NewYork City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. today announced that his Community Action Center (CAC) witnessed an increase of calls for assistance from the public in 2004.

CAC serves as the constituent service arm of the Comptroller's office and is the first point of contact for individuals with complaints or concerns regarding a municipal service, an allegation of waste, fraud or mismanagement of city funds.

“I am proud of the service that the Community Action Center has offered to New Yorkers,” Thompson said. “Often people have a simple question about city services or a problem that can be quickly resolved. All they need is a person on the other end of the line to answer that question, and that’s why the center is so vitally important.”

In 2004, CAC received 24,680 calls, a 2,629 jump from 2003. Of those calls, 1,021 were developed into cases investigated by the office. That’s an increase of 271 from 2003.

Of the total calls, 1,159 dealt directly with the Comptroller’s Office and involved inquiries concerning legal claims against the City, Workers’ Compensation payments, contract registration and payments, predatory lending, policy management and audits.

CAC also addressed inquiries pertaining to the City’s pension systems, chiefly from retirees concerned about payments and services. CAC handled 786 cases, an increase of 288 from the 498 cases handled in 2003.

“CAC’s effectiveness in advocating on behalf of the public extended to not only City agencies, but to State and Federal agencies and public utility companies,” Thompson said.

CAC, a 10-member unit run by Director Carmen L. Martinez, joined forces with the Mayor’s 311 Hotline and has since encountered a significant number of referrals for information. In 2004, CAC fielded more than 1,200 telephone calls referred by 311. Many of these calls involved pensions and claims issues.

Judith Rodriguez answers phone calls each day in the Comptroller’s Community Action Center.

“My Community Action Center has been very thorough and efficient at responding to complaints,” Thompson noted. “Over the last year, we’ve worked with agencies to resolve concerns about real estate tax disputes, unwarranted evictions, housing repairs and placements, and sewer back-up problems.”

Thompson encouraged anyone with questions or complaints to call either 311 or CAC. CAC can be reached at 212-669-3916 or ( 800) 800-6385 , or by email at action@comptroller.nyc.gov. Letters can be sent to the Community Action Center, 1 Centre Street, Room 835, New York, N.Y. 10007 .

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