{{Short description|American government watchdog group}} {{distinguish|Citizens United (organization){{!}}Citizens United}} {{Infobox organization | image = file:CitizensUnionLogo.jpeg | image_alt = | caption = | map = | formation = {{Start date and age|1897}} | extinction = | type = | status = | purpose = Good government | headquarters = New York City | language = | leader_title = Executive Director | leader_name = John Avlon | main_organ = | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = Citizens Union of the City of New York is a 501(c)(4) membership organization Citizens Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization | affiliations = | budget = | remarks = | name = Citizens Union | image_border = | image_size = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | abbreviation = | location = New York, NY | region_served = New York State | membership = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = {{URL|citizensunion.org}} }} {{Wikisource|The New York Times/Citizens' Ticket Ratified|Citizens' Ticket Ratified}} '''Citizens Union''' is a New York City-based good government group founded in 1897 to combat the influences of the Tammany Hall political machine. J. Pierpont Morgan, Benjamin Altman, Elihu Root, and Carl Schurz numbered among its 165 founders. In 1987, on the 90th anniversary of the organization's founding, ''The New York Times'' called Citizens Union "one of the most venerated 'good government' groups in New York City."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Freitag |first1=Michael |title=For Citizens Union, 90 Years of Ideals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/06/nyregion/for-citizens-union-90-years-of-ideals.html |access-date=15 June 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=6 December 1987}}</ref>
In 1902, Citizens Union supported Columbia University president Seth Low in his successful campaign to become mayor of New York.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Jackson |editor-first=Kenneth T. |title=The Encyclopedia of New York City |edition=2nd |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2010 |page=290 |isbn=9780300114652}}</ref> Six years later, in 1908, the organization transitioned from a political party to a nonpartisan government watchdog.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://citizensunion.org/about-us/history/ |title=History |website=Citizens Union |access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
By 1918, the group had formally dropped any political affiliation and committed itself solely to reforming and modernizing government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Freitag |first=Michael |title=For Citizens Union, 90 Years of Ideals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/06/nyregion/for-citizens-union-90-years-of-ideals.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 6, 1987 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref> Citizens Union was involved in promoting investigations into corruption, participating in charter revision commissions, and advocating for permanent voter registration. The organization's voter directory, first published in 1910, became one of its most visible public activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://citizensunion.org/publications/voters-directory/ |title=Voters Directory |website=Citizens Union |access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
By 1987, Citizens Union had a membership of 2,000 and a staff of six.<ref>{{cite news |last=Freitag |first=Michael |title=For Citizens Union, 90 Years of Ideals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/06/nyregion/for-citizens-union-90-years-of-ideals.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 6, 1987 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref> Although its influence had declined during the previous two decades, the organization experienced a resurgence following a series of city corruption scandals. Under the leadership of chairman Robert F. Wagner Jr., Citizens Union expanded its membership and adopted a more activist approach.<ref>{{cite news |last=Freitag |first=Michael |title=For Citizens Union, 90 Years of Ideals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/06/nyregion/for-citizens-union-90-years-of-ideals.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 6, 1987 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref> The group's activities included research projects, public forums, lobbying for electoral reforms, and the continued publication of its voter directory, which by then distributed 20,000 copies annually to libraries, schools, senior centers, and apartment buildings. Citizens Union's “Preferred” designation for political candidates was regarded as a prestigious endorsement in New York City elections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Freitag |first=Michael |title=For Citizens Union, 90 Years of Ideals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/06/nyregion/for-citizens-union-90-years-of-ideals.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 6, 1987 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref>
It has published a voter directory every year since 1910, and in 1948 began publishing reports on city politics and reporting on issues of political transparency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Citizens Union: About |url=https://citizensunion.org/about/ |website=Citizens Union |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref> In 1999, Citizens Union Foundation launched the Gotham Gazette, a New York publication focused on city and state government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/about |title=About Gotham Gazette |website=Gotham Gazette |access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/27/nyregion/public-lives-watching-the-watchdogs.html |title=Public Lives: Watching the Watchdogs |work=The New York Times |date=March 27, 2000 |access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
Former executive directors of Citizens Union include William Jay Schieffelin, who served as president from 1908 to 1941 and helped establish the organization's role as a leading advocate for good government reforms in New York City. During his tenure, he actively campaigned for public scrutiny of judicial appointments and was a prominent figure in the hearings that led to the resignation of Mayor James J. Walker.<ref>{{cite news |title=Schieffelin Acts Against Marinelli |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/11/22/archives/schieffelin-acts-against-marinelli-citizens-union-head-asks-the.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 22, 1937 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>During Schieffelin’s tenure, Citizens Union often acted as a civic watchdog, filing formal complaints against public officials and advocating for reforms to limit political corruption and increase transparency in municipal government, including judicial and administrative appointments.</ref> In more recent years, Dick Dadey served as executive director from 2004 to 2017, during which he expanded Citizens Union's focus on campaign finance reform and government transparency.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Talk: Dick Dadey, Citizens Union |url=https://tv.cuny.edu/show/citytalk/PR1008691 |website=CUNY TV |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref> Betsy Gotbaum, former New York City Public Advocate, succeeded Dadey in 2018 and emphasized strengthening democracy and increasing voter participation during her tenure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Citizens Union Announces Retirement of Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum |url=https://citizensunion.org/portfolio-item/citizens-union-announces-retirement-of-executive-director-betsy-gotbaum/ |website=Citizens Union |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref> In 2025, journalist Grace Rauh was appointed executive director, succeeding Gotbaum.<ref>{{cite web |title=Citizens Union Names Grace Rauh As New Executive Director |url=https://citizensunion.org/document/2025-05-19/citizens-union-names-grace-rauh-as-new-executive-director/ |website=Citizens Union |date=May 19, 2025 |access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref>
Prominent New Yorkers who have served on Citizens Union's board of directors include former New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, New York Law School Dean Anthony Crowell, Columbia Law School professor Richard Briffault, and journalist and political analyst John Avlon, who currently serves as chair of the board.<ref>{{cite web |title=Citizens Union Board of Directors |url=https://citizensunion.org/about/organizational_information/citizens-union-of-the-city-of-new-york-board-of-directors/ |website=Citizens Union |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Citizens Union Unanimously Elects John Avlon as New Board Chair |url=https://citizensunion.org/portfolio-item/citizens-union-unanimously-elects-john-avlon-as-new-board-chair/ |website=Citizens Union |date=June 15, 2023 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.citizensunion.org}} * [http://www.citizensunionfoundation.org Citizens Union Foundation] {{Authority control}}
Category:Political organizations established in 1897 Category:1897 establishments in New York City Category:Organizations based in New York City Category:History of New York City Category:Government watchdog groups in the United States