social  & Jack Schlossberg are fighting for Rep. Jerry Nadler’s seat. Read their ideas: ✔️Regulating AI ✔️Supporting people in mental health crises ✔️Protecting free & fair elections ✔️SuperPACs are a threat

Introducing Searchlight: our new platform for bold policy ideas, serious debate & practical solutions to New York’s biggest challenges. To launch, we asked the candidates in NY’s congressional & statewide primary races to write about one big policy idea they want to pursue.

Citizens Union interviewed 36 candidates running for New York State Senate, Assembly, and Comptroller. We're recommending 16 of them for June’s primary election. Our endorsements prioritize candidates committed to ethics, transparency, accountability, & effective government. 🧵

Watchdog agencies can’t fight corruption without staff & resources to do their jobs. That’s why Citizens Union,  @reinventalbany.bsky.social  Common Cause NY, @nypirg.bsky.social  +  @lwvnyc.bsky.social are calling for more funding for the Department of Investigation & Conflicts of Interest Board.

🗳 Citizens Union prefers @tomdinapoli.bsky.social for NY State Comptroller, citing his record of ethical leadership, independent oversight, fiscal stewardship, and government transparency. The office demands serious, accountable management — and Citizens Union says DiNapoli has delivered.

🚨 Citizens Union is proud to announce our preferred candidates in key 2026 State Senate and Assembly races. These New Yorkers stood out for their support of ethics, transparency, and accountable government. Here’s who we’re backing 🧵👇

NYers deserve a REAL say in who becomes a party’s nominee for President. Today we stood with @jamesskoufis.bsky.social, @landondais4ny.bsky.social, Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda @justinsanchez17.bsky.social & @commoncauseny.bsky.social to support moving NY’s presidential primary to #SuperTuesday. 🗳️

The Mayor’s communications must follow the law. Our Executive Director Grace Rauh told Politico's @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social: “City leaders must be deliberate about how they communicate...The rules exist to protect the public.” Read more 👇 www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Mamdani has used Signal for government business as mayor

Government watchdogs say it’s a slippery slope for the mayor to continue using the controversial encrypted messaging app.

politico.com

NY’s courts are overwhelmed. We joined @citizensunionny.bsky.social Common Cause NY and Scrutinize to support the Uncap Justice Act and Timely Justice Act to modernize judicial staffing with transparency, data, and accountability. Time to fix the system. ⚖️ buff.ly/qaphcAo

Voters need certainty—and fast. Our Executive Director Grace Rauh warns that delayed decisions and a split primary could lead to lower turnout and unnecessary confusion. With petitioning starting in late February, speed is of the essence.

Gothamist@gothamist.com · 8mo ago

NY on verge of joining national redistricting fight following court ruling https://gothamist.com/news/ny-on-verge-of-joining-national-redistricting-fight-following-court-ruling

The Trump admin's unilateral pause on offshore wind is bad governance and bad policy. Read the response from Grace Rauh and @johnavlon.bsky.social

This is exactly why Citizens Union raised concerns about pass-through PACs like Put NYC First in our post-election report. These structures may be legal, but they weaken transparency and accountability in NYC elections. It’s time to close the loopholes. www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...

Cuomo campaign probed over interactions with business-funded PAC

A complaint by Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, prompted by Crain’s reporting, alleged that Cuomo shared strategies with the leaders of Put NYC First.

crainsnewyork.com

Big news: Grace Rauh, our Exec Dir tapped to serve on Mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social 's Transition Committee on Youth and Education. Child care is economic infrastructure & we’re proud to help shape this pivotal moment to strengthen NYC’s childcare system for working families.

Restoring trust in NYC gov starts with real ethics & accountability reform. We're encouraged the NYC Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy is advancing measures including a long-overdue process to remove a mayor for misconduct & guaranteed funding for oversight agencies. Full statement 👇

The Watchdog never sleeps. After the election, NYC politics is still barking with news: 💸 Super PAC loopholes exposed 🚔 NYPD oversight shake-up 🗳️ Agencies flunk voter registration law 🏛️ Mamdani names top staff 📊 Who showed up at the polls mailchi.mp/citizensunio...

The 2025 election cycle may be over — but NYC politics is just getting started. 👔 Who joins Mayor-elect Mamdani’s team? 🚔 Will Tisch stay NYPD Commissioner? 🏛️ Council Speaker race heats up 📊 Even-year elections fall short (for now) Catch it all in this week’s Watchdog: mailchi.mp/citizensunio...

Congratulations to Kayla Santosuosso on her election to represent Brooklyn’s Council District 47! We’re proud to have endorsed her and look forward to working together to advance transparency, accountability, and reform in NYC.

Citizens Union@citizensunionny.bsky.social · 12mo ago

🗳 Citizens Union endorses Kayla Santosuosso (D) for City Council District 47 in Brooklyn. As Chief Counsel to Council Member Justin Brannan and a small business owner, Santosuosso brings both government know-how and community perspective to the table.

A historic moment for NYC democracy: voter turnout reached its highest level in 50+ years! We applaud the voters & poll workers who made it happen. Strong participation is progress & together we will keep building a democracy that works for everyone gothamist.com/news/voter-t...

Voter turnout on pace to reach historic high for NYC mayor’s race

With hours to go before polls close, it is possible that turnout could reach levels not seen since the 1960s.

gothamist.com

We’re deeply disappointed that Ballot Proposal 6 did not pass. This reform would have moved NYC’s local elections to presidential years—when turnout is highest—giving millions more New Yorkers a voice in choosing who governs our city. Full statement: