Filed Under: State | Statewide

Rockefeller Center

Governor
The Executive Chamber
Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390

NYC Office:
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 681-4580
www.state.ny.us/governor

The Governor exerts his policy influence through the Executive Budget, legislative programs, appointments, use of veto and political party leadership. The budget, typically presented in mid-January each year, is central to the Governor's power. To win more funding for any program, lobbyists and activists typically work hard to have it included in the Governor's budget (see ‘The Budget Process” for more).

Of course, the Governor also signs final legislative bills into law, or he/she can veto them. Although the Legislature may override a veto by a two-thirds vote, overrides are uncommon.

Lieutenant Governor
Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 474-4623

NYC Office:
633 Third Avenue, 38th floor
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 681-4532
www.state.ny.us/governor/ltgov/index.html

The Lieutenant Governor has two formal functions. The first is to serve as the president of the New York State Senate and a voting member of that body in case of a tie vote. The second formal role is to assume the duties of the Governor in the event that the governor dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office. While the Lieutenant Governor's duties beyond those two roles are unclear, most governors have given their lieutenant governors particular assignments to carry out. For example, in the past, the Lieutenant Governor has served on environmental task forces. These task forces may make recommendations and can be influential in determining the Governor's priorities on the environment.

Comptroller
Gov. A.E. Smith State Office Bldg.
Albany, NY 12236

NYC Office:
633 Third Avenue, 31st floor
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 681-4489
www.osc.state.ny.us

Often referred to as the state treasurer or chief fiscal officer, the state Comptroller has two primary duties to fulfill. This office conducts management and financial audits of state agencies and oversees the fiscal affairs of local governments. In addition, the Comptroller's office operates the retirement systems for state and local retirees, which involves a huge sum of money. Upon each budget release in January, and throughout the year, the Comptroller's office issues public reports to help explain the state's finances. Of course, the Comptroller monitors environmental funding and spending as well. In the case of the 1996 Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act, the Comptroller served as a fiscal "watchdog" for the environmental community by informing them of how the funds are spent. The Comptroller is an elected position.

Attorney General
Executive Office:
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
(212) 416-8000
www.oag.state.ny.us/home.html

Regional Offices in NYC:
Harlem
163 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027-8201
(212) 961-4475
Brooklyn
55 Hansen Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217-1523
(718) 722-3949

The Attorney General (AG) is the principal public official in the State of New York with the authority to defend and protect the public interest in our courts. That mission can require civil investigations and lawsuits through the AG's Public Advocacy Division, headed by a Deputy Attorney General, who also supervises seven bureaus.

The Environmental Protection Bureau, one of those bureaus, enforces state and federal environmental laws to protect the public's health and safeguard the state's air, water, wildlife and other natural resources.

The Attorney General also prosecutes environmental crimes to protect the public and the environment, and to deter further crimes. The Attorney General is an elected position.

If you suspect an environmental crime is occurring, such as illegal dumping or toxic discharges into the air or water, call the AG's environmental crimes hotline, (800) 771-7755, and ask them to investigate.