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
New York's progress in combating the coronavirus pandemic has stalled in recent weeks, leaving the state with the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rate and second-highest infection rate in the U.S. Read More
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s political meltdown couldn’t have happened at a more critical time in New York state’s budget process. Read More
A closer look at new data about coronavirus in New York nursing homes raises questions about what factors contributed to high mortality rates Read More
Sharp reductions in state funding for core public health functions over the past decade may have weakened New York’s defenses against the coronavirus pandemic, according to testimony delivered today by Bill Hammond, the Empire Center’s senior fellow for health policy. Read More
The past year has taught a painful lesson about the importance of public health defenses, not just in terms of preventing sickness and death, but also preserving our economy and way of life. Read More
As Medicaid costs spiraled over the past decade, other parts of the state Health Department were losing money and staff—leaving New York with diminished public health resources when the pandemic struck last year. Read More
“The economies of New York City and State will recover eventually—but how strongly, and how soon, are open questions. In the meantime, the Legislature’s guiding principal can be summed up in five words: don’t push more taxpayers away.” Read More