New York

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a surety bond assistance program that is designed to help minority and women-owned businesses, or MWBEs, secure surety bonds and state contracts.

New York City Comptroller John Liu has launched (212)NO-WASTE, a hotline for city employees, contractors, and members of the public to report wasteful spending by city agencies.

Amid uncertainty over the cost of building a new Tappan Zee Bridge, New York State officials are floating creative ideas about what to do with the current span after it is replaced.

New York City could realize $100 million in savings from next week's $800 million general obligation refunding bond sale, Comptroller John Liu said Thursday.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will earmark about half a billion dollars to renovate the 80-year-old George Washington Bridge, using money from toll and fare increases the bi-state agency recently implemented.

Stung by a scathing auditor's report that called the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey dysfunctional, its board of commissioners responded by saying it would not be business as usual at the bi-state agency.

The Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp. learned that the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has erroneously sent notices to state taxpayers who were holders of the corporation’s bonds, saying that all or a portion of the interest paid on the debt is subject to the state’s personal income tax.

The restructuring of three series of variable-rate demand bonds totaling $500 million by New York’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority is a credit-positive because it eliminates the risk of failed remarketings related to the credit of failed Dexia Credit Local, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report.

New York’s fiscal 2012-13 executive budget continues the progress made in the currently enacted budget to close an immediate projected gap as well as narrow out-year shortfalls, according to an analysis by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Long Beach, N.Y., stung by a recent five-notch downgrade by Moody's Investors Service and an independent audit that cited improper budgetary practices, has declared a fiscal emergency.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg repeated his cry for pension overhaul while introducing the city's $68.7 billion preliminary budget and four-year financial plan for fiscal 2013.

New York City's law department has issued a request for proposals to provide bond counsel and disclosure counsel services.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill requiring the Long Island Power Authority to undergo periodic audits.

Nassau County, N.Y.'s state-appointed control board cut the county's requested bonding plan by one-third from $90 million, and again chastised officials for failing to provide a plan to save $150 million in labor costs.

Nixon Peabody LLP has elected Jeffrey Piemont as a partner in the law firm's New York office. He assumed his new duties Wednesday.

Janney Capital Markets has expanded the public finance unit in its New York City office with the hiring of two veteran bankers.

The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority will offer a mandatory tender and purchase Tuesday of all three outstanding series of its variable-rate general revenue bonds, Series 2003 and 2005, totaling about $535 million.

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York’s board has approved $534 million in financings for higher education and health care institutions.

The New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority priced $400 million of second-resolution, fixed-rate tax-exempt bonds through negotiated sale Tuesday.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing lightening the burden of Medicaid expenses on New York City and the state's counties.