North Country representatives Patty Ritchie, Addie Russell, and Bill Owens are all pleased by Gov. Cuomo’s announcement today  that the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center will become a “Center of Excellence.”

State Sen. Patty Ritchie, whose district includes the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg, said citizen action has resulted in the reversal of a plan to close some parts of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.

Ritchie said the governor’s announcement today overturning a previous plan to cut services will mean “better, more rounded care for children and adolescents.”

The Heuvelton Republican expressed gratitude to the SLPC Task force, which “made such a convincing case for saving this facility and its services,” and to “business leaders, the parents and friends by the thousands who signed petitions, attended meetings, and raised their voices in support of the Psych Center.”

Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Russell echoed Ritchie’s statements.

“Today is a great day for the North Country as we learned that Governor Cuomo has decided to keep the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center open. The hard work of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Task Force and of families and employees of the center are to be commended for their tireless work in making a strong case to the administration that the Center should remain open to provide vital services to the North Country community,” Russell said.

“In fact, the Governor has named it a new Regional Center of Excellence, which is indicative of its need for our area. I want to thank the members of the Task Force, families, patients, employees, and my fellow colleagues in the legislature for coming together in unison to help paint the picture of the Center's value and necessity. I would also like to personally thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership and effort in keeping the center open and designating it as a Regional Center of Excellence,” she said.

Said Congressman Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, whose district includes St. Lawrence County, “Keeping the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center open is the best outcome possible, and I applaud Governor Cuomo for once again making the North Country’s needs one of his top priorities. This announcement means my constituents will still be able to access vital mental health services close to home and will sustain about 500 jobs.”

This summer, after meeting with the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Task Force, Rep. Owens asked Governor Cuomo to reconsider the state’s decision to close the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center and to reevaluate the task force’s report on the consequences of closing it, according to a press release from Owens’ office.