New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli was joined in Belfast by Joseph Kennedy III, U.S. Department of State Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Economic Affairs and Bernard McGuire, Managing Director of 57 Stars, an international private equity investor, to announce a new $50 million commitment to invest in Northern Ireland companies from the New York State Common Retirement Fund. The investment from the state pension fund’s private equity program will be managed by 57 Stars, a Washington D.C. based investment manager.

Local government sales tax collections in New York state totaled $5.9 billion in the third calendar quarter of 2023 (July - September), an increase of 3.6%, or more than $205 million, compared to the same period last year, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This marks the second consecutive quarter of collections returning to lower pre-pandemic year-over-year growth rates.

Economic indicators show New York City’s economy is recovering from the depths of the pandemic, with the city accounting for three-fifths of the state’s total wages and its sales tax collections rising to 43% of total statewide collections, nearing pre-pandemic levels, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Even with these and other positive developments, more people and jobs need to return to the city to fuel economic growth for the city and the state.

The number of domestic violence victims increased in 2022 by 8.5% in New York City and 8.7% in the rest of New York state when compared to 2019, according to an analysis by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Wayne County District Attorney Michael Calarco, and the New York State Police today announced that the former court clerk for the Town of Marion, Eileen Steurrys, was sentenced today to serve six months in jail and pay over $59,000 in restitution after her conviction for embezzling from the Court and altering records in an effort to hide her crimes.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government and school audits were issued.

State tax receipts totaled $51.5 billion through the first six months of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023-24, $1.7 billion higher than estimates released in the Division of the Budget’s (DOB) July Update to the Enacted Budget Financial Plan. However, tax receipts were $6.9 billion lower than the first half of SFY 2022-23, according to the monthly State Cash Report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund has purchased an additional $20 million in Israel bonds offered by Development Corporation for Israel, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today. The purchase brings the state pension fund’s holdings in Israel bonds to $267.8 million.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrest of former Town of Huntington employee Moses K. Johnson, 63, of Huntington, for allegedly stealing his mother’s public pension payments following her death in April of 2021.

Wall Street’s 2023 first half profits of $13 billion were down 4.3% from the same period last year but tracked the industry’s return to pre-pandemic levels of revenue after record profits in 2020 and 2021, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s annual report on the performance of New York City’s securities industry.