February 1, 2022

Honorable Kathy Hochul

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

Dear Governor Hochul:

We are pleased to have met with New York State Department of Health (DOH)
Commissioner Mary Bassett to discuss the $750 Million consolidation and upgrade of the
world-renowned Wadsworth Public Health Labs at the Harriman Campus in the City of
Albany, included in the Executive Budget for FY2023. Our meeting was both productive and
encouraging, and we look forward to continuing to partner with your Administration in this
project moving forward.
During the meeting, we discussed and urged that 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 illustrates how multimodal transportation, commercial space, and more can be included
as part of this project.
Additionally, we support the co-location of Wadsworth with UAlbany’s School of Public
Health (SPH). Doing so would create a public health research super cluster that would
leverage UAlbany’s expertise in public health, public policy, communication, emergency
preparedness, social welfare and health disparities to advance Wadsworth’s already sterling
reputation as a national leader in public health science. In 1985, SPH started as a
transformational exchange of ideas between then NYS DOH David Axelrod and the
President of UAlbany. The resulting collaboration remains distinct as the only fully
accredited school of public health in the United States that exists as a partnership between
a research university and a state department of health. Physically co-locating SPH and
Wadsworth would deepen this productive partnership and better serve New Yorkers.
As the project progresses, we are also concerned about the inclusion of up to 1,000
proposed parking spaces to accommodate the new facilities. We should prioritize alternative
modes of transportation rather than taking an automobile-centric approach to the
surrounding transportation network, with a focus on better integrating and connecting
Harriman Campus with the surrounding City of Albany; vital to maximizing potential
economic multiplier effects and benefits.

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 452, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-4178, FAX: 518-455-5737
As with many projects, we try to remedy design issues while simultaneously advancing
transformative projects, and our aim is not to hinder progress, but rather to address these
issues in any current, long-term planning taking place. Lastly, 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.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to continuing to
work with your Administration on this project. We appreciate the continued partnership and
working relationship formed with DOH Commissioner Bassett and her staff on this matter.
Sincerely,

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy Senator Neil Breslin

109th Assembly District 44th Senate District

Assemblymember John McDonald

108th Assembly District

cc: NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie,

NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins,
NYS Department of Health Commissioner Mary Bassett,
NYS Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Dominguez,
Empire State Development President and CEO-designate and Acting Cmmsr. Hope Knight,
NYS Division of the Budget Director Robert Mujica
NYS Office of General Services Commissioner Jeannette M. Moy

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