State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Comptroller Joins Assemblyman Wright in Harlem

 

Comptroller Joins Assemblyman Wright in Harlem

Comptroller DiNapoli joined Assemblyman Jordan Wright in his Harlem district this week. They visited cultural landmarks and small businesses, connecting with Harlem residents about what matters most to them. Comptroller DiNapoli was also happy to return $16,000 in unclaimed funds to community groups and business owners—money that can support their efforts in Harlem.

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Syracuse Man Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $22,000 in Pension Checks

A Syracuse man who stole nearly $22,000 in pension payments sent to his deceased mother was sentenced today to serve five years’ probation and ordered to pay full restitution, Comptroller DiNapoli, Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced. The defendant was arrested in January 2025 following an investigation by Comptroller DiNapoli’s office.

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Former Marbletown Fire Chief Sentenced for $101K Theft from the Department

Comptroller DiNapoli, Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced that the former chief and treasurer of the Marbletown Volunteer Fire Department was sentenced to four months of weekends in the Wayne County Jail and five years of probation for stealing more than $101,000 from the department. He was also ordered to pay a total of $101,394.50 in restitution.

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NYSLRS Announces Employer Contribution Rates for SFY 2026-27

Comptroller DiNapoli announced employer contribution rates for the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27. Employers’ average contribution rates will increase from 16.5% to 17.6% of payroll for the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and from 33.7% to 36.5% of payroll for the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS).

NYSLRS is made up of these two systems, which pay service and disability retirement benefits to state and local public employees and death benefits to their survivors. There are nearly 3,000 participating employers in ERS and PFRS, and more than 300 different retirement plan combinations. In the SFY that ended March 31, 2025, NYSLRS paid out nearly $16.8 billion in benefits.

“Turbulence in the financial markets along with benefit and salary changes will impact rates for SFY 2026-27,” DiNapoli said. “Our prudent management and long-term investment strategy coupled with these rates will help ensure public employees and their families receive the retirement benefits promised to them. New York State’s pension fund continues to be one of the strongest and best funded in the nation.”

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A U D I T S

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Long Island Rail Road – Non-Revenue Service Vehicles and On-Rail Equipment (Follow-Up)
  
  
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority – Transformation of the MTA
  
  
• Department of Corrections and Community Supervision – Controls Over Tablet and Kiosk Usage by Incarcerated Individuals (Follow-Up)
  
  
• CVS Health – Accuracy of Empire Plan Medicare Rx Drug Rebate Revenue Remitted to the Department of Civil Service (Follow-Up)
  
  
• Department of Health – Reducing Medicaid Costs for Recipients Who Are Eligible for Medicare (Follow-Up)
  
  
• State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative): UCPA of Cayuga County d.b.a. E. John Gavras Center – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual
  
  
• State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative): The Arc Franklin-Hamilton d.b.a The Adirondack Arc – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual
  
  
• Erie County Medical Center Corporation – Security Over Critical Systems

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• NYS Comptroller DiNapoli discusses budget projections, federal funding, Mamdani policies
• Comptroller audit challenges oversight on tablets in prison
• State audits reveal deficiencies in school drinking water tests for lead
• Former Marbletown fire chief sentenced for $101K theft from department
• Syracuse man gets probation for stealing nearly $22K from deceased mother's pension

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

Wave Hill Weekly Events (Sep 11 – Sep 18) | Spread Your Wings at Wave Hill!

 

A soft yellow and tinges of orange are soon to blend into the green leaves of Wave Hill trees with the new season. Critters big and small prepare for fall in their own ways, burrowing food, fluttering their wings down south, and changing colors to match the shifting landscape. Let nature’s transformations inspire your own. Discover your true colors at Wave Hill’s Paint and Fly with Monarch Butterflies and flutter your own wings around the garden with the family!   

  

Wellness: 

 

Yoga in the Garden 

Sun, Sep 14, 10:15AM – 11:15AM 

Registration required.   

Root your feet in the grass and look out upon the vistas as you enjoy a gentle yoga class. All levels welcome. 

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, Sep 14, 1:00PM – 1:30PM 

Free with admission to the grounds   

Registration not required.   

Take a leisurely guided walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide to observe seasonal garden highlights! Each walk varies by the guide leading it.   

 

Art: 

 

Public Gallery Tour 

Thur, Sep 11 , 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Sat, Sep 13, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view in Glyndor Gallery and in the Sunroom Project Space, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden between nature, culture and site.   

 

Family: 

 

Family Art Project: Paint and Fly with Monarch Butterflies 

Sat, Sep 13, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Sep 14, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Did you know that in the fall, monarch butterflies fly thousands of miles south for the winter? Paint and wear your own big, bold butterfly wings! At 11:30am families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome. 

   

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–5:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service Free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.   

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA ACROSS THE COUNTRY

SENATOR RIVERA AT THE NATIONAL MEETING OF STATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRS IN DENVER, COLORADO

Last week, Senator Rivera attended the National Meeting of State Health and Human Services Committee Chairs in Denver, Colorado. This meeting, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), brings together health and human services committee chairs and vice chairs from across the country to learn and strategize on state health and human services priorities.

During the meeting, officials explored and discussed timely and important health and human services topics such as Medicaid and economic mobility, the health care workforce, child welfare, substance use disorder treatment in rural and high-needs areas, maternal health access in rural communities, family tax credits, and more.

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS INAUGURATION OF NEW ELEVATORS AND UPGRADES AT THE MOSHOLU PARKWAY 4 SUBWAY STATION

This week, Senator Rivera joined MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, along with community members and elected officials, to celebrate the new elevators at the Mosholu Parkway 4 subway station in the district.

The upgraded station is now fully accessible. The MTA has completed two new elevators providing access between the street level and the platform level. One elevator brings customers from street level to the mezzanine and platform, and the other connects the mezzanine to the uptown platform.

In addition, the Mosholu Parkway station now features three new stairways, an enlarged mezzanine, new lighting and turnstiles, an upgraded agent booth, and enhanced boarding areas and sidewalks to comply with ADA standards.

Approximately 4,000 customers use the Mosholu Parkway station on weekdays, so these improvements are a welcome addition. Thank you to the MTA!

Click here to see more pictures on Senator Rivera’s Instagram

This week, Senator Rivera celebrated the beginning of a new school year! He joined families at P.S. 81 during afternoon dismissal and later hosted his final Back-to-School giveaway at Riverdale Neighborhood House!

Over the past month, Senator Rivera and his office distributed more than 1,700 backpacks and hundreds of school supplies at the six events his office organized as well as at events held by partner organizations and elected officials across the district.

As always, a huge thank you to all the amazing sponsors and partners for making this celebration possible!

Click here to see more pictures of this celebration on Senator Rivera’s Instagram.

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Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for 78 West 170th Street in Highbridge, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for The Grant, an 11-story mixed-use building at 78 West 170th Street in Highbridge, The Bronx. Designed by Rogers Architects PLLC and developed by Anthony Milohnic under the 76-78 West 170th Street LLC, the structure yields 39 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 12 units for residents at 40 to 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $72,000 to $167,570.

Residents will have access to a wide range of amenities including assigned parking, shared laundry room, yoga and dance studio, media room, business center, children’s playroom, a doorman, and a landscaped roof garden. Units include name-brand appliances and finishes, air conditioning, and hardwood floors.

At 40 percent of the AMI, there are four one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $761 for incomes ranging from $35,486 to $58,320.

At 70 percent of the AMI, there are four one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,511 for incomes ranging from $61,200 to $102,060.

At 80 percent of the AMI, there are two one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,762 for incomes ranging from $69,806 to $116,640.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are two one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,545 for incomes ranging from $96,652 to $189,540.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than September 18, 2025.