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NY Gov. Cuomo Vetoes Effort To Stop Child Psych Center Move

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
WAMC photo by Dave Lucas

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has vetoed legislation that would block plans to move a child psychiatric center to the campus of an existing adult mental health facility in Buffalo. 

Opponents say operating a mental health facility for children near one that houses adults could put young patients at risk. Cuomo says those claims are without merit, and that the move will improve mental health care in western New York. The state has already invested $5 million in the new building.

Lawmakers voted unanimously earlier this year to halt the move and keep the child psychiatric center in suburban Buffalo a stand-alone facility.

Cuomo, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation Wednesday.

He said concerns about patient safety are meritless, noting that the children's facility will be separated from the adult hospital.

©  2017 AP

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.