Press Releases

MEMORANDUM TO: Governor Cuomo Members of the Legislature FROM: E.J. McMahon Research Director, Empire Center for Public Policy SUBJ: St Read More

Following several ignored Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests for its teacher and superintendent contracts, the Empire Center for Public Policy today will file a lawsuit against Malverne Union Free School District in Nassau County on Long Island. Read More

The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) reform bill signed by Governor Cuomo today is a huge win for government transparency in New York. Read More

New York’s civil liability laws should be brought closer to the national mainstream with a series of reforms designed to balance more fairly the rights of plaintiffs and defendants, according to a report released today by the Empire Center for Public Policy. Read More

Newly added collective bargaining agreements include 120 public school teacher contracts, 28 firefighter contracts, and 62 police contracts. In addition, 164 school superintendent employment contracts have been updated on SeeThroughNY. Read More

The Empire Center today released its annual “Benchmarking New York” report, comparing and ranking government tax, spending and debt levels for hundreds of counties, towns, cities and villages throughout New York. Read More

At least 870 New York state and local government employees have received special permission to collect both public pensions and government paychecks, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center’s transparency website. Read More

Twenty-three percent of public school teachers and administrators in New York school districts outside New York City were paid more than $100,000 during the 2016-17 school year, according to data added today to SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center’s transparency website. Read More

Abigail Salvatore has joined the Empire Center for Public Policy as communications director, Tim Hoefer, the Center’s executive director, today announced. Read More

A billion-dollar state program to reimburse hospital charity care is having a reverse Robin Hood effect, shortchanging hospitals that serve poorer patients to the benefit of those that serve more affluent populations, according to a new analysis by Empire Center health policy director Bill Hammond. Read More

A Ramapo town police officer who collected nearly $442,000 was New York State’s highest paid local government employee outside New York City during the 12 months ending March 31, according to the 2017 edition of “What They Make,” the Empire Center annual analysis of local government pay. Read More

In the original version of a news release yesterday summarizing the latest state legislative expenditure data posted at SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center reported that the Assembly had “prematurely” begun paying salaries to three members chosen in the 2016 general election to fill seats vacated before those elections, after having similarly begun payments to members elected to already vacated seats in the 2014 general election. Read More