This Week: Comptroller DiNapoli Issues Statement on Passage of Final State Budget

 

Comptroller DiNapoli Issues Statement on Passage of Final State Budget

Comptroller DiNapoli released the following statement on the passage of the final state budget:

 

"Families across New York are struggling to keep up with everyday costs. This budget helps ease some of that burden. It also makes important investments in healthcare, housing and education, and gives critical aid to New York City and upstate communities. The budget takes action to alleviate utility cost burdens and takes steps to reform the rate-setting process to elevate consumer affordability concerns. I was pleased to see new protections for our immigrants that will help inoculate our communities from some of the hurtful policies that continue to come from the Trump administration.

 

"We're evaluating the procurement changes that increased the thresholds for when contracts must come to us for review and when a contract must be competitively bid. Our office rigorously scrutinizes state procurements and agency spending to protect the taxpayers from waste, fraud and abuse. Limiting these abilities can hurt taxpayers.

 

"This budget process went far past the April 1 deadline, and I’m concerned this is becoming the new norm. As spending increases, out-year budget gaps could put future priorities at risk.

 

My office will review the final enacted budget and release an analysis in the coming weeks."

Over $40,000 in Unclaimed Funds Returned to Central NY Housing Non-Profit

 

Comptroller DiNapoli recently returned over $40,000 in unclaimed funds to Home HeadQuarters, a Central New York non-profit dedicated to creating affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. This recovery serves as a great reminder to all New York non-profits, businesses, and residents: the Comptroller’s Office returns an average of $2 million in unclaimed funds every day.

Check for Unclaimed Funds

Comptroller DiNapoli's Annual Report on MTA Debt Highlights Progress on Capital Programs

A new report released by Comptroller DiNapoli shows the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has made progress on its capital programs. As of April 2026, the MTA has committed more than $38 billion of its $55.4 billion 2020-2024 capital program, reflecting more financing certainty and accelerated project activity.

While the outlook for capital funding and debt levels has improved this year, Comptroller DiNapoli cautioned that federal uncertainties remain. The MTA is counting on $14 billion in federal funds for its current capital program. If these funds become entangled in federal politics or delayed, it could force the MTA into making hard choices between increasing its debt load or deferring critical improvements needed to keep the system safe and functional.

Learn More

Comptroller DiNapoli Opposed Con Ed’s Executive Pay Plan

Con Ed asked its shareholders to rubber-stamp a poorly designed & bloated executive pay plan. With New Yorkers facing an affordability crisis driven in part by rising energy costs, the case for tighter executive pay practices at regulated utilities is clear. Comptroller DiNapoli opposed Con Ed’s executive pay plan for a second year in a row.

Learn More

Staten Island Woman Pays Full Restitution after Cheating Brother-in-Law Out of Sister's NYS Pension Death Benefits

Comptroller DiNapoli and Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon announced the arrest and sentencing of a Staten Island woman for the theft of her sister’s state pension death benefit. The woman fraudulently designated herself as her sister’s sole beneficiary while her sister was on her deathbed. When her sister died, she received over $400,000 from the pension fund, which her sister had wished to be split between her husband and the defendant.

Learn More

This Week in Pictures

M U N I C I P A L   A U D I T S

• City of Buffalo – Budget Review
  
  
• Kerhonkson Fire District – Board Oversight
  
  
• Midway Fire Department – Disbursements
  
  
• North Brookfield Fire District – Board Oversight
  
  
• Schodack Landing Fire District No. 1 – Claims Auditing
  
  
• Taberg Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. – Financial Activities
  
  
• Town of Catharine – Transparency of Fiscal Activities
  
  
• Town of Fremont – Transparency of Fiscal Activities
  
  
• Town of Greenville – Transparency of Fiscal Activities
  
  
• Town of New Hudson – Transparency of Fiscal Activities
  
  
• Town of Pamelia – Transparency of Fiscal Activities
  
  
• Town of Spencer – Procurement
  
  
• Village of Churchville – Electric Utility Services Billing and Collections
  
  
• Village of Fredonia – Financial Condition
  
  
• Village of Rhinebeck – Claims Auditing

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• Income for many in NY not keeping pace with inflation
• Businesses in City Council District 43 will receive checks as part of Unclaimed Funds outreach
• Comptroller: State Pension Fund Closes at Record High

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

P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

Permits Filed for 2958 White Plains Road in Allerton, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story mixed-use building at 2958 White Plains Road in Allerton, The Bronx. Located at the intersection of Adee Avenue and White Plains Road, the corner lot is near the Burke Avenue subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Abdu Salman is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 50-foot-tall development will yield 18,579 square feet, with 14,959 square feet designated for residential space and 3,619 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 21 residences, most likely condos based on the average unit scope of 1,004 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a penthouse, cellar, and two enclosed parking spaces.

Darlyn Alvarez of Rojas Engineering, PLLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

California Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Trafficking At Least 1,700 Animals into the United States from Mexico

 

A California man was sentenced to 65 months in prison for smuggling at least 1,700 reptiles into the United States from Mexico, Hong Kong, and elsewhere over a six-year period. 

Jose Manuel Perez, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to one count of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking. From January 2016 to February 2022, Perez and other co-conspirators smuggled wildlife into the United States without obtaining the permits required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and without declaring any wildlife imported into the United States.

Perez and his co-conspirators used social media to buy and to negotiate the terms of the sale and delivery of wildlife in the United States. The defendants advertised for sale on social media the animals smuggled from Mexico into the United States, posting photos and video that depicted the animals being collected from the wild.

For the animals smuggled from Mexico, Perez’s co-conspirators retrieved the wildlife — which included Yucatán box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican beaded lizards — from Cuidad Juárez International Airport in Mexico and eventually shipped the animals by car to El Paso, Texas. Perez paid his co-conspirators a “crossing fee” for each border crossing, the amount of which depended on the number of animals transported, the size of the package, and the risk of being detected by the authorities.

On other occasions, Perez and a co-conspirator traveled to Mexico to purchase live animals that had been taken from the wild so that the animals could be smuggled into the United States. Once the animals had been shipped to the United States, they were transported to Perez’s residence (which was originally in Missouri and then in California after he moved).

In total, Perez caused the illegal smuggling and importation of at least 1,700 animals with a fair market value of more than $739,000.

Prior to today’s sentencing, Jose Perez had been serving a nine-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in May 2023 to three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. He is not legally permitted to possess firearms because his criminal record includes felony convictions in Ventura County Superior Court for street terrorism and assault with a deadly weapon.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.

USFWS investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations provided substantial assistance.

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA IN THE COMMUNITY

EID AL-ADHA MUBARAK FROM SENATOR RIVERA

Senator Rivera extends his heartfelt wishes to the Muslim community in the Bronx and throughout New York State for a joyous and peaceful Eid al-Adha. Eid Mubarak!

SENATOR RIVERA IN ALBANY

SENATOR RIVERA ON THE 2026-27 NEW YORK STATE BUDGET

This week, Senator Rivera joined his colleagues in the Senate Majority to vote for the 10 bills of the 2026 New York State Budget.

The reckless actions of the Trump administration to defund critical programs across our state set the stage for a particularly difficult budget this year.

Senator Rivera regrets that the budget was very delayed as a result of non-monetary policy negotiations that have left the Legislature with a single week to focus on the people’s business.

Despite these setbacks, Senator Rivera focused on delivering for New Yorkers and The Bronx. Click here to listen to Senator Rivera's remarks on the health portion of the State Budget 2026-27

THE 2026 NEW YORK STATE SENATE VETERAN HALL OF FAME AWARD GOES TO JUAN PARRA

This year, Mr. Juan Parra, a resident of New York's 33rd Senate District in the Bronx, was recognized by Senator Rivera at the 2026 Veterans Hall of Fame Ceremony. Mr. Parra began his military career with the Marine Corps in 1987 and served during Operation Desert Storm before earning a commission as an officer in the Army National Guard and later serving as an investigator with the United States Air Force. 

Following the September 11 attacks, he returned to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and later served on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. After retiring from the Air Force as a Major in 2017 and concluding his federal service with the Department of Homeland Security in 2022, Mr. Parra has continued to advocate for veterans and his community as Second Vice-Chairperson of Bronx Community Board 5 and Chairperson of its Veterans Committee.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS & RESOURCES

Senator Rivera urges Bronx rent-stabilized tenants to testify in the upcoming Bronx Public Hearing of the Rent Guidelines Board on June 8, and inform the Board about the impact these proposed hikes could have in our communities. Bronx Public Hearing Date: Monday, June 8, 2026 Time: 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Location: Main Theatre of Hostos Community College/CUNY 450 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451 If you wish to speak at one of the hearings, you must register beforehand. You can do so by completing the hearing registration form. You can also register to speak on-site.

Register Here

Interpretation Available: Spanish. This location has the following accessibility option(s) available: Wheelchair Accessible Public can view the meeting via RGB’s YouTube channel but must participate in-person to testify.

RGB YouTube Channel

ADDITIONAL DATES: Thursday, June 4, 2026 (5 p.m.-8 p.m.) at Jamaica Performing Arts Center (Queens) Thursday, June 11, 2026 (7 p.m.-10 p.m.) at the Theatre at City Tech (Brooklyn) Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (5 p.m.-8 p.m.) at Symphony Space (Manhattan)

SATURDAY 6/13: JOIN THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND THE FDNY AT THEIR SMOKE ALARM INSTALL EVENT IN THE BRONX!

CALL TO ACTION! WHEN: Saturday, June 13 at 9:00AM WHERE: The Pentecostal Temple of the Living God ADDRESS: 1921 Walton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453 **If you can't make it to this event, you still have a chance to learn more about fire safety campaign and how to obtain a free alarm by clicking on the link below!

LEARN MORE AND REQUEST A SMOKE ALARM

JUNE 1ST! DON'T LOSE YOUR BENEFITS!

New SNAP Work Requirements: What You Need to Know

New federal rules are changing SNAP work requirements for some New Yorkers. Starting this year, certain adults may need to work, attend job training, or volunteer to keep their benefits.

You may be affected if you are:

● Between ages 18–64

● Not living with a child under 14

● Not exempt due to a health condition or other reason



If these rules apply to you, you may need to take action each month to avoid losing your SNAP benefits.



Check your status and learn what to do: on.nyc.gov/snap.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH PART OF THE SOLUTION (POTS)!

6/1 - 6/5: FREE OSHA 40-HOUR TRAINING FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING PARTICIPANTS WITH U.S. WORK AUTHORIZATION

FREE OSHA 40-HOUR TRAINING (OSHA 30 + SST Certification) Dates: Monday–Friday, June 1–5, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Requirements: Spanish-speaking participants with U.S. work authorization Participants will earn their OSHA 30 and SST cards — required to work on construction sites in New York City. Topics include construction hazard recognition, fall safety, worker rights, and NYC safety standards. Spots are limited! Contact Jenny Germosen at 929-566-7957 or jgermosen@potsbronx.org.

FRIDAY 6/12: JOB FAIR FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH U.S. WORK AUTHORIZATION

JOB FAIR – In collaboration with NAICA & the NYS Department of Labor Date: Friday, June 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM Requirement: Work authorization required to participate Employers from various industries and community resources will be present. To register, contact Eric Claudio at (929) 566-7923 or eclaudio@potsbronx.org.

HIGHER EDUCTION SERVICES CORPORATION (HESC) FINANCIAL AID UPDATES

Below are June’s financial aid opportunities, events, and resources to better navigate higher education financial aid opportunities!  Excelsior Scholarship and Enhanced Tuition Award The Excelsior Scholarship and Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) applications are now open, helping New York State students access affordable higher education. For eligibility, visit our webpage.    Deadline to apply is August 31, 2026. Explore all NYS Aid Programs, including eligibility criteria and deadlines here.  Financial Aid Program Reminders! Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship – Deadline June 18, 2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)– Deadline June 30, 2026 (AY 2025-26) Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) – Deadline June 30, 2026(AY 2025-26) NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program– Deadline August 15, 2026 Excelsior Scholarship Program – Deadline August 31, 2026 Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) – Deadline August 31, 2026 👉View all opportunities Mark Your Calendars HESC has expert-led, upcoming virtual events to help students navigate college financial aid with confidence:  Parent Night Out: Complete your FAFSA/TAP with HESC!  June 9 – 4:00-5:30p June 23 – 4:00-5:30p Students and families can receive hands-on assistance to complete FAFSA and TAP applications.  Financial Aid Options for Military Families in New York State  June 11 – 12:00-1:30p  Learn about benefits that support educational opportunities for veterans, active-duty members, and their families. Understanding the NYS STEM Incentive Program June 15 – 6:00p  Pursuing a career in STEM? Find out how eligible students can receive tuition support for college. Get Support with your DREAM Act & Alternate Pathway Applications  June 17 – 12:00-1:30p  Learn how to complete your DREAM Act and Alternate Pathway applications with expert guidance.   👉View all HESC events Have Questions? Call HESC! Call HESC directly at 1-888-697-4372 for anything from financial aid assistance to resolving issues like a HESCPIN account reset; no appointment necessary.   Important: To protect student privacy, HESC can only share information with a parent or guardian if they’re listed on the application or the student is present.  Visit the HESC website for more information. Sign up for HESC Text alerts to receive timely financial aid information, including application openings and deadlines.

As a reminder, should extreme heat occur, New Yorkers are advised to stay cool and stay hydrated. Avoid spending prolonged periods of time outdoors. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else shows signs of heat-related illness, such as confusion, dizziness, or difficulty breathing. For more preparedness tips, visit: nyc.gov/BeReady or nyc.gov/beattheheat.