When I formed my nonprofit org (also in NY), I had to stipulate in my by-laws who would get any leftover assets if I dissolved my org. It is not that the public is entitled to the assets, but that another nonprofit is designated to get them. For the wts, that could mean a kh, or the Red Cross (ha ha), or whomever they chose.
I have done extensive research on the "shareholders" rumor and have found no evidence that there are shareholders today.