Press Releases

Just three COVID data sets have been made fully available in the month since the Empire Center officially submitted 62 FOIL requests Read More

A total of $87 million in new grants were steered to 174 local projects over the past ten months by Governor Cuomo’s State Dormitory Authority (DASNY) Read More

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