Office of the New York State Comptroller - Better Oversight Needed at NY's Adult Care Facilities

 

State Health Department Slow to Inspect Violations at Adult Care Facilities

The state Department of Health (DOH) is not adequately overseeing adult care facilities, risking the health and safety of vulnerable residents, according to an audit released by Comptroller DiNapoli. The audit found DOH at times failed to conduct timely inspections and often lacked documentation to show critical problems were corrected. 

“Adult care facilities across the state have a responsibility to protect residents and deliver quality care,” DiNapoli said. “Regular and routine inspections of these facilities, and correcting problems, ensure residents are not left in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. If the state Department of Health isn’t conducting timely inspections or following up to make sure violations are corrected, then vulnerable residents could be left at risk.” 

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Construction Jobs in NYC Not Fully Recovered from Pandemic

Despite having the fourth-largest construction sector in the nation, New York state is one of five states that have not recovered from pandemic job losses in the construction sector. A full recovery may take some time as construction businesses in New York City continue to face a variety of challenges, including softer demand for office space, according to a report released by Comptroller DiNapoli.   

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Former Marbletown Fire Chief Pleads Guilty in Connection With $100K Theft from the Department

Comptroller DiNapoli, Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced that a former fire chief and treasurer pleaded guilty in connection with the theft of more than $101,000 from the Marbletown Volunteer Fire Department in Newark, NY.

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Owner of Medical Transport Company Sentenced to Prison for Stealing $700,000 from Medicaid Program

The owner of a Schenectady County medical transportation company today was sentenced to serve three to nine years in state prison and pay restitution of $766,600 for stealing more than $700,000 from New York state’s Medicaid program and over $60,000 from the state’s unemployment insurance program, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert M. Carney, and Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino announced today.

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MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL AUDITS

• Vertus Charter School – Information Technology Asset Management
• Port Washington Union Free School District – Payroll
• Town of Cohocton – Procurement
• Germantown Central School District – Lead Testing and Reporting
• City of Yonkers – Budget Review

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• NY audit reveals lack of oversight at adult care facilities
• Audit reveals Health Department slow to inspect adult care facility violations
• How Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill could impact SNAP benefits
• DiNapoli: Former fire chief admits stealing $101,000 from department
• Schenectady medical transport owner sentenced for defrauding Medicaid of over $700k
• New York lost many construction jobs during the pandemic - and still hasn’t recovered
• New York farm protection program faces funding challenges

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

Permits Filed for 22 Mount Hope Place in Mount Hope, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a 13-story residential building at 22 Mount Hope Place in Mount Hope, The Bronx. Located between Walton Avenue and Jerome Avenue, the lot is near the East 176th Street subway station, served by the 4 train. Yonah Grunhut of Grun Group LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 119-foot-tall development will yield 119,914 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 99 residences with 157 total units on the site, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 763 square feet. The masontry-based structure will not have any accessory parking.

Nikolai Katz Architecture is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Secretary Noem Protects American Taxpayers Against Wasteful Contracts While Revolutionizing Coast Guard for the 21st Century

 

“This Administration is unwavering in its commitment to the American taxpayer”

United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the partial termination of a wasteful shipbuilding contract to protect American taxpayer dollars while revolutionizing the United States Coast Guard for the 21st century.

“This Administration is unwavering in its commitment to the American taxpayer and to a strong, ready Coast Guard,” said a Senior Homeland Security official. “We cannot allow critical shipbuilding projects to languish over budget and behind schedule. Our Coast Guard needs modern, capable vessels to safeguard our national and economic security, and we will ensure every dollar is spent wisely to achieve that mission. This action redirects resources to where they are most needed, ensuring the Coast Guard remains the finest, most-capable maritime service in the world.”

As part of that commitment, the Coast Guard is reviewing contracts which are failing to meet delivery agreements. An existing Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming the U.S.’s defense capabilities and wasting American’s hard-earned money. In light of that, Secretary Noem partially canceled ESG’s contract for two out of the four OPCs expected from ESG in Panama City, Florida because it was not an effective use of taxpayer money.

ESG’s delivery of OPC 1 was initially due in June 2023 but will now be completed by the end of 2026 at the earliest. ESG missed its April 2024 delivery for OPC 2. The Coast Guard stopped work on OPCs 3 and 4 after ESG notified the service earlier this year they could not fulfill their contractual duty to deliver all four OPCs without unabsorbable loss. The money saved will redirected to ensure it’s actually benefiting the Coast Guard.

Due to decades of neglect by previous Administrations and Congress, the Coast Guard has been underfunded, underequipped, and ignored for too long. President Donald Trump is ending that era of neglect with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and Force Design 2028 – Homeland’s plan to transform the Coast Guard into a more agile, capable fighting force. Now, a massive injection of nearly $25 billion is coming to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard’s goal is to procure 25 OPCs — and that has not changed. The Coast Guard remains intent on acquiring and delivering the full OPC class as fast as possible to address the Nation’s security and safety needs.

The OPC fleet will complement the capabilities of the Service’s National Security Cutters, Fast Response Cutters and Polar Security Cutters as an essential element of the Nation’s layered maritime security strategy. They will be especially critical to the counter-drug and migrant interdiction missions along the southeast border.

Governor Hochul Highlights 2025-2026 Major Event Schedule at Olympic Regional Development Authority Venues

Record Number of World Cups and Championships Through Winter 2026

World Cups and Championships Reflect Gender Equity

World Cup Ski Jumping Tickets on Sale Here

$750 Million in Improvements Over Past Decade Spurs $350 Million Annual Economic Impact and Supports the Olympic Movement

Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority’s fall and winter 2025-2026 events schedule featuring eight World Cups and National Championship events taking place at legacy venues in Lake Placid. The announcement follows the recent news that Lake Placid was awarded the 2029 FIL World Championships.

“New York State’s commitment to winter sport and the Olympic Movement is highly recognized internationally.” Governor Hochul said. “We look forward to welcoming athletes from across the globe as they begin their final preparations on the road to the Olympics.”

The 2025-2026 major events schedule features a dynamic mix of returning events and exciting debuts across multiple sports disciplines, made possible by New York State’s investment in the Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) venues. The winter sports events take on added importance as part of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games season. Highlights of the Olympic Authority’s 2025-2026 schedule include:

• WHOOP UCI Mountain Biking World Series: October 3-5, 2025
• ISU Skate America: November 14-16, 2025
• FIS Ski Jumping World Cup: December 12-14, 2025
• FIL Luge World Cup: December 19-21, 2025
• International Biathlon Union (IBU) Cup: February 23-March 8, 2026
• ECAC Hockey Women’s Championships: March 6-7, 2026
• FIS Cross-Country World Cup Finals: March 19-22, 2026
• ECAC Hockey Men’s Championships: March 20-21, 2026

WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, October 3-5

The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series expands this year to include men’s and women’s downhill racing at Whiteface Mountain in addition to Cross-country World Cups at Mt Van Hoevenberg.

International Skating Union (ISU) Skate America, November 14-16

ISU Skate America returns to the Lake Placid Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena—the site of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and the inaugural Skate America in 1979 — for the first time since 2017. Part of the ISU Grand Prix series, this three-day event features top figure skaters from the U.S. and worldwide competing in women’s, men’s, pairs, and ice dance.

International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup, December 12-14

World Cup ski jumping returns to Lake Placid’s Olympic Jumping Complex for the fourth consecutive season. February 2025 marked the first-ever women’s individual World Cup event in the United States. This year’s competition features men’s, women’s, and mixed team events.

International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup, December 19-21, 2025

Mt Van Hoevenberg is the third stop on the 2025-2026 FIL World Cup calendar as the world’s best men’s and women’s luge athletes look to accumulate World Cup points for the season and secure spots in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

International Biathlon Union (IBU) Cup, February 23-March 8, 2026

Mt Van Hoevenberg’s biathlon facility was upgraded for the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games and now welcomes the IBU Cup, bringing top international biathletes to compete in Lake Placid for the first time since it last hosted a World Cup in 2004.

ECAC Hockey Women’s Championships: March 6-7, 2026; ECAC Hockey Men’s Championships: March 20-21, 2026

The ECAC Women’s Championship debuts in Lake Placid on March 6-7, featuring the final four teams competing for an ECAC tournament title and an NCAA bid. Two weeks later, the men’s tournament returns to the Herb Brooks Arena for the 22nd time.

International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country World Cup Finals, March 19-22, 2026

The Cross-Country Skiing World Cup returns to Mt Van Hoevenberg for the first time since 1979 a few weeks after the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Following the success of the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis in 2024, Lake Placid became just the second U.S. venue to host a cross-country skiing World Cup since 2001.

Other 2025-2026 events include: Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships & International (July 27–31), USA Hockey Women’s National Festival (August 3–9), World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships (October 8–12), U.S. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships (October 11–12), Adirondack Invitational (November 28-29), United States Biathlon Association (IBU) Junior Team Selections (December 26–31), International Bobsled & Skeleton (IBSF) North American Cup (January 2–10), Empire State Winter Games (February 5-8), US Ski Team Hole Shot (February 9-13), United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) National Championships (March 9–14), and IBSF Development School / NAC (March 9–22).

Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre Mountains will also host a variety of alpine and freeride ski races, including Eastern Cups, North American Cups (NorAm), International Ski Federation (FIS) events, and United States Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) competitions. These events will attract athletes from regional, national, and international levels.

The Olympic Center will welcome over 9,500 attendees to 25 conferences at the Lake Placid Conference Center. In addition, nearly every weekend is booked with youth and adult hockey tournaments, which deliver consistent economic returns. These events, spanning multiple days, drive lodging, dining, and retail activity across the region. In 2024-2025, Can/Am Hockey tournaments alone attracted approximately 25,000 multi-day visitors — many during the traditionally slower shoulder seasons — underscoring the critical role of sports tourism in sustaining year-round economic vitality.

Each year, over 2,500 elite-level athletes utilize the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and thousands of athletes, coaches, and support staff utilize the Lake Placid venues annually, reinforcing Lake Placid’s role as a premier hub for high-performance training and athletic development.

While the Olympic Authority has long served as a winter tourism engine, the support, and initiatives over the past decade by the State of New York have transformed it into a four-season catalyst for economic growth. Through strategic enhancements in Olympic Authority venues, New York has reasserted itself as a global leader in winter and outdoor recreation. These enhancements have already fueled over 1.18 million visits annually — with steady year-over-year increases — generating widespread economic benefits for the North Country and beyond. Notably, the Olympic Authority was also awarded Plan B backup status for sliding events, underscoring the international recognition of its world-class facilities, although this designation was not activated.