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In Search of Albany Millions

New York Hospital lobbying hard in Albany for other grant money plus Center of Excellence money for Bryant Avenue biomedical center. Seeks $20 million plus.

Empire State Development Corporation official said to visit New York Presbyterian Hospital "several" times within last six months, again confirmed to be touting NYPH Bryant Avenue as Center of Excellence.

Plan B was in "embryo" stage when submitted to Council in July, Proton Accelerator/Center of Excellence piece is new.

Senator Nick Spano does not choose to explain process, says it is Senator Suzi Oppenheimer's district.

County Executive "busy with bus strike."

New York Medical College going for legislative grant, identifies New York Presbyterian as Center of Excellence-bound. Denies they are competing for Center of Excellence dollars. Split of Center of Excellence appears unlikely.

Town of Corinth sued by International Paper, lost and had to raise taxes on residents 25%.

By John F. Bailey

CityLine: February 27, 2001: Corinth, NY and Briarcliff Manor, NY

New York Presbyterian Hospital spokesman, Geoffrey Thompson, confirmed again to WPCNR today that New York Presbyterian Hospital has been toured "several times" by Edward Arace, Vice President and Regional Director of the Mid-Hudson Regional Office for the Empire State Development Corporation.

The Empire State Development Corporation is the agency said by Thompson to be backing the Hospital for Center of Excellence funding of beyond $20 million or more. These visits took place within the last six months, Thompson said. Mr. Arace when contacted a third time by WPCNR today but could not take a call to confirm his visits because he was "in a meeting."

Scrambling for dollars as we write from legislative and governor grants... Thompson first says total cost of biomedical center $50MM, then retreats to "over $20MM"...he is not sure...

Thompson also confirmed to WPCNR that the Center of Excellence grant is not the only grant being sought. He said the Hospital is not only a candidate for Center of Excellence funding from the Governor, but is lobbying for other grant sources in Albany at this time for their planned biotech center. He said the hospital professional lobbyists are working the Albany corridors at this time to put together the funding, which he felt at first that $50 million was the figure, then retreated, feeling safer saying over $20 million was being sought.

New York Medical College indicates New York Presbyterian is in the lead for the New York City area Center of Excellence designation...

Meanwhile, Donna Moriarty, Acting Director of Communications for New York Medical College in Vallhalla, reached by WPCNR told us "we're not a Center of Excellence, New York Presbyterian Hospital is. My understanding is that New York Presbyterian Hospital is considered part of the Centers of Excellence."

County Executive Andrew Spano's Communications Office has not gotten back to WPCNR to confirm whether Center of Excellence status for the Valhalla Grasslands campus is indeed recognized as out of reach by the County. Spano made a strong lobbying pitch with Sheldon Silver and Joseph Bruno, State Senate leaders in January for Center of Excellence designation for the New York Medical College facility, according to the County Office of Communications.

Ms. Moriarty did say New York Medical College is actively seeking a legislative grant, not a Center of Excellence grant, and could not confirm whether that amount was $20 million, the amount County Executive Spano was lobbying for in Albany. The Acting Director of Communications for the New York Medical College could not identify the purpose the grant the college was seeking would be used for. She could not say whether the College had been seeking a proton accelerator, the glamour equipment New York Presbyterian Hospital is planning for their biotech medical center.

"We're not competing for those (Center of Excellence) dollars," she said.

Plan B was "embryonic" in July...

Geoffrey Thompson, New York Presbyterian Hospital spokesman told WPCNR that the original Plan B submitted in July was presented to the Common Council as a plan the hospital was going to actively pursue if Plan A was not developed. But, for the first time, Thompson did say that Plan B in July was in a stage he described as "embroyonic," and that the decision to go for the Center of Excellence designation was made after the original Plan B and been denied referral by the Common Council.

Hospital could have applied for grants with suit still pending, settled to be on safe side.

Thompson, who was the high level source identified in the WPCNR Saturday article first linking New York Presbyterian Hospital to the Centers of Excellence program, whom we are now able to identify, also said the hospital did not have to legally be free of the lawsuit to apply for the Center of Excellence grant.

He said the hospital felt it needed to get the suit out of the way, to avoid getting a grant then having to relinquish it, if they were to lose their lawsuit with White Plains.

What happens when you lose a suit for more than your budget? The state says you pay for it like Corinth, New York is doing...

The Common Council move to settle the lawsuit appears to be a prudent move based on what has happened to the Town of Corinth, New York.

Their residents' taxes have been raised 25% to pay for a lawsuit they lost to International Paper in the fall of 2000. The town was sued by International Paper over the amount of taxes the town charged the paper giant. IP charged the town was not according them appropriate depreciation rates.

After three years, a judge awarded International Paper $30 million this past fall, which was well over the town budget. New York State would not give Corinth any aid to pay off the suit. As a result, the average house in Corinth (worth about $70,000) will have to pay a tax increase amounting to $7 a thousand more. The Tax Assessor's office there said tax increases are $400 to $500.

Our elected officials silent on the process...

Senator Nicholas Spano's spokeswoman in Albany, Maureen Kronaw said Senator Spano had not been approached regarding Center of Excellence designation by New York Presbyterian Hospital, saying "it is not in his district," and referred WPCNR to Senator Suzi Oppenheimer's office.

Mr. Spano's office also did not respond to questions we asked trying to determine what is the Center of Excellence process and a timetable for the grants. Ms. Oppenheimer's office is in receipt of WPCNR queries and we await her reply.

There was no comment from the County Executive's Office on WPCNR findings.

What WPCNR has learned is that as much as $70 million may be being actively sought by New York Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital for Westchester County, and so far there has been little explanation of how this process is being conducted.

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