On the 47th Anniversary of Earth Day, now more than ever, we should celebrate the progress we have made and recommit ourselves to the work that needs to be done.

It’s easy to take clean, safe drinking water for granted. However, as incidents of contamination in our public water supplies in recent years have reminded us, strong regulatory oversight is essential to assure the quality and safety of our water.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the legislation that created New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) – a development well worth noting. The Fund is one of the State’s most important vehicles for making capital investments to preserve open space, protect water quality, and improve parks and waterfronts all across New York.

Recent actions at the federal level to undercut crucial environmental protections remind us once again that we can’t take our environmental quality and successes over the past decades for granted.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund continues to build on its efforts to integrate sustainability concepts into its investment strategy

School districts are facing a set of unique fiscal challenges that have left many tightening their belts even as the economic recovery has begun to improve New York State finances.

Educators tell us that healthier students are better learners. Fresh produce can be an especially important part of a well-balanced diet, and research indicates that children eat more fruits and vegetables when those items are regularly offered.

In 2017, OSC completed 23 audits of expenses submitted to SED by preschool special education providers. These audits have cumulatively identified over $12.5 million in recommended disallowances, or about 3 percent of the total claimed expenses of $454 million for the audit period. 

In 2018, OSC completed 18 audits of expenses submitted to SED by special education providers and one school-age special education provider. These audits have cumulatively identified almost $14.8 million in recommended disallowances, or almost 4 percent of the total claimed expenses of $372 million for the audit period. 

New York State's economy is interdependent with the major U.S. automobile makers through New York State based auto- related jobs and billions of dollars of debt held by New York based financial institutions.