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NYC families are juggling impossible costs & too few options. Providers are strained, the workforce is underpaid & demand keeps rising. This mayoral transition is a real opportunity to build a child care system that finally works for families, providers & employers across NYC.

Through the 5Boro Institute at Citizens Union, Grace has been a leading voice on NYC’s child care crisis and a champion for policies that make care more affordable and accessible. More than 80% of NYC families can’t afford care at today’s prices. That must change.

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Citizens Union will continue fighting for election reforms that:
✅ Increase turnout
✅ Close participation gaps
✅ Strengthen NYC’s democracy
As we have for more than a century.

Learn more at: citizensunion.org/fair-and-ope...
#DemocracyForAll #NYCVotes

But we must not assume this is the new normal. Sustaining civic energy means:
🗳️ Investing in voter education
🤝 Expanding civic engagement
⚖️ Supporting pro-voter reforms like open primaries

Even so, this year’s municipal election saw encouraging levels of participation — over 2 million New Yorkers voted, representing about 40% turnout, the most ballots cast for mayor in half a century. That’s worth celebrating.

This reform sought to reverse decades of declining voter turnout.
NYC’s 2021 mayoral election saw just 23% turnout — the lowest in modern history. Aligning city elections with presidential years would have changed that.

Supported by a broad coalition of civic, community, and voting rights organizations, #Prop6 aimed to strengthen local democracy by increasing participation—especially among young people and voters of color.

This year’s celebration was especially meaningful — it marked Executive Director Grace Rauh's first at the helm of Citizens Union and the first for @johnavlon.bsky.social as Board Chairman.

A night of firsts, and a night to remember.