Up Close: NYC pension funds pulled from private prisons

Bill Ritter Image
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Up Close: NYC pension funds
Bill Ritter talks with New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- $48 million - a small fraction of the money in New York City's pension funds.

But it represents a big statement when it's pulled out of investing in companies that run private prisons.

Why single out private prisons? And what else should the city divest its fund from?

Joining us is the man with answers and the power to do all this: New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Pop quiz: What's the deadliest weather event for New Yorkers every year?

Extreme heat. There are 13 heat stroke deaths in the city every year. And 115 other deaths from natural causes, made worse by extreme heat.

And it turns out - another surprising nugget - heat is not an equal opportunity killer.

Now there is a new program to fight the extreme heat and level the unequal playing field.

We're joined by Joseph Espositio, Commissioner of Emergency Management, and Jainey Bavishi, Director of the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

Bill Ritter talks with Joseph Espositio, Commissioner of Emergency Management, and Jainey Bavishi, Director of the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

Finally, families of the victims of the September 11th terror attacks now, nearly 16 years later, have a new place to pay tribute and share their memories.

The 9/11 Tribute Museum, which opened more than a decade ago inside an old deli on Liberty Street has re-opened in a much larger space, a few blocks away on Greenwich Street.

Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Charlesworth takes us inside.

Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Charlesworth takes us inside the 9/11 Tribute Museum.