City of New Rochelle ranks seconds to last in audit study
ALBANY, N.Y. — More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have a disability, and over 1 in 10 face mobility challenges, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, a recent audit by the New York State Comptroller’s Office reveals significant gaps in physical accessibility to programs and services across 20 municipalities, impacting over 1.2 million residents.
SEE: City of New Rochelle Physical Accessibility to Programs and Services (February 2025)
The audit, spanning January 2023 to June 2024, assessed accessibility in cities, towns, and villages across New York, excluding New York City. It reviewed 11,916 accessibility components — such as ramps, parking spaces, and restrooms — and identified 1,491 components, or 13%, needing improvement. The findings highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring public facilities are accessible to all, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Leaders and Laggards in Accessibility
The audit reveals a wide range of accessibility performance. The Town of Chili, with a population of 29,123, leads with just 3% of its 781 assessed components needing improvement. The Town of Brookhaven, the largest municipality audited with 485,773 residents, follows closely with 6% of its 1,022 components flagged.
On the other end, the Town of Woodbury, with 12,197 residents, has the highest percentage of components needing improvement at 22%, with 131 of its 595 components identified. The City of New Rochelle, population 79,726, ranks among the lowest performers, with 19% of its 895 components needing upgrades, totaling 171 issues.
Other municipalities struggling with accessibility include the City of Cohoes (17%) and the City of Long Beach (17%), while the Town of Clifton Park (8%) and Town of Colonie (8%) perform better among mid-sized communities.
20 Municipalities Ranked by Accessibility Performance
- Town of Chili
• Population: 29,123
• Budget: $11.8 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 3%
- Town of Brookhaven
• Population: 485,773
• Budget: $102.6 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 6%
- Town of Clifton Park
• Population: 38,029
• Budget: $17.9 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 8%
- Town of Colonie
• Population: 85,590
• Budget: $63.3 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 8%
- City of Norwich
• Population: 7,051
• Budget: $10.7 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 9%
- Town of Penfield
• Population: 39,438
• Budget: $20.1 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 9%
- City of Batavia
• Population: 15,600
• Budget: $19.2 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 7%
- Town of Trenton
• Population: 4,297
• Budget: $1.5 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 10%
- Town of Babylon
• Population: 218,223
• Budget: $77.2 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 11%
- City of Auburn
• Population: 26,866
• Budget: $44.1 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 13%
- Village of Floral Park
• Population: 16,172
• Budget: $28.9 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 14%
- Town of Tonawanda
• Population: 72,636
• Budget: $29.1 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 15%
- Town of Big Flats
• Population: 7,791
• Budget: $2.6 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 18%
- Town of Columbia
• Population: 1,569
• Budget: $0.25 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
- City of Cohoes
• Population: 18,147
• Budget: $21.9 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
- City of Long Beach
• Population: 35,029
• Budget: $80.6 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
- City of Rome
• Population: 32,127
• Budget: $52.7 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
- Town of Grand Island
• Population: 21,389
• Budget: $9.3 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
- City of New Rochelle
• Population: 79,726
• Budget: $164.5 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 19%
- Town of Woodbury
• Population: 12,197
• Budget: $4.7 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 22%
9 Municipalities with Population Over 30,000 Ranked by Accessibility Performance
- Town of Brookhaven
• Population: 485,773
• Budget: $102.6 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 6%
• Rank 2 overall
- Town of Clifton Park
• Population: 38,029
• Budget: $17.9 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 8%
• Rank 3 overall
- Town of Colonie
• Population: 85,590
• Budget: $63.3 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 8%
• Rank 4 overall
- Town of Penfield
• Population: 39,438
• Budget: $20.1 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 9%
• Rank 6 overall
- Town of Babylon
• Population: 218,223
• Budget: $77.2 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 11%
• Rank 9 overall
- City of Long Beach
• Population: 35,029
• Budget: $80.6 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
• Rank 16 overall
- City of Rome
• Population: 32,127
• Budget: $52.7 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 17%
• Rank 17 overall
- Town of Tonawanda
• Population: 72,636
• Budget: $29.1 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 15%
• Rank 12 overall
- City of New Rochelle
• Population: 79,726
• Budget: $164.5 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 19%
• Rank 19 overall
3 Municipalities with with Budget Over $100 Million Ranked by Accessibility Performance
- Town of Brookhaven
• Population: 485,773
• Budget: $102.6 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 6%
• Original Rank: 2
- Town of Babylon
• Population: 218,223
• Budget: $77.2 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 11%
• Original Rank: 9
- City of New Rochelle
• Population: 79,726
• Budget: $164.5 million
• Percentage Needing Improvement: 19%
• Original Rank: 19
A Closer Look: New Rochelle’s Accessibility Challenges
In New Rochelle, auditors identified 171 accessibility issues across four key facilities: City Hall, the Senior Center, the Police/Court Facility, and the Fire Department Headquarters. At City Hall, 97 components need improvement, including missing signs for van-accessible parking spaces, improperly sloped access ramps, and restrooms lacking wheelchair-accessible lavatories. The Senior Center has 38 issues, such as inaccessible parking spaces and interior doors requiring grasping or twisting to operate, which can be difficult for those with limited mobility.
The Police/Court Facility has 20 components needing upgrades, including elevator doors that don’t reopen automatically when obstructed and restroom fixtures mounted too high for wheelchair users. At the Fire Department Headquarters, 16 issues were flagged, such as access ramps missing handrails on both sides and unsecured entrance mats posing tripping hazards.
New Rochelle officials agreed with the findings and plan to take corrective action, according to the audit report. The city, with a 2023 general fund budget of $164.5 million, serves as a case study for the broader challenges municipalities face in meeting accessibility standards.
Factors Influencing Accessibility
The audit shows that neither population size nor budget guarantees better accessibility. Brookhaven, with a $102.6 million budget, outperforms New Rochelle despite having a smaller budget per capita. Smaller municipalities like the Town of Columbia, with just 1,569 residents and a $250,000 budget, face a high percentage of issues (17%), likely due to limited resources and older infrastructure.
Urban areas like New Rochelle and Long Beach may struggle with aging facilities and higher facility density, while rural towns like Columbia and the Town of Trenton (10% needing improvement) face resource constraints. These findings suggest that accessibility outcomes depend on local priorities and effective budget allocation, not just financial resources.
A Call to Action for Communities
The audit underscores the need for municipalities to prioritize accessibility to ensure all residents can access public services, from attending council meetings to obtaining permits. Across the 20 municipalities, the 1,491 components needing improvement affect a combined population of 1,246,783, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Residents can take action by advocating for accessibility improvements in their communities. The New York State Comptroller’s Office offers resources, including Local Government Management Guides and a help line at 866-321-8503, to support local officials and residents in addressing accessibility gaps. The full audit report is available at osc.ny.gov.
As New Rochelle and other municipalities work to address these findings, the audit serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity in local government. For people with disabilities, accessible facilities are not just a convenience — they’re a gateway to full civic participation.
