The Times Union published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today on the shortcomings of the Olson Group’s COVID-19 report and the need for an independent commission to review the state’s pandemic response. The full op-ed is below:
One in 10 locally owned bridges in New York state is rated in poor condition, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The estimated cost for work needed on local bridges in the state in 2023 was approximately $29 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data.
Report Finds $29 billion Needed for Maintenance and Repair
Agriculture is an important sector in Long Island, and provides many benefits to the regional economy and local residents. In fact, Suffolk County has the highest agricultural sales of any county in New York State, and is home to about one-fifth of the State’s wineries.
New York State is a leading agricultural state with 36,300 farms that produced $4.7 billion in products in 2010. New York ranks among the largest producers in the nation for some products, including ranking second in wine production.
State Fiscal Year 2023-24 was another productive year for the Office of Unclaimed Funds, returning $504 million to rightful owners.
New York’s Clean Energy Fund (CEF), established in 2016 to help New York reach its clean energy goals, has made good progress on reaching its goals for distributed solar capacity and leveraged funds, but is behind in meeting its energy efficiency targets for 2025, according to a report from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Since 2016, the CEF spent $3.4 billion through 2023 and has achieved 45% of its total efficiency goals.
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Oswego County District Attorney Anthony J. DiMartino, Jr., and the New York State Police today announced the indictment of former Hannibal Fire Chief Chris Emmons and his father Carl Emmons Sr., a volunteer firefighter, for allegedly stealing a total of nearly $14,500 from the fire company.
