April 10, 2007 - Senator Flanagan Again Writes Acting Commissioner Ash

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Veterans. Homeland Security

April 10,2007

E MjliraryAffairs

Ms. Carol Ash Acting Commissioner New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and

www.senatorf lanagan.com fl [email protected]

Historic Preservation

Empire State Plaza Agency Building I

Albany, New

York 12238

Dear Acting Commissioner Ash:

I write as a follow up to your colTespondence of M arch'7 , 2007 tomy office conceming Kings Park. The purpose of this letter is to further inquire as to the status of the administration,s position regarding the continuance of the former Kings Park Psychiatrit Center property as Nissequogue River State Park and to express my continued frustration over the lack of a timely andlor detailed response. Whether it has been by telephone, by corespondenge or in person, the impression I have been given is that there is possibly some review being done on the properfy and that potential plans, other than apark, are being conternplated. However, none details or an explanation of any of these efforts has been provided.

of those

It has now been well over three months since our original meeting, and over a month with any information beyond your basic correspondence of March 7th. My constituents and I are unaware of any meetings, any studies, any RFPs, any public hearings, or even any internal documents relative to your work on this issue. Other than several general comments from you at your confirmation hearing, no useful inforrnation has been forthcoming. In fact, but for my appearance at your hearing, and rny persistence in asking questions, I am not certain that any correspondence would have come to my attention on this critical issue. Simply put, this is unacceptable. since my office has been provided

my office immediately with a written status on what exact steps, if any, your office has taken to review this issue with a clear direction toward, as you state, "the parks, environmental, economic development and fiscal ramifications" of the transfer of the Kings park property into Nissequogue River State Park. Please provide

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(Page2) Acting Commissioner Ash

April 10,2007

I reiterate my commitment to my constituents, to you and to the Governor to do everything within my power to seek additional funding in the budget to address remediation costs, and to preserving this wonderful property as a State Park. I would respectfully offer that a "due diligence" review while laudable and important, can be construed as delay or inaction when there is a complete lack of communication. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated

cc: Governor Eliot Spitzer Senator Joseph L. Bruno Senator Owen H. Johnson Patrick J. Foye, Commissioner, ESDC Jeffrey Lovell, Senate Maj. Finance Committee Richard C. Mereday, Senate Maj. Finance Committee Michael Avella, Senate Maj. Counsel/Program Darren Suarez, Senate Maj. Counsel/Program