Blog

The number of retired New York government employees with six-figure pensions is apparently growing at a 20 percent annual rate.  , newly posted by the Journal News of the lower Hudson Valley, lists 1,081 individuals with pensions of $100,00 Read More

Today's from Governor Paterson's office says the governor's proposed pension changes for new newly hired employees will save $60 billion over 30 years.  But here's the missing perspective: for state government, the modest changes proposed by Paterso Read More

If Gov. Paterson cuts funding to the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority as expected, the MTA may make up for the cut by slashing payments to its pension fund, the Bond Buyer (you need a subscription). The MTA would use the t Read More

Forget the dismal economy. Or that police officers in Orangetown and Pelham Manor are among the best paid in the lower Hudson Valley. According to two arbitration panels, the police are underpaid--and deserve retroactive raises of nearly 8.2 percent Read More

Wendell Cox has a new at newgeography on how practically to open up transit monopolies. One part, which discusses how London runs its public-bus service, is relevant to New York: Transport for London ... is competitively bid. Between Read More

Governor Paterson's includes a $300 million raid on the coffers of the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), which would be required to issue new bonds and send the proceeds to Albany.   But BPCA board member Charles Urstadt and former authority spok Read More

Democratic mayoral challenger Bill Thompson said something good yesterday: "Can you afford 4 percent [raises for teachers] in the current environment? Probably not," he . Thompson's right. The education payroll, not including benefits, is alread Read More

By lifting its cap on charter schools and allowing test score gains to be considered in teacher evaluations, New York State could ultimately grab a share of the federal government's $4 billion in "Race to the Top" funding for educational improvement. Read More

Governor Deval Patrick says he will eliminate 2,000 jobs unless public employee unions make concessions, including possible unpaid furloughs. Patrick's approach contrasts with that of New York Governor David Paterson, who also on Thursday, propose Read More

Good MTA news: new chief Jay Walder t that he'll continue the state-controlled transportation authority's lawsuit to have $300 million worth of annual wage hikes and givebacks to the TWU overturned. Even better, Walder made a clear connecti Read More

An calls for "the world's richest bank" -- that would be Goldman Sachs -- to "give the taxpayer a bonus" and pass on $321 million that the bank is rightfully set to collect from New York City and State government. Goldman should hold its ground v Read More