NEW YORK - New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Attorney General Letitia James today announced that former New York City Council candidate Albert Alvarez pleaded guilty to Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, in the Supreme Court of New York County. Alvarez previously served as Chief of Staff to New York City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera. In 2013, Alvarez ran for Rivera’s seat in the 15th New York City Council District, but he was unsuccessful in the Democratic primary.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been slow to reverse the deterioration in service and its financial plan entails considerable risk, according to an analysis released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The Comptroller's annual report on the MTA's financial outlook highlights the challenges facing the MTA.

New York City is projecting a surplus of $3.5 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2019, which it plans to use to help balance the $92.5 billion proposed 2020 budget, but tax collections continue to exceed expectations. The surplus results mostly from resources from the citywide savings program, a reduction in unneeded reserves in the current fiscal year and higher-than-expected revenues, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

WESTCHESTER – New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest and indictment of the City of Mount Vernon Corporation Counsel Lawrence Porcari for abusing his position as a public official by engaging in a scheme that defrauded the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply of $365,000 to pay the personal legal expenses of the Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and a public relations firm.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government audits have been issued.

Town of Farmersville – Justice Court Operations (Cattaraugus County)

Auditors found that fines and fees were generally recorded accurately and deposited in a timely manner. The justices submitted monthly reports and remitted all fines and fees to the appropriate parties. However, monthly bank reconciliations and accountabilities were not consistently prepared.

New York’s Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) reported providing $751 million in net tax exemptions for local economic development efforts in 2017, up more than 5 percent from 2016, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government audits have been issued.

In April, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,361 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $4 billion and approved nearly 5.2 million payments worth more than $11 billion. The office rejected 116 contracts and related transactions valued at $950 million and nearly 5,400 payments valued at nearly $75 million. More information on these contracts and payments is available at www.openbooknewyork.com.

Investors representing more than $1 trillion in combined assets, led by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read, today called on companies they invest in to create inclusive workplaces that can benefit from employing the millions of talented people with disabilities who remain underrepresented in the workforce.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) earned an estimated 5.23 percent return on investments in the state fiscal year (SFY) that ended on March 31, 2019. The Fund closed the year with an estimated value of $210.2 billion, which is subject to change once returns are fully audited. The Fund’s audited value at the end of state fiscal year 2018 was $207.4 billion.