September 9, 2021

Honorable Kathy Hochul

Governor, State of New York
Executive Chamber
New York State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Hochul:

We write to urge your support of the $750 Million consolidation and upgrade to the world-
renowned Wadsworth Public Health Labs at the Harriman Campus in the City of Albany,
included in the final state budget for FY2021-22.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wadsworth Labs made international news for its vital role in
the battle against the virus, including key research into variants and developing rapid testing.
As the Delta variant drives increased transmission rates and new infections across New York
State, it’s a reminder of the importance of investing in Wadsworth Labs and the critical
functions it plays for New Yorkers and for people internationally.
Wadsworth Labs has a seriously ageing infrastructure with several campuses. Creating a
consolidated, state of the art, $750M facility on the Harriman Campus in the City of Albany will
not only help protect the future health of New Yorkers, it will also further cement the Capital
Region as a national leader in public health, science, and technological research.
As we look to important investment in infrastructure, we should ensure that the sciences are
included to protect the future health and welfare of New Yorkers. More than 800 jobs in the
Capital Region are tied to Wadsworth, and this upgrade and consolidation promises to create a
multiplier effect of economic activity and grow even more jobs such as in the construction
trades, public health sciences, and more.
Additionally, we urge an updated traffic and planning study be commissioned to help transform
the eastern end of Harriman Campus to help better connect and integrate the campus and the
overall project into the City of Albany while gaining additional acreage for mixed-use
development, green space and multi-modal transportation. The removal of the ‘inner loop’ at
Harriman was first noted in a 2007 study and could be a starting point for updated site plans.
Convening a working group would help further discussions to transform eastern Harriman
Campus and better connect it to the City of Albany as part of this project.
We welcome the opportunity to meet with your administration and appropriate state agencies
and urge continued state support and prioritization of the $750M project to consolidate and
upgrade Wadsworth Labs.

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 452, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-4178, FAX: 518-455-5737
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to working with
your new Administration on this matter.

Sincerely,

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy Senator Neil Breslin

109th Assembly District 44th Senate District

Assemblymember John McDonald

108th Assembly District Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy

Andrew Joyce, Chairman, Albany County Legislature City of Albany Mayor Kathleen Sheehan

Albany Common Council President Corey Ellis Albany Common Councilmember Ginnie Farrell

cc: NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie,

NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins,
NYS Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker,
NYS Department of Transportation Marie Dominguez,
Empire State Development Chair Howard Zemsky,
NYS Division of the Budget Director Robert Mujica

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 452, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-4178, FAX: 518-455-5737