By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-942691.mp3
Albany, NY – A committee of the New York state Assembly says the agency that oversees more than 700 public authorities in New York needs statutory authority to impose fines on the quasi-public entities that fail to report their borrowing, bonus payments or other activities. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
The Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions has completed a thorough investigation of public authorities throughout New York State. It released a report on December 27th, saying more than 100 authorities are essentially defunct and hundreds more are duplicative and should be shuttered. Committee Chair Richard Brodsky says the efforts to make changes under the Authorities Budget Office have begun.
The report urges applying technical analysis and common sense, noting a recent "disturbing trend" by local governments in establishing not-for-profit organizations that assert they aren't subject to the oversight.
Gene Russianoff, a senior attorney at the New York Public Interest Research Group notes that public authorities are a part of state government that's unknown to may people. Brodsky points out that the leadership of the authority community itself was never pleased with the notion that an independent check and balance system should be imposed. Brodsky says he is "fairly confident" that good things will happen under the new administration headed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.