Score a victory for transparency, a precious commodity in Albany these days. More important, score a big win for New York taxpayers. That’s our take on a unanimous decision Tuesday by the Court of Appeals, our state’s highest judicial body, ruling that the public has the right to know the names of retirees receiving public pensions. Read More
The state Court of Appeals sided with the Empire Center for Public Policy and held that the names of state and local government retirees receiving pensions are subject to public disclosure. Read More
The state Court of Appeals today ruled, 6-0, in favor of the Empire Center’s challenge of lower court decisions that allowed the New York State and New York City Teachers Retirement Systems (NYSTRS and NYCTRS, respectively) to keep secret the names of retired employees receiving pensions. See the full opinion by Judge Robert Smith here. Read More
Boosted in many cases by enormous overtime totals, the average pay of employees at the bi-state Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is among the highest found in any of the region’s large public-sector employers, as reflected in 2013 payroll records posted today at SeethroughNY.net, the Empire Center's transparency website... Read More
The statewide teachers union is celebrating a court ruling that, in contravention of long-established precedents, would allow the New York State Teachers Retirement System to treat the identities of its pension recipients as confidential information. The Empire Center will be seeking leave to appeal the case, as our director, Tim Hoefer, announced yesterday. Read More
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano has reached a tentative contract deal with the Nassau Police Benevolent Association (PBA). That’s what Nassau residents have been told via Newsday and the other Long Island news media, at any rate. Read More
In a case that could have ramifications for government transparency, New York's top judges may decide whether details about taxpayer-funded teacher pensions should remain hidden or be open to the public. Read More
In a landmark case revolving around key provisions of New York’s Freedom of Information Law, the Empire Center is asking the state’s highest court to review lower-court rulings that would enable the New York City Police Pension Fund — and, potentially, the state’s other public pension systems, as well — to keep secret the names of retired employees receiving taxpayer-guaranteed pension benefits. Read More