MANAGEMENT UPDATE.

GOOD NEWS AND BAD FROM NEW YORK STATE’S COMPTROLLER

In late January, New York’s Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released his 2023 Year in Review. As he wrote in his introductory letter, the point of the report is “to underscore the importance of addressing current issues with a view toward long-term needs.” He noted that the report’s theme echoed his commitment to “accountability, transparency and sound fiscal decision making.”

Many of the issues he highlighted were good news for the state, including a healthy pension plan; a successful Paid Family Sick Leave Program, which covers 8 million workers; continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with $20 billion in sustainable investments, “including an additional $1.3 billion in 2023”; and progress in building up the states rainy day fund, which grew from $3.3 billion to $6.3 billion by the end of State Fiscal Year 2022-23.

In his oversight role, DiNapoli also laid bare the issues in which the state isn’t functioning as well as it could. Exhibit A: In the context of his commitment to ensure that “programs designed to assist New Yorkers with disabilities are functioning well,” he pointed to four areas in which the state has been falling short of this goal.

Here are the disclosures made in the report on that front:

“The Department of Health needs to do more to ensure young children with disabilities are receiving full Early Intervention therapeutic and support services”
“Facilities at the NYC Department of Parks still have barriers to people with disabilities, including inaccessible bathroom entrances and playgrounds”
“The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation needs to continue efforts to improve accessibility of State parks and historic sites for people with disabilities:
“The MTA has made progress in reducing the cost of Access-A-Ride services; however, it must monitor and address any associated declines in performance to ensure New Yorkers with disabilities receive the services they need to live and work in New York City”