New York

New York State DEC Presents First Annual Environmental Excellence Awards

Commissioner Crotty Recognizes Organizations for Environmentally Sound Practices

January 25, 2005 -- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced seven winners of the first annual New York State Environmental Excellence Awards for outstanding efforts in environmental innovation, sustainability and partnerships.    » read more »

New York Governor George E. Pataki: Over $298 Million In Anti-Terror Funds For New York

Announces New $3.7 Million Supplemental Program for Urban Areas

January 25, 2005 -- Governor George E. Pataki today announced that the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded more than $298.3 million in Fiscal Year 2005 funds, including more than $203 million to New York City, to help first responders and communities across the State to better prepare, respond to and recover from potential acts of terrorism.    » read more »

New York Governor Pataki Announces $416,000 For Otsego County

Funding to Assist Custom Electronics, Inc. Expansion, Create New Jobs

January 24, 2005 -- Governor George E. Pataki today announced that the Office for Small Cities (GOSC) has awarded Otsego County a $416,000 grant to assist Custom Electronics, Inc. with the expansion of its facility, located in Oneonta, and the creation of 20 jobs for the area. The GOSC will administer the funds to the community through its Economic Development Program.    » read more »

Owners Of Queens Center For Disabled New Yorkers Charged With $600,000 Fraud

January 24, 2005 -- Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced that the owners of a Queens company providing habilitation services for disabled young adults have been charged with stealing more than $600,000 from taxpayers by fraudulently billing for services never rendered.    » read more »

Court Halts Illegal Payday Loan Scheme; North Country "Catalog" Stores Barred From Making Loans with Unconscionable Interest Charges

January 24, 2005 -- Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today hailed a court decision that voids hundreds of payday loans, many of which were made to military families near Fort Drum.    » read more »

Former President Of Beard Foundation Admits Larceny

January 24, 2005 -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said today that the former president of the James Beard Foundation has pleaded guilty to stealing the foundation's funds.    » read more »

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Announces A Tentative Labor Agreement With Day Care Workers

14% Increase Over 63 Months for the Approximately 7,000 Employees of Day Care Centers

January 25, 2005 -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced a tentative settlement by the Day Care Council of New York with District Council 1707, Local 205, AFSCME, subject to ratification by the union membership, on an overall collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 7,000 Employees at 346 day care centers located throughout the City. The agreement includes a 14% wage increase over the 63 months of the contract. The last contract between the Day Care Council of New York and Local 205 expired December 31, 2000. The new contract covers all Teachers, Cooks, Custodians, Office Workers, Teaching Assistants and Caseworkers working in these Centers for the sixty-three month period from January 1, 2001 through March 31, 2006.    » read more »

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg And Amalgamated Transit Union Locals 1179 And 1181 Announce Tentative Agreement To End Strike

January 19, 2005 -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Locals 1179 and 1181 today announced a tentative agreement, pending ratification, for a new contract for their 800 members. Under the terms of the agreement, the City will fund the two retroactive years of the contract, consistent with the pattern established by public sector unions in New York City. The third year of the contract will be subject to negotiations between the ATU and the MTA. The City will also move immediately to make solvent the unions Health and Benefits fund. In addition the Union has committed not to oppose the transfer of the Command and Green Bus lines to the MTA.    » read more »

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Testifies Before The New York State Joint Fiscal Committees On The 2005-2006 Executive Budget

January 24, 2005 -- Below are the prepared remarks for Mayor Bloomberg:    » read more »

Major Department Store Chain Agrees To End Fake Sales

Kaufmann’s To Pay $400,000 in Penalties and Costs

January 24, 2005 -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced a settlement with one of the nation’s leading department store chains to resolve an investigation into phony sales promotions.    » read more »

Fast Ferry Agrees To Consumer Refunds

Spitzer Secures $150,000 for More Than 1,000 Consumers

January 24, 2005 -- Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced an agreement that will provide refunds for consumers who hold tickets for a discontinued ferry service in Rochester.    » read more »

Flu Vaccine Now Available To All New Yorkers

Albany, NY, January 21, 2005 — The New York State Department of Health, in coordination with local health departments, today announced that the State has expanded eligibility for the influenza vaccine to all New Yorkers and is urging health care professionals to make remaining flu shots available to any person seeking vaccination to protect themselves from contracting the flu.    » read more »

Governor Pataki Announces $750,000 Grant to Town of Dunkirk

Funding to Assist Atwater Capital with Expansion, Creation of New Jobs Will Provide Critical Support to Cleanup and Revitalize Brownfield Site in Town

January 20, 2005 -- Governor George E. Pataki today announced that the Office for Small Cities has awarded the Town of Dunkirk with a $750,000 grant to assist Atwater Capital, LLC in expanding its local manufacturing facility and supporting the firm's efforts to cleanup and revitalize a brownfield site in Town. The project will also result in the creation of 37 new jobs for the community.    » read more »

Erie County, New York Financial Planner Admits To Larceny And Fraud

Victims Scheduled to Recover more than $450,000

January 21, 2005 -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced that an Erie County financial planner has pleaded guilty to three felony charges stemming from a scheme which took advantage of elderly victims.    » read more »

Statement From Chief Economist Stephen Kagann Regarding New Employment Data

January 20, 2005 -- From December 2003 to December 2004 private employment in New York rose 63,900 or 0.9 percent, with strong job gains in most regions of New York. The state unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate for the third consecutive month.    » read more »