Featured Post from Hofstra University

NYS Lags Behind in Payouts to Help Unemployed, Injured Workers

Dec 9, 2024

1 min

Gregory DeFreitas

Gregory DeFreitas, professor of economics and director, Center for Study of Labor and Democracy, was interviewed by Newsday for a story on a report from the New York State Comptroller’s Office that shows that the state lags behind others when it comes to cash payouts for several social safety net programs meant to help unemployed or injured workers.



Dr. DeFreitas explained that the state’s unemployment benefits system was challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state still owes the federal government $6.2 billion in debt from borrowing funds to pay out a record number of unemployment claims spurred by pandemic job losses, according to the report.


“We’re only one of three states in debt like that,” Dr. DeFreitas said. “What that means is we really can’t raise benefits until we repay that $6.2 billion or raise taxes.”

Connect with:
Gregory DeFreitas

Gregory DeFreitas

Professor of Economics, Director of the Center for the Study of Labor and Democracy

Prof. DeFreitas is an expert on labor studies.

Labor EconomicsResearch MethodsUrban EconomicsMicroeconomicsAfrican Economic Development
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Hofstra University

1 min

LI Schools See Improvement in Math and ELA Exams

Dr. Amy Catalano, interim dean of Hofstra University’s School of Education, was interviewed by Newsday about English language arts (ELA) and math scores improving among Long Island students in grades 3-8. The article also noted that student participation in testing has increased. On Long Island, 31.1% of students opted out of the ELA test in 2025 compared with 36.5% last year and about 41% in 2023. Experts like Dr. Catalano noted all eligible students need to take the tests or scores could mask academic gaps. “If you don’t have 100% of your kids taking the test, those results are just not reliable,” she said.

1 min

WSJ Quotes Sample on Presidential Term Limits

Hofstra Law Professor James Sample was quoted in the Wall Street Journal article “Trump Told by Alan Dershowitz Constitutionality of Third Term Is Unclear.” In the piece, Prof. Sample, a constitutional law scholar, discussed one scenario raised by former President Donald Trump’s allies involving the presidential line of succession and whether it could be used to test the limits of the 22nd Amendment.

1 min

Cold Snap Allows Ice Boating to Return to LI

Associate Professor of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability Jase Bernhardt was interviewed by Greater Long Island TV about the tradition of ice boating on Long Island.

View all posts
Powered by