Brian Miller on WN.C. Now we'll talk to two new leaders of the longtime New York City

Good Government Group, Citizens Union. Citizen Union goes way back to the days of Tammany Hall in New York

City as a political movement and a political party. Now, for many decades, an independent,

nonprofit, good government group. It analyzes and takes positions on issues and does endorse

candidates sometimes. This year, the former New York City public advocate,

Betsy Gottbaum, now 86, retired from her position as Citizens Union Executive Director.

And she is replaced by Grace Rao, who some of you may know as a former lead political reporter

for New York One.

We've worked together on a number of past

political debates and things. And recently the head of another advocacy group called Five Burrow,

which has now merged with Citizens Union. And they also have a new chair of their board.

Another name you may know, John Avlon, the former CNN commentator, author of four books, including ones advocating

politically centrist positions or calling out what he called wingnuts in one of his book titles.

And he was the Democratic candidate for Congress on Eastern Long Island last year, losing to Republican

Nick Loloda, who got reelected. Now they're interested

in issues relevant to this year's mayoral race and how to reform future elections and more. Grace and

John, congratulations on these new leadership positions. Welcome back both of you to WNYC.

Thank you, Brian. Thank you. Thank you so much, Brian. Grace, why this for you?

Why should we care about Citizens Union? I mean, Brian, this organization has played just a huge

role in the city's history, 127 years, as an advocate for open government, transparent government, anti-corruption,

election reform. And as a journalist, for many years in New York myself, this was a group that I

worked closely with and looked to for guidance and information when I encountered things in my reporting that I knew didn't sit

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