State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

 

State Pension Fund Valued at $254.1 Billion at End of First Quarter

Comptroller DiNapoli announced that the estimated value of the New York State Common Retirement Fund was $254.1 billion at the end of the first quarter of State fiscal year 2023-24. For the three-month period ending June 30, 2023, Fund investments returned an estimated +3.08%.

Read More

Local Sales Tax Collections Increased by 3% in July Compared to Last Year

Local sales tax collections in New York State grew by 3% in July compared to the same month in 2022, according to an analysis released by Comptroller DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.82 billion, up $53.3 million compared to the same time last year.

Read More

Former Town of Marion Court Clerk Pleads Guilty to Theft

Comptroller DiNapoli, Wayne County District Attorney Michael Calarco and the New York State Police announced that the former court clerk for the Town of Marion, Eileen Steurrys, pleaded guilty to stealing over $50,000 from the town court.

Read More

Georgia Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Her Deceased Father's NY State Pension Checks

State Comptroller DiNapoli, Albany County District Attorney David Soares and the New York State Police today announced that Alayne Bertolino pleaded guilty to stealing more than $240,000 in New York State pension payments made to her deceased father.

Read More

As Share of New Yorkers Without Health Insurance Reached New Low, Disparities Persisted Among Black, Asian, and Latino Populations

From 2010 through 2021, the percentage of New Yorkers without health insurance declined every year to 5.2% in 2021, well below the national average of 8.6% and less than half of what it was in the State in 2010 (11.9%), according to an analysis by State Comptroller DiNapoli. Rates of uninsured New Yorkers are lower than the national average due to the State’s higher enrollment in public health insurance programs, which provided coverage to 4 in 10 New Yorkers in 2021. New York was tied with Connecticut for the 10th lowest rate of uninsured in 2021 (the last year for which U.S. Census Bureau data are available).

Read More

OTDA Needs to Improve Oversight of Services Provided to Those in Homeless Shelters

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance needs to improve its oversight of local departments of social services and homeless shelter providers to make sure those entering the shelters are being set up with a plan to get the services they need and transition to permanent housing, according to an audit released by State Comptroller DiNapoli.

Read More

ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

_{Note: Some news links may require a paid subscription.} 

• The Ravitch Way: Trying times call for transparency, accountability
  
  
• Audit finds OTDA, homeless shelter provider oversight issues
  
  
• Audit finds improvements are needed at NYS parks
  
  
• Son sentenced 8 years for stealing dead mom's $53 K in retirement money
  
  
• New York State Common posts 3.1% return for quarter
  
  
• Long Island sales tax revenue rises, but less than the statewide average
  
  
• DiNapoli: Public health programs improve insurance coverage in N.Y., but differences remain call for transparency, accountability

 Post of the Week 
Tom DiNapoli @NYSComptroller 

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Book Bag and School Supply Giveaway

 

Sunday was the Annual Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Book Bag and School Supply Giveaway with Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. and Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, both present at the event. Assisting the elected officials were State Committeewoman Christine Culpepper De Ruiz, and Community Board 11 members Malcolm Gray and Cynthia Rodriguez. Representatives of New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Councilman Oswald Feliz, Huntington Learning Center, Tribeca Pediatrics, and the  Girl Scouts of Greater New York were also in attendance. 

Over two-hundred book bags were given out according to PPNA president Steven Glosser with an equal amount of school supplies to fill the book bags. The Girl Scout handed out some of their delicious cookies as well as trinkets for children while informing them that the Girl Scout are in the Bronx. Tribeca Pediatrics recently opened on Williamsbridge Road, and Aleatha Williams of State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office had various information about the comptrollers office including how to claim any money that may be in the State Comptrollers office in your name.

(L - R) State Committeewoman Christine Culpepper De Ruiz, Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr., City Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, Joe McManus of Congressman Ritchie Torres's office, PPNA President Steven Glosser, Kathleen May Llamas of Councilman Oswald Feliz's office, and Francisco Aquino of State Senator Gustavo Rivera's office. 

Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. spoke to many of the people on line for the PPNA Book Bag and School Supply Giveaway, handing them cards from his office with important phone numbers to call when any problem arises.

You can see the amount of Book Bags on the table and behind Community Board 11 member Cynthia Rodriguez, Jacqueline Crossan Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilwoman Velazquez, and PPNA President Steve Glosser  before the Book Bags were given away.

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez stood at her table with the book bags on it. Assisting her are Community Board 11 members Malcolm Gray and Cynthia Rodriguez. You can see the line of tables set up and the crowd of people going down the line to fill their book bags with school supplies.

The PPNA table was next for some school supplies after getting a book bag. (L - R)  Oscar Ruiz, Steve Glosser, Louis Lutnick, and Elio Morales of the PPNA. 

Assemblyman Zaccaro Jr. and his staff stuffed the book bags with school supplies.

People stopped at every table to see what information or school supply was available on each table.

Aleatha William of State Comptroller DiNapoli's office handed out information which included how to get unclaimed funds that may be in your name from the comptroller's office , and handed out shopping bags. 

The Girl Scout of Greater New York handed out new Girl Scout Cookies and other supplies for school children.

Tribeca Pediatrics of Williamsbridge Road handed out information and gift bags.