Court Hearing on NYG&B's Proposed Building Sale

I have written several times recently about the proposed sale of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society's headquarters building in New York City. Several months ago, the Board of Directors of the Society voted to sell the building for $24 million and then move the Society's headquarters and library to a yet-unannounced location. Some members of the Society have objected to the sale and also to the manner in which ballots were sent to members asking for approval. You can read my past articles about this issue at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2006/09/nygb_to_sell_it.html, http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/01/attention_nygb_.html and at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/02/nygbs_response_.html.

Now NYG&B concerned member Roger D. Joslyn reports that the process requires approval by a justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Roger asks concerned NYG&B members to write to the justice. The problem is time: you must do so NOW.

Here is Roger's letter:

I am writing concerned members (non-members may be interested, too) of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. While all of you may or may not know some of what has been happening with regard to the sale of the society's building and so forth, I do want you to know you have an (last?) opportunity to say something about it, if you so desire. I do not propose to tell you what to say, but only alert you when and how you might do it.

Part of the conditions of the sale of the society's building is that it must be approved by the New York Attorney General's office. I have been in contact with a very nice person there in the Charities Bureau (in New York City), Paula Gelman, who has alerted me that a court hearing has finally been scheduled. A justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York must also approve the sale of the building. Those who wish to speak against approval of the sale (or, I suppose, in support of it) can attend the court hearing and do so. One can also prepare and send an opposition paper ahead of time or instead of a personal appearance.

The AG has approved the sale but, as mentioned above, it still has to be approved in court. If you wish to attend the hearing, it will be held at 2:15 on Wednesday, 14 March, at:

    State Supreme Court of the State of New York
    60 Centre Street, Room 422
    New York, New York  10007

Justice Emily Jane Goodman will be presiding.

If you wish to prepare and submit an opposition paper, whether or not you intend to attend the hearing, it must reach the judge no later than Monday, 12 March. Use the above mailing address, adding the judge's name, but leave off the room number, which is a courtroom and not her chambers. You can probably obtain answers to questions and/or clarification for submissions, if need be, by calling the judge's chambers at 646-386-3283.

Thank you.

Roger D. Joslyn, CG, FGBS, FUGA, FASG

Comments

[Joy Rich]

What are your reasons for speaking against approval of the sale?

[Dick Eastman]

Hi Joy. I don't know if you were asking me or the newsletter readers in general. I am not an NYG&B member and have no opinion of the matter. However, you can click on the links in the above article to see the concerns voiced by some NYG&B members.

- Dick Eastman

[Joy Rich]

Not you, Dick! I was asking Roger because he didn't give any reasons in his letter to oppose the sale.

[curious]

Does anyone know where the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society NYG&B is moving to?