Council Approves NYPH Biotech Research/Proton Accelerator Project by 6 to 1.

WPCNR Daily Sun. By John F. Bailey. August 6, 2002.: The Common Council approved the New York Presbyterian Hospital biotech research and proton accelerator cancer treatment center project by a vote of 6 to 1 Tuesday morning, approving its location on the golf course meadow of the property, known as Site 8.



COUNCIL PRESIDENT CASTS DECIDING VOTE AT 2:23 AM. Common Council President Benjamin Boykin is seen announcing his intention to approve the controversial hospital project, the fifth and clinching vote. Boykin said “It is time for a new beginning with the hospital. I ask the hospital to immediately meet with us to address pressing community concerns. I look forward to working with the hospital to provide the residents of White Plains with public access to the beautiful property for passive as well as leisure and active recreational uses.” He also said, in explaining his vote for the project, “I am concerned that if we deny this application, the city may lose control of our special permit and zoning rights and the courts will determine the fate of this project. This would be the worse of all situations for the residents of White Plains.”
Photo by WPCNR




APPROVED ACCELERATOR/BIOTECH LAB SITE: Known as Site Eight, is the so-called “driving range meadow” is the site the Council has approved for the building of a 6-story doublewinged biotech research lab facility and proteon accelerator cancer treatment center. John Bailey points to the site in a photograph taken in May of this year.


Constance Hildesley, Vice President of Real Estate for the hospital would not comment after the historic vote, but instead passed out a prepared statement which said, in part,

“NYPH thanks the Mayor and the members of the Common Council who spent many hours in careful deliberation and ultimately voted approval for this important medical research and cancer treatment center this evening.”

Dean Bender, spokesman for the hospital and Paul Bergins, hospital attorney said it was too early to say what would happen next now that approval had been granted.

Mayor Delfino, Rita Malmud and Robert Greer, councilpersons voting for the proposal said they expected the hospital to begin a new dialogue with the city on possible use of land for a park for the city.

Thomas Whyatt, attorney for Concerned Citizens for Open Space said he had no idea what the organization would do next, or how much money an Article 78 challenge to the approval on the part of CCOS might cost. He also did not know what lawyers CCOS might use.

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Presbyterian Hospital Letter Requesting Support of Biotech Proposal Arrives Late

WPCNR Sunset Sentinel Courier. August 5, 2002: A letter mailed first class by New York Presbyterian Hospital requesting community support for their biotech/proton accelerator proposal has apparently been either mailed too late to have impact, or has arrived only today in local mailboxes. It requests citizens to attend tonight’s council meeting and support the proposal
The letter arrived this afternoon in the Haviland Manor neighborhood, a scant 5 hours before the Council is scheduled to take up the issue. Obviously too late for most citizens to contact the Common Council to have any impact, or attend the meeting.

When was it mailed?

The letter, signed by “The Administration and Staff of New York-Presbyterian Hospital” was dated July 30, 2002, and mailed with First Class postage indicia out of New Rochelle.

Apparently, the post office mistook the first class indicia for third class mail, for it has taken the better part of 4 to 5 days to be delivered to White Plains.

The text of the letter is as follows:

On August 5th, the Common Council of the City of White Plains will be voting on a proposal by New York-Presbyterian Hospital to add a Biomedical Research and state-of-the-art Cancer Treatment Center at our White Plains campus.

For the past 100 years we have been your neighbors, offering the highest quality healthcare services and community programs to White Plains, Westchester County and beyond. With the creation of this new biomedical facility, we are looking forward to enhancing and enriching the delivery of healthcare, community outreach and cancer treatment.

We are asking that you reach out to the Mayor and Common Council to express your support and help make this dream a reality.

Thank for making this effor on our behalf and we welcome your participation at the August 5th meeting.

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Attorney General’s Panel Doesn’t Request Breakdown of District 18 Voting Machine

WPCNR Sunset Sentinel Courier. August 5, 2002: City Clerk for the City of White Plains, Janice Minieri, advised WPCNR today that the investigative panel of attorneys appointed by Eliot Spitzer, New York’s Attorney General met with her, her custodians, and election inspectors Friday morning as part of their investigation of whether or not the Attorney General’s office should bring a quo warranto action on behalf of Larry Delgado, White Plains deposed Councilman, restoring Mr. Delgado to his seat on the Common Council.
Ms. Minieri said the inquiry conducted by the three attorneys was observed by Edward Dunphy, city Corporation Counsel and the two Deputy Commissioners from the Westchester County Board of Elections.

She reports that their questions centered on procedures undertaken by the custodians to set the voting machines up for the election on November 6, 2002, and whether or not there was anything unusual that election inspectors observed in the District 18 location that day. She reports that her inspectors said there was nothing unusual reported during that fateful election day.

WPCNR asked if they viewed the voting machine. Minieri said they did and observed “exactly what you saw (the jammed Delgado counter wheel) the day we opened the machine.”

What Happened to the Delgado “Counter” Still in Doubt Because Attorneys Do Not Ask for Breakdown.

WPCNR asked whether the attorneys asked her custodians to remove the back of the voting machine to see exactly what had happened to the jammed Delgado counter, what made it jam, and she reported they had not.

“No one took it apart,” she said. “They were mainly concerned with what the process is, and whether there was anything unusual taking place at the polling place.”

Minieri said she would continue to keep the machine in question in its present condition, “just in case it is needed. I’m glad I didn’t have it repaired.”

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“New Fuji USA HQ IS In Westchester County!”: Pataki

WPCNR Afternoon Tribune. By John F. Bailey.August 5, 2002.UPDATED 2:30 PM E.D.T.: Governor George Pataki appeared in Valhalla today, with County Executive Andrew Spano to announce that Fuji USA, the international film giant, is locating its new USA Headquarters at The Summit in Valhalla, and will be leaving its present Elmsford location in April 2003.



“FUJI TOOK A LOOK AND FOUND WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO BE IN THE FOREFRONT,” Governor George Pataki announced today in Valhalla. The Governor said that Fuji’s selection of the The Summit, Westchester corporate park over Stamford and other out-of-state locations, saved 400 Westchester jobs and will bring $18 Million into the county for the renovation of the new headquarters and an additional 250 jobs. The Governor praised County Executive Andy Spano, shown at left at this morning’s news conference, saying “It’s been a partnership. All of us are on the same wavelength, working together, making great things happen in the county.” Pataki announced the State and Westchester County are contributing $1.9 Million in aid towards the project.
Photo by WPCNR




“WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THERE ARE NO PARTY LINES,” County Executive Andy Spano said today, echoing Governor Pataki’s praise for the Westchester County IDA in putting together a state-county package of $1.9MM that helped to keep Fujifilm in Westchester County. Spano praised Fuji Film for being a good corporate citizen in the county, singling out their lead sponsorship that brought the New York Philharmonic to Westchester County, as an example of the company’s involvement.




HAPPY TO STAY IN WESTCHESTER, FUJI FILM EMPLOYEES, observe the Governor’s news conference. Stamford, New Jersey and locations outside the New York Tri-State area were considered in Fuji’s three-year search for a new USA Headquarters location. The Summit was announced as their choice today. The company will be closing its Elmsford location.


Largest Lease Deal in Westchester in Two Years. Moving from Elmsford to Valhalla Venue

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. said in a news release that the company is leasing 164,000 square feet, part of the second and all of the third and fourth floors at 200 Summit Lake Drive in Valhalla. This expands by 64% its current headquarters in the Taxter Corporate Park, which the company will vacate and move into the new Summit heaquarters in April, 2003. Current space at the Taxter facility comprises just 106,000 square feet.

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