Scott M. Stringer Is Sworn In As 44th Comptroller Of The City Of New York
NEW YORK, NY – Standing on the steps of City Hall in front of a crowd of thousands, Scott M. Stringer today was sworn in as the 44th Comptroller of the City of New York.
In his inaugural address entitled, “The City of Aspiration,” Stringer spoke of a new moment in the City — a time of challenge and opportunity when local government can give a voice to the voiceless, strengthen its middle class and create a playing field where all New Yorkers can afford to live, work and pursue their dreams.
“I believe that pursuing a progressive agenda and being fiscally responsible is not mutually exclusive,” Stringer said. “We can and we must do both.”
“We can double-down on solving homelessness, on improving our infrastructure, on growing jobs – while also protecting our double-A bond rating,” Stringer said.
“We can lift up every New Yorker, by ensuring that all communities are treated equally before the law. We can educate every child with the skills needed to compete in the 21st century economy. And yes, we can shelter every family in safe, affordable homes, not squalid shelters where 22,000 of our children will go to sleep tonight.”
As the City’s chief financial officer, Stringer is responsible for maintaining New York’s fiscal health through targeted audits of City agencies, as well as strengthening and protecting the financial integrity of the City’s five pension funds for more than 230,000 retirees and nearly 350,000 City and City affiliated employees.
Stringer said he will remake the Comptroller’s office into a hub for innovation and new ideas, and help the City to meet daunting challenges and responsibilities in the years ahead.
“I will audit every City agency to root out waste and abuse, [and] work every day to build our pension fund so that we can invest more resources in priorities that matter,” said Stringer.
“And I will join with other institutional investors around the country to hold corporations to the highest standards of workplace safety, environmental sustainability and corporate diversity,” Stringer said. “Because companies that respect their workers and our planet are companies that will help to grow our pension fund for years to come.”
Stringer concluded his remarks by invoking the City’s proud immigrant roots – as a beacon of aspiration and opportunity – and calling on New Yorkers to continue the City’s proud tradition of offering all residents a fair shot at success in “our city of aspiration.”
“Just as America has historically looked to New York for inspiration, so the country once again turns its eyes toward us today – to this City, to our people, for a blueprint of a thriving, hopeful future,” Stringer said.
“To a city that puts people above politics, and shared prosperity above individual success. A city that demands performance from its government, and holds its leaders to the highest standards of transparency and efficiency. And a city that understands that for all its great wealth, New York is only as strong as its most vulnerable children.”
“We can and we will uphold and strengthen New York’s eternal promise that in these five boroughs, it does NOT matter who you are or where you come from. All people will find opportunity and a fair shot at success in this, our City of aspiration.”
For the full text of Stringer’s Inauguration Address, visit www.Comptroller.nyc.gov.
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