Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) is outraged with the unthinkable, decision of the NYS Comptroller Di Napoli to leave over 120,000 state employees without a paycheck during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis that our country is facing.

"The Governor has issued a statement that the Comptroller has the legal authority to issue these checks. The NYS Comptroller DiNapoli has ignored Governor's announcement and decided that April 1, 2020 paychecks of all state employees will be delayed until a state budget is passed. How dare you decide to put a stop on receiving paychecks for all the state employees during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Did you ever stop to think about the hardship people and their families are going through now because of the effects of COVID-19? Half of the country is suffering from being laid off from their jobs, the only thing they rely on is other family members who still have a job and are receiving a paycheck. Do you understand what it means to people to not receive any income during a crisis like our country is facing right now? People's lives are put on hold and you are depriving them of receiving their hard-earned money," Colton stated.

Colton demands, "the NYS Comptroller must undertake whatever work is necessary to get these checks released immediately. There is no justification for his bureaucratic technicalities, that causing unnecessary suffering to families, especially during this health emergency crisis. This is not the time to play politics and make nearly 120,000 people go through this, his action is unspeakable. The Comptroller is essentially a state's financial officer and if you can be so ruthless then, you should either resign or be removed."