Friday, November 1, 2024

NYC Board of Elections Six day totals for Early Voting by Borough


Early Voting Check-Ins

General Election 2024

 

October 26, 2024 - Day 1

 

  • Manhattan - 38,237
  • Bronx - 16,462
  • Brooklyn - 40,289
  • Queens - 31,671
  • Staten Island - 13,486

 

*Unofficial as of Close of Polls 140,145



October 27, 2024 - Day 2

 

  • Manhattan - 71,321
  • Bronx - 27,581
  • Brooklyn - 77,033
  • Queens - 58,078
  • Staten Island - 23,847

 

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative 257,860



October 28, 2024 - Day 3

 

  • Manhattan - 106,870
  • Bronx - 40,217
  • Brooklyn - 115,286
  • Queens - 87,174
  • Staten Island - 35,718

 

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative 385,265



October 29, 2024 - Day 4

 

  • Manhattan - 136,206
  • Bronx - 50,830
  • Brooklyn - 150,805
  • Queens - 112,350
  • Staten Island - 45,287

 

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative 495,478



October 30, 2024 - Day 5

 

  • Manhattan - 164,107
  • Bronx - 61,851
  • Brooklyn - 184,649
  • Queens - 137,617
  • Staten Island - 54,168

 

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative 602,392



October 31, 2024 - Day 6

 

  • Manhattan - 190,542
  • Bronx - 70,962
  • Brooklyn - 218,775
  • Queens - 160,179
  • Staten Island - 60,944

 

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative 701,402

 

Governor Hochul Announces MTA Seeking Proposals to Redevelop Parking Lot at Beacon Metro-North Station for Transit-Oriented Housing Development

An MTA Metro-North train on the tracks

Builds Upon Governor Hochul's Commitment to Addressing the Housing Crisis by Facilitating Development of up to 15,000 New Homes on State Sites 


Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued a Request for Proposals to transform a surface parking lot adjacent to the Beacon Metro-North Station into a residential development with about 300-units of mixed-income housing and replacement parking for commuters, the latest milestone in the Governor's ongoing efforts to repurpose State-owned sites for new housing. The project aims to address the City of Beacon’s efforts to foster greater connectivity between the waterfront, the Beacon Station and its Main Street. Metro-North's Hudson line connects Beacon to midtown Manhattan in just 78 minutes. The RFP is available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority website. Proposals are due by Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.

“Good quality housing for all New Yorkers is one of my top priorities as Governor, and I’m committed to doing all I can to make that a reality for everyone in this great state,” Governor Hochul said. “Along with the achievements made in my FY25 Enacted Budget, the MTA’s recent Request for Proposals to transform a surface parking lot adjacent to Beacon Metro-North Station not only increases housing stock, but also uplifts the local economy by attracting businesses and creates a healthier community.”

The RFP will facilitate the construction of as-of-right waterfront housing units in a community celebrated for its vibrancy and natural beauty, within walking distance to all the dining, entertainment and amenities that Beacon’s Main Street has to offer. It is one more example of MTA’s ongoing commitment to transit-oriented development. Working with the State, the City of Beacon, and the development community, the MTA is creatively leveraging an existing asset to generate new housing units, increase ridership and support the City’s economic development and land use goals.

Governor Hochul and the MTA last summer opened Metro-North's first TOD project, Avalon Harrison, at the Harrison Metro-North station. The development promotes downtown revitalization and improves the environment and healthy lifestyles by providing residents access to shops, amenities and rail stations within walking distance.

New York City Comptroller’s Office Releases Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has released the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, running from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The ACFR contains the City’s government-wide financial statements, as required by law, which provides the sound accounting foundation for the City’s fiscal health and good standing.    

“In the face of persistent challenges, New York City’s economy is resilient and our finances are on sound footing, but there are vulnerabilities that we must attend to,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “Fifty years after the fiscal crisis, it’s time to update the City’s fiscal framework, and that includes addressing corruption risks and operational weaknesses in City procurement. I am grateful to my office’s Bureau of Accountancy for delivering another on-time Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, underscoring our office’s commitment transparency and fiscal responsibility.”  

The ACFR provides the City’s financial statements, explanatory notes, supplemental financial and statistical information for each of the City’s accounting funds including the City’s five retirement systems and closely related entities such as NYC Health + Hospitals and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. The ACFR is prepared according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). 

The New York City economy continued to expand over the past year; total city employment surpassed its pre-pandemic level for the first time during the fiscal year and the city’s labor participation rate reached a historic high. However, economic growth in FY 2024 – particularly during the second half – was slower than in recent years. Furthermore, job gains were concentrated in the lower wage sectors, a concerning trend for the local economy.  Looking forward,  the Comptroller’s office forecasts that the New York City economy will continue to expand at a moderate pace.   

The City’s financial strength relies on strong fiscal practices, many of which were established by the Financial Emergency Act (FEA) nearly fifty years ago during the City’s fiscal crisis of the 1970s. Earlier this year, the Comptroller’s office formulated a series of proposals to strengthen and modernize the City’s fiscal framework, including steps to ensure that the City accumulates sufficient reserves in its rainy-day fund, achieves efficiencies and long-term savings while avoiding cuts to vital services, conducts realistic assessments of its capital assets, and maintains the affordability of its debt.  

While outside the scope of the ACFR, recent events, including a report from the New York City Department of Investigation, have also raised concerns about corruption vulnerabilities and operational weaknesses in the City’s procurement practices.  The Comptroller’s office has put forward a series of proposals to prevent corruption in procurement, improve timely registration and payment, and ensure that public funds are administered with transparency and integrity.  

For the 44th consecutive year, the City of New Yorkhas received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the FY 2023 ACFR.  We look forward to receiving the award once again for the FY 2024 ACFR, which will mark 45 years of excellence. 

The full Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for FY 2024 is now available for download. As Comptroller Lander committed and implemented starting in his first year in office, the financial and statistical tables in the annual report are available for download on the Comptroller’s website at www.comptroller.nyc.gov 

Highlights from the FY 2024 Annual Report include: 

City of New York Finances 

  • The General Fund had revenues and other financing sources of $112.814 billion and expenditures and other financing uses of $112.973 billion, resulting in a deficit of $159 million, excluding the adjustment for restricted fund activities.  
  • Including the adjustment for restricted fund activities, the General Fund had an operating surplus of $5.3 million. This amount increased the General Fund’s committed balance (the Revenue Stabilization Fund) to $1.964 billion.  
  • General Fund revenues were $4.577 billion higher than in FY 2023, a 4.2% increase. The growth in revenues was driven by an increase of $2.161 billion in State categorical grants, an increase of $1.320 billion in Federal categorical grants, and a $740 million increase in tax revenues. 
  • Actual FY 2024 revenues were $6.420 billion more than projected in the FY 2024 Adopted Budget, driven by a $3.037 billion variance in tax revenues. Overall, the City availed itself of $13.287 billion in additional resources that were primarily used to close the FY 2025 budget gap ($4.397 billion), and to fund, among other expenses, greater than expected contractual services costs ($2.651 billion), provide additional payments to New York City Health + Hospitals ($1.276 billion), and pay for greater than expected overtime costs ($1.255 billion). 

New York City Retirement Systems 

The Comptroller’s Bureau of Asset Management is the investment advisor to the City’s five retirement systems: New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS), New York City Police Pension Fund (Police), New York City Fire Pension Fund (Fire), and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System (BERS).  

  • As of June 30, 2024, the combined investments assets of the City’s five Systems totaled $274.383 billion, a $21.104 billion increase from the value as of the end of FY 2023. During the fiscal year, the fair value of the assets ranged from a high of $274.383 billion (June 2024) to a low of $241.676 billion (October 2023). 
  • The time-weighted return (net of manager fees) of the aggregate portfolio was 10.0% in FY 2024 and 8.0% in FY 2023. 
  • In aggregate the City’s pension funds are 85.5% funded to meet their long-term obligations. 

Municipal Finance 

The Comptroller’s Bureau of Public Finance works with the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget to issue bonds to finance the City’s extensive capital program and to refund outstanding bonds for savings.  

  • In FY 2024, the General Obligation and Transitional Finance Authority credits issued a combined nine new money transactions, totaling $10.345 billion, which raised more than $11.064 billion of proceeds for the City’s capital needs.   
  • However, due to historically high capital expenditures, the Capital Projects Fund’s balance worsened by $1.145 billion and closed with a deficit of to $7.492 billion. 
  • Starting in the second half of FY 2024, the City significantly increased the size of its bond sales with the aim of reducing the Capital Projects Fund deficit. This will also mitigate the decline in Total Governmental Funds balance, a potentially negative credit indicator. 
  • The City ended FY 2024 with a debt-incurring power of $25.397 billion. The debt-incurring power rose to $40.95 billion at the beginning of FY 2025. This was in part due to the first tranche of the $14 billion increase in Transitional Finance Authority’s outstanding debt not subject to the City’s debt limit included in the NY State 2024-2025 budget. An analysis published by my office found the increase in the City’s debt-incurring power appropriately sized and affordable. 

Local Economic Conditions in FY 2023 

  • New York City’s job market grew by 65,800 jobs between the start and end of FY 2024, allowing the city’s jobs count to exceed its previous peak. However, growth was slower than that seen in FY 2023, when job gains totaled 140,000 as the last stages of post-pandemic job recovery were still underway. 
  • Industries with averages below the citywide mean dominated the City’s job growth. For example, Health Care and Social Assistance industry added 79,300 jobs over the period (year-over-year growth of 8.6 percent). 
  • For the second consecutive year, the city’s Information sector employment declined, with payrolls 18,100 below the industry’s pre-pandemic level, with many early FY 2024 job losses in this industry being attributed to labor union strikes. 
  • The unemployment rate was 4.8% in June 2024 (seasonally adjusted). From June 2023 to June 2024 the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points. 
  • New York City taxable sales grew by 3.1% in FY 2024, a significant slowdown in growth rate as compared to FY 2023 when sales grew by 12%. This decline was driven by declining inflation and slower economic growth. 
  • The housing market remained strong, with the median rent rising 1.3% in FY 2024. 
  • Manhattan office vacancy rates continued to climb in FY 2024, reaching 23.6% in June 2024, slightly higher that the last quarter of FY 2023. Post-pandemic office work patterns suggest a predominance of hybrid work with three-days per week in-office during a typical work week. 
  • The Consumer Price Index in the New York City Metropolitan Area grew by 3.4% in FY 2024, measured on an annual average basis, a decline from the prior fiscal year growth of 5.3%. 

Read the full report here. 

Attorney General James Warns Voters Against Relying on AI Chatbots for Election Questions

 

OAG Testing of Chatbots Revealed Inaccurate Voting Information Misinforming New Yorkers

New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert reminding voters that they should not rely on answers provided by artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for accurate information about where, when, or how to vote. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) tested multiple AI-powered chatbots by posing sample questions about voting and found that they frequently provided inaccurate information in response. New Yorkers who rely on chatbots, rather than official government sources, to answer their questions about voting, risk being misinformed and could even lose their opportunity to vote due to the inaccurate information. Attorney General James encourages all voters who have questions or issues with voting in New York to contact OAG’s Election Protection Hotline at (866) 390-2992, or submit a complaint online to request assistance.

“All voters deserve accurate information about where, when, and how to vote,” said Attorney General James. “My office’s testing of AI chatbots found many providing false or misleading information about voting, threatening New Yorkers’ ability to exercise their right to vote. With early voting underway and Election Day just around the corner, I urge voters to be cautious and seek reliable information about the election only from official sources.”

As explained in the guide released by Attorney General James earlier this year, “Protecting New York Voters from AI-Generated Election Misinformation,” voters should not rely on AI-powered chatbots to answer questions about voting and elections because they sometimes provide inaccurate information. The OAG’s recent testing of AI chatbots has underscored these concerns. For example, some chatbots provided inaccurate information about the deadline to register to vote. If voters relied on this advice, they could have failed to register to vote based on a false belief that it was too late when, in fact, they were still able to register.

Chatbots also provided incorrect information about where to vote. In one instance, when a chatbot was asked about early voting in Kings County, it incorrectly advised, “In Kings County, New York, during the early voting period, you can vote at any designated early voting site within the county.” In fact, although voters outside of New York City generally may vote at any poll site in their county during the early voting period, that is not true in New York City. Voters in New York City, which includes the entirety of Kings County, should vote early at specific poll sites assigned to them based on where they live. If a user relied on this chatbot’s advice, they might have attempted to vote at the wrong poll site.

For accurate information about voting, voters should consult OAG’s websitethe New York State Board of Elections, or the local board of elections for their city or county. To find your local board of elections, you can use the county board roster tool. For basic poll site, registration, and ballot tracking information, voters can visit the State Board of Elections’ voter lookup tool.

Attorney General James urges voters experiencing election-related problems voting to call the OAG hotline at (866) 390-2992, or submit a complaint online to request assistance. The telephone hotline will be open between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM during early voting (Saturday, October 26 through Sunday, November 3), and between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. The hotline will also be available the days before and after Election Day, Monday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 6, between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Written requests for assistance may be submitted at any time through the online complaint form. Hotline calls and written requests for assistance are processed by OAG attorneys and staff.

Justice Department to Monitor Polls in 27 States for Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws

 

Civil Rights Division Staff Available to Receive Nationwide Reports Throughout Election Day

The Justice Department announced today that it plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election.

The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

For the general election, the department will monitor for compliance with federal voting rights laws on Election Day in 86 jurisdictions, including:

  • Bethel Census Area, Alaska;
  • Dillingham Census Area, Alaska;
  • Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska;
  • North Slope Borough, Alaska;
  • Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska;
  • Apache County, Arizona;
  • Maricopa County, Arizona;
  • Pima County, Arizona;
  • Yuma County, Arizona;
  • San Joaquin County, California;
  • Broward County, Florida;
  • Miami-Dade County, Florida;
  • Orange County, Florida;
  • Osceola County, Florida;
  • Cobb County, Georgia;
  • DeKalb County, Georgia;
  • Fulton County, Georgia;
  • Gwinnett County, Georgia;
  • Macon-Bibb County, Georgia;
  • Jefferson County, Kentucky;
  • Kenton County, Kentucky;
  • City of Everett, Massachusetts;
  • City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts;
  • City of Leominster, Massachusetts;
  • City of Lowell, Massachusetts;
  • City of Malden, Massachusetts;
  • City of Methuen, Massachusetts;
  • City of Quincy, Massachusetts;
  • City of Salem, Massachusetts;
  • Prince George’s County, Maryland;
  • City of Ann Arbor, Michigan;
  • City of Detroit, Michigan;
  • City of Flint, Michigan;
  • City of Grand Rapids, Michigan;
  • City of Hamtramck, Michigan;
  • City of Warren, Michigan;
  • Hennepin County, Minnesota;
  • City of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
  • Ramsey County, Minnesota;
  • Covington County, Mississippi;
  • Scott County, Mississippi;
  • Warren County, Mississippi;
  • City of St. Louis, Missouri;
  • Blaine County, Montana;
  • Alamance County, North Carolina;
  • Mecklenburg County, North Carolina;
  • Wake County, North Carolina;
  • Bergen County, New Jersey;
  • Middlesex County, New Jersey;
  • Union County, New Jersey;
  • Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
  • Cibola County, New Mexico;
  • Clark County, Nevada;
  • Queens, New York;
  • Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
  • Portage County, Ohio;
  • Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
  • Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
  • Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania;
  • City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
  • City of Providence, Rhode Island;
  • City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island;
  • Charleston County, South Carolina;
  • Bennett County, South Dakota;
  • Jackson County, South Dakota;
  • Minnehaha County, South Dakota;
  • Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota;
  • Atascosa County, Texas;
  • Bexar County, Texas;
  • Dallas County, Texas;
  • Frio County, Texas;
  • Harris County, Texas;
  • Hays County, Texas;
  • Palo Pinto County, Texas;
  • Waller County, Texas;
  • San Juan County, Utah;
  • Hanover County, Virginia;
  • Henrico County, Virginia;
  • Loudoun County, Virginia;
  • City of Manassas, Virginia;
  • City of Manassas Park, Virginia;
  • Prince William County, Virginia;
  • Town of Lawrence (Rusk County), Wisconsin;
  • City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
  • Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin; and
  • City of Wausau, Wisconsin.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division, other department divisions, U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management. Throughout Election Day, division personnel will maintain contact with state and local election officials.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931.

Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

New York State Department of Labor Announces New Guidance to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heavy Precipitation and Wildfire Smoke Hazards

 

We Are Your DOL - New York State Department of Labor

New Guidance Expands on Recent Extreme Heat Protections for Outdoor Workers

Release Coincides with the 12th Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy’s Impact on New York, Highlighting the Continued Importance of Worker Protections During Extreme Weather

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) announced the release of comprehensive new guidance to help employers better protect outdoor workers during heavy precipitation events and wildfire smoke hazards. This initiative builds on the Department's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of outdoor workers in extreme weather, following the recent release of guidelines to protect workers from extreme heat.

Historically, New York has experienced extreme weather during this time of year, including Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in late October 2012. These events underscore the importance of preparedness and protecting outdoor workers from hazardous conditions. Recent hurricanes, such as Helene and Milton in the southern United States, further highlight the critical need for worker protections against the devastating effects of extreme weather. As the frequency and intensity of these events increase due to climate change, it is essential for employers to take proactive measures to ensure worker safety.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Protecting workers from the dangers of extreme weather is more important than ever as we face the increasing impacts of climate change. These new guidelines will provide New York businesses with the tools they need to safeguard outdoor workers from dangerous conditions.”

The guidance documents outline specific measures that employers should take before, during, and after extreme weather events to protect outdoor workers. These new resources provide critical information on how to address the hazards posed by both heavy precipitation and wildfire smoke, including recommendations on scheduling work, providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and developing emergency response plans.

Protecting Workers from Heavy Precipitation

The precipitation guidance advises employers to:

  • Monitor weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
  • Provide waterproof PPE and adjust work schedules as needed.
  • Ensure rest breaks in warm, dry areas and maintain safety during and after precipitation events.

Addressing Wildfire Smoke Hazards

For wildfire smoke, employers should:

  • Monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) and take action when levels exceed safe thresholds.
  • Provide respirators and adjust work plans based on air quality.
  • Train workers on recognizing smoke-related health risks and proper safety protocols.

Both guidance documents also emphasize the importance of training and emergency planning, ensuring that employers and workers are prepared to respond quickly to changing weather conditions.

Continuing Commitment to Worker Safety

NYSDOL encourages all employers to use these new guidance materials in conjunction with the previously released Extreme Heat Guidance to fully protect their outdoor workforce from the spectrum of weather-related hazards. Ensuring worker safety in extreme weather conditions not only reduces the risk of accidents and injuries but also helps businesses avoid increased workers’ compensation claims, insurance costs, and decreases in productivity.

For more information, including access to the guidance documents, please visit NYSDOL’s Extreme Weather Guidance page.