New York State Dormitory Authority: No Communication with Iona College

Written By: Robert Cox

IonaCollegeLogoLast week Talk of the Sound requested copies of all public records of communications between the New York State Dormitory Authority and Iona College in New Rochelle, NY going back to January, 1, 2009. We received the following reply:

Re: Iona College, Dorms Communications between DASNY and Iona College and inspection reports regarding dorms from 01-01-09 to date.

On September 15. 2011 the Dormitory Authority received your September 15, 2011 letter requesting records concerning the above referenced project. pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law. The Dormitory Authority searched its files for records that would satisfy your request and has determined that this is not a Dormitory Authority construction project. Iona is a private not-for-profit college and we would not have provided any construction services.

The City Manager and Mayor have talked quite a bit about some connection between the New York State Dormitory Authority and Iona College and how that has a bearing on the City of New Rochelle zoning for Iona dorms. As the reply from the state makes clear, there is no connection whatsoever — there have been no inspections by the state and the state plays no role whatsoever in dorm construction or specification.