Press Releases

In recognition of the importance of government transparency, the Empire Center has been selected as a finalist for the for its role in exposing the coverup of thousands of COVID-related deaths among New York’s elderly population. In the thick o Read More

Nearly five billion in pension payments were made in 2020 to retirees enrolled in the New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) Read More

The family of Norman Arbeeny has made a generous donation to the Empire Center to bring more openness and transparency to New York State government. Read More

The Empire Center has filed for coronavirus-related records from the Department of Health and other state agencies. The requests demand a broad range of public records documenting the toll of the virus across New York as well as officials’ attempt Read More

The Empire Center filed 62 Freedom of Information Law requests for coronavirus-related records from the Department of Health. Read More

In another blow to transparency in Albany, a non-profit group closely tied to the state Health Department is refusing to publicly disclose its payroll records under the Freedom of Information Law. (HRI) has Read More

The Empire Center’s online New York State budget database has been updated to reflect all the key numbers from the enacted budget for fiscal year 2022. Read More

Payroll for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in calendar year 2020 crossed the billion-dollar threshold Read More

Albany, NY — Many of the executive orders signed during the COVID-19 pandemic should be codified into law, specifically those that address health care services, occupational licensing and government transparency, according to a new Read More

The new report identifies several shortcomings by New York's public health system that led to such a pronounced coronavirus crisis. Read More

Peter Warren has joined the Empire Center for Public Policy as its Director of Research.  Read More

More than 400 employees were paid at least $100,000 in overtime and 667 earned more in overtime than in regular pay. Read More