Sunday Noon!! Emergency Rally to #saveLICH!

Hello from CORD!
This just in:

SUNDAY at NOON. 
Emergency rally to #saveLICH
   
"Please come and please tell your friends!"

Linda Blyer

Cobble Hill

 

SUNDAY at NOON. Emergency rally to #saveLICH. SUNY is trying to force our hospital to close. Meet across from the main entrance - 
339 Hicks St in Brooklyn. 

Bring signs, banners and please pass this message on.

Michelle Green
Assistant Director for Special Projects
New York State Nurses Association
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 1007
212 785 0157 x175
718 714 8863 (cell)

Wednesday Rally and March for LICH and Brooklyn Healthcare 4 PM!!

Wednesday Rally and March for LICH and Brooklyn Healthcare

Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:49 pm (PDT) . Posted by:

Please cross-post

Wednesday RALLY AND MARCH

(I just spoke to 84 precinct community affairs on a different matter, and
they are gearing up for this event, so IT'S REAL.)

Join patients, community supporters, elected leaders, NYSNA & 1199SEIU to
mourn the death of healthcare in Brooklyn, this Wednesday, July 24, at a
march starting at 4 pm.

Long Island College Hospital and Interfaith Medical Center are under
threat of imminent closure. Meanwhile, health disparities in Brooklyn are
climbing at alarming rate. Low income, people of color, and the uninsured have
fewer and fewer options for receiving care.

We'll meet at Cadman Plaza,
corner of Tillary & Cadman Plaza at 4pm,
march over the Brooklyn Bridge,
then hold a rally at City Hall in Manhattan at 5pm.

A flyer to post and distribute is attached. RSVP and invite others to the
march here on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/336352769828541/

Make no mistake - if any of our hospitals close, people will die. Let's
march and mourn to stop the death of Brooklyn healthcare!

See you there -- and wear black!

In friendship and solidarity
Mickey

Michelle Green
Assistant Director for Special Projects
New York State Nurses Association
_Legal Battles Continue as Hospital in Brooklyn Nears Closing Date -
NYTimes.com_
(http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/nyregion/legal-battles-continue-as-hospital-in-brooklyn-nears-closing-date.html?_r=0)

Dear Governor Cuomo, Please KEEP LICH Open. We NEED OUR HOSPITAL!

Hello from CORD!

 

Do you need a sample letter to use to send to Governor Cuomo to tell him to keep LICH open?

Please feel free to use and/or use and edit the one below!

Encourage Governor Cuomo to break his silence today!

To email the Governor: http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

To tweet him send your Twitter message to @NYGovCuomo

To phone him call (518) 474-8390.

Don't wait to write him a letter, it may not get to Albany in time.

SAMPLE LETTER 

  

July 19, 2013

 

"Governor Cuomo

This is a vibrant and ever growing community that absolutely needs the services of LICH to remain here and fully operational.

Please keep our hospital open, our Emergency Room available and our children and loved ones safe.

 Removing this vital health facility so it can be replaced with (however lovely/expensive/marketable/profitable they may be) residences --will add even more people.

They will of course need medical attention at some point as well, adding to the already  dangerous strain on the other hospitals in the area.

It is also only a matter of time before our community members will begin paying with their lives because of the difference in time it is already taking to bring emergency cases to hospitals further away from our community.

Please---we need you to intervene and work with us to find a way to keep our community hospital open.

Sincerely,

xxxxx" 

For more on this story please go to: 

"Governor Cuomo's Silence DeafeningDeaf on LICH" says CB 6 District http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2013/07/governor-cuomo-deaf-on-lich-says-cb-6.html

"Governor Cuomo's Silence DeafeningDeaf on LICH" says CB 6 District Manger. Urges ACTION!!

Hello from CORD!

Is Governor Andrew Cuomo deaf to our needs for our local hospital, LICH, to remain open in our densely populated downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods?  It sure looks that way.

Read the letter below from Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6, serving the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/South Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook.

And then we must each CONTACT GOVERNOR CUOMO!!  We will follow this post with a sample letter if you need help with one.  Are you ready to have a life threatening emergency in this neighborhood without LICH?

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Craig R. Hammerman

To: BoardMembers@list.brooklyncb6.org ; Officials@list.brooklyncb6.org

Cc: DistrictOffice@list.brooklyncb6.org ; greg.smiley@exec.ny.gov

Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 6:37 PM

Subject: [SecondPlaceBlock] LICH Update

 

Greetings!

Things are flying around fast and furious and, unfortunately, we have no real way of knowing what's true and what's not true since no one at LICH, SUNY or most importantly at the Governor's Office will even talk to us about this.

What we do know is that since June 20th the hospital has been on "ambulance diversion."  We have a photocopy of the sign that was posted at the hospital on that date.  What we've heard is that the spillover into nearby emergency rooms is having an impact.  I've checked with our other area hospital, New York Methodist Hospital, and they say that since the ambulance diversion has been in place they have seen an uptick, roughly a 10% increase, in ER walk-ins and ambulance service (many of which are Downstate LICH ambulances identifiable by their logo).

What we do know is that the closure plan that was originally submitted by the SUNY Board of Trustees (which is controlled by Governor Cuomo) had to be reviewed and approved by the New York State Department of Health (which is controlled by Governor Cuomo).  This plan was withdrawn by the SUNY Board after losing the court battle which held that the hospital was to remain open.  Crain's reported this afternoon that the SUNY Board has now resubmitted a closure plan for LICH.  The Crain's piece went on to confirm that there are only 18 patients left in the hospital which is now losing $15 million a month because there are no patients to support their overhead.

What we do know is that our area's elected officials have been actively fighting on this issue--sending out statements and tweets, showing up at the hospital regularly to rally, allowing themselves to be arrested for acts of civil disobedience, etc.  What we do not know is WHAT OUR GOVERNOR HAS TO SAY ABOUT ANY OF THIS, since he would apparently hold all the cards here as the person in charge of both the SUNY Board of Trustees and the NYS Department of Health.  His silence has been deafening.

What we do know is that things cannot continue this way much longer.  Effectively shutting down operations in apparent contempt of court orders and running on an accelerating deficit is no way to keep a hospital open.  Having no merger, sale or acquisition plans in place means no way of guaranteeing that the hospital as such would remain a health care facility.  What we do not know is how much longer this can last.

Contacting your local elected officials is akin to preaching to the choir.  Even virtually every candidate for Mayor has made some sympathetic statement or done something to show their support for keeping our hospital open.  If LICH is to remain open, it will be because our Governor wills it to be; if it closes, it will be because he was unresponsive and it will happen on his watch.  This is all on Governor Cuomo.  He can be the hero or the villain.  At a minimum he should come clean and be honest with us about where he stands.

Encourage Governor Cuomo to break his silence today!

To email the Governor: http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php
To tweet him send your Twitter message to @NYGovCuomo

To phone him call (518) 474-8390.

Don't wait to write him a letter, it may not get to Albany in time.


Best,  Craig

Craig R. Hammerman, District ManagerBrooklyn Community Board 6250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201-6401

t. 718.643.3027 * f. 718.624.8410
w. www.BrooklynCB6.org
e. districtmanager@BrooklynCB6.org

Serving the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/South Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red HookClick here to sign-up for our monthly newsletter + meeting notices
"Like" us on Facebook at BrooklynCB6 * Follow us on Twitter @BrooklynCB6

BASTILLE DAY ON SMITH STREET!

Hello from CORD!

This just in from Bette Stotlz:

BASTILLE DAY ON SMITH STREET

SUNDAY JULY 14, 2013 - 12 NOON TO 8PM

ON SMITH STREET FROM BERGEN TO PACIFIC STREET

Contact: Bette Stoltz (Cell) 718 852 0328

South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation

 

BASTILLE DAY ON SMITH STREET

SUNDAY JULY 14, 2013 - 12 NOON TO 8PM

ON SMITH STREET FROM BERGEN TO PACIFIC STREET

Contact: Bette Stoltz (Cell) 718 852 0328

South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation

Come enjoy our 12^th Annual Bastille Day Party on Smith Street.  Join the
crowds of French and friends and neighbors at an event with no purpose
otherthan to provide us with something we all need –  an opportunity to
PLAY!! 

Why here??  Our neighborhoods are so filled with French families that the public schools are French/English bilingual.  One third of our 220 storefronts are Food & Drink establishments – Vive les gourmets!!!   We have huge support from our local business partners, especially Bar Tabac to make this happen.  Even the sand is donated every year by a local resident/business - Quadrozzi Concrete, who donates and spreads it with their cement mixer truck.  In fact, that operation, which begins at 10AM if you want to arrive early, is a remarkable, “only in NY” sight to see. Bernard Decanali (formerly of Robin des Bois) organizes the biggest Petanque Tournament in the world outside France. Because, after all – THIS IS BROOKLYN!!!!

There will be live music (Lipbone Redding from 2 to 6PM) and Dancing In the Street.  There will be lots of space to sit a while and enjoy whatever you choose to eat & drink, as well as to people watch & make new friends.  Food & Drink will come from Bar Tabac, Apartment 138, Coco Roco, Brooklyn Bangers, Dassara, Union Grounds, Hunters, Kittery, Britain Indian Restaurant, One Girl Cookies, Bien Cuit, Les Bretons, Mad Macarons.
Think grilled merguez & frites, tuna tartare, exotic French sandwiches, lobster rolls, Brooklyn Bangers gourmet wursts, grilled oysters, empenadas. Latin crudites, shrimp cocktail, rice with pork or chicken, sliders, hot dogs, crepes, cupcakes, macarons, ice cream and more!! 

Latest news re: Lightstone Development Building Demolition

From: "Craig R. Hammerman" <districtmanager@brooklyncb6.org>

  Leroy Branch advises me preliminarily that after speaking with the Department of Buildings, based on the inspection they performed a few days ago, the work that is currently occurring on site involves the removal of asbestos which is permitted and regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection.  It is not demolition, it is asbestos-removal work.  Once the asbestos-removal work is performed, it will be followed by demolition which, of course, does require a DOB permit.  We have been told that they have been issued the necessary asbestos-removal permits by DEP, and are awaiting confirmation from the agency.


Best,  Craig

Craig R. Hammerman, District ManagerBrooklyn Community Board 6250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201-6401

Is Lightstone Group Tearing Down Gowanus Building On Development Site Without Proper Permits?

 
 CG CORD Newsletter 7/12/2013  
 Blog:  www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com

Email:  cgcord@gmail.com  

Is Lightstone Group Tearing Down Gowanus Building On Development Site Without Proper Permits?

The Pardon Me for Asking Blog is reporting on the serious story of the Lightsone Group tearing down the Gowanus Building without permits.  Residents have been very concerned about the possibility of asbestos contamination as a result.

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2013/07/is-lightstone-group-tearing-down.html 

From PMFA: "According to reports, a crew of about 25 men with pick axes and saws started demolishing the rooftop of the building yesterday afternoon. Gowanus residents became concerned when they realized that no permits had been posted. More troubling was the fact that no asbestos monitoring equipment was present on site and the crew did not wear any protective gear.

Residents contacted Councilman Brad Lander's office and Community Board 6 to ask that the work be done according to local laws, with proper permits, and proper protections for workers and the local community. They also placed several calls to 311.....(edit)  See PMFA blog for the rest of this story.

Stroller March to Save LICH - Part Trois! TONIGHT!! Thursday!!

CG CORD Newsletter 7/11/2013    Blog:  www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com Email:  cgcord@gmail.com   The message below is from our good friend and LICH-supporter, Cobble Hill Association President ROY SLOANE. Please join the march Thursday:  tonight!!!   CORD -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Stroller March to Save LICH - Part Trois! From: Roy Sloane CC:   Stroller March to Save LICH - Part Trois!  Thursday!!    "Governor Cuomo is failing our neighborhoods - so we're taking it up a notch.   With SUNY refusing to accept ambulances at the fully-staffed LICH ER, Methodist  and Downtown Hospital ER's wait times are as long as 48 hours.  And SUNY just  shut down overnight pediatric care at LICH, so when kids tend to get sick, they  can't get proper care.  Meanwhile, developers are circling the property, waiting  to get their hands on the real estate.  It's time to send Governor Cuomo a message loud and clear: we need hospitals -  not condos.  Our health, emergency care, and 2,000 jobs are at stake.  Please join us for Parents for LICH's biggest protest yet: We will rally at the  LICH playground from 5:30 to 6ish, then hold our signs and raise our voices as  we march to the Brooklyn Bridge (Adams and Tillary Streets).      At the Brooklyn Bridge, we will rally up on the big sidewalk near the entrance  to the bridge.  We will be done at 6:45.  This event is kid and  stroller-friendly.  Elected officials will join also us, as will nurses, doctors  and other health care workers from LICH.    Governor Cuomo is making a political decision: go with the community, or go with  real estate developers.  We all know LICH needs to be restructured with better  management.  But to close it down to build more condos is outrageous.  We need  to up the pressure on the Governor so he stops closing our neighborhood  hospital.    Again, our Toddler Speak-out and Stroller March to Save LICH will be this  Thursday the 11th at the LICH playground (Henry St between Amity and Pacific  Streets), rallying from 5:30 to about 6:00, then march to the Brooklyn Bridge.   Thank you.   "

Stroller March to Save LICH Thursday!

CG CORD Newsletter 6/9/2013    Blog:  www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com Email:  cgcord@gmail.com   The message below is from our good friend and LICH-supporter, Cobble Hill Association President ROY SLOANE. Please join the march Thursday:  tonight!!!   CORD -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Stroller March to Save LICH - Part Trois! From: Roy Sloane CC:   Stroller March to Save LICH - Part Trois!  Thursday!!  Governor Cuomo is failing our neighborhoods - so we're taking it up a notch.   With SUNY refusing to accept ambulances at the fully-staffed LICH ER, Methodist  and Downtown Hospital ER's wait times are as long as 48 hours.  And SUNY just  shut down overnight pediatric care at LICH, so when kids tend to get sick, they  can't get proper care.  Meanwhile, developers are circling the property, waiting  to get their hands on the real estate.  It's time to send Governor Cuomo a message loud and clear: we need hospitals -  not condos.  Our health, emergency care, and 2,000 jobs are at stake.  Please join us for Parents for LICH's biggest protest yet: We will rally at the  LICH playground from 5:30 to 6ish, then hold our signs and raise our voices as  we march to the Brooklyn Bridge (Adams and Tillary Streets).      At the Brooklyn Bridge, we will rally up on the big sidewalk near the entrance  to the bridge.  We will be done at 6:45.  This event is kid and  stroller-friendly.  Elected officials will join also us, as will nurses, doctors  and other health care workers from LICH.    Governor Cuomo is making a political decision: go with the community, or go with  real estate developers.  We all know LICH needs to be restructured with better  management.  But to close it down to build more condos is outrageous.  We need  to up the pressure on the Governor so he stops closing our neighborhood  hospital.    The unions are also upping the pressure, with 2 rallies next week.  The first is  Monday afternoon from 4-6pm outside the Governor's office at 633 Third Avenue in  Manhattan.  On Wednesday, they will rally at SUNY at 10amand deliver petition  signatures to SUNY Chancellor Zimpher.  The SUNY building is at 33 West 42nd  Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues).  Please come out to these rally's too if  you can!  Again, our Toddler Speak-out and Stroller March to Save LICH will be this  Thursday the 11th at the LICH playground (Henry St between Amity and Pacific  Streets), rallying from 5:30 to about 6:00, then march to the Brooklyn Bridge.   Thank you.

Are Downtown Brooklyn residents in danger of dying in an ambulance? Help Keep LICH OPEN!

 

Hello from CORD!

Attention:  Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights and All Downtown Brooklyn residents!  

 

Longer ambulances rides for emergency patients due to the re-routing of ambulances from LICH to Methodist Hospital may cost us lives due to the longer time these patients must spend en route to the hospital!  We need LICH to remain open in this densely populated area!

 

We at CORD are following some very disturbing stories regarding the length of time some local residents are spending in ambulances to Methodist Hospital now that LICH is re-routing them!  In the case of a heart attack or other life threatening emergency, such as choking, the extra minutes it takes for these ambulances to get to Methodist Hospiital can make the difference between life and death.

Please read the following carefully:  Two extremely important rallies are planned one for July 8 and one for July 10...See yellowed words below!

 

CORD

 

 

The following is a summary of LICH status:

 

1 - The first email document (below) is an excellent summary of the current LICH situation and problems generated by the closures that Downstate has mandated.

 

2 - The following part of the email details actions by NYSNA and 1199, with support of Concerned Physicians, at Gov. Cuomo's and SUNY offices in Manhattan next week.

 

3 - LICH Coalition attorneys are scheduled to be in court again next Monday 7/8/13 - stay tuned for details.

 

4 - Concerned Physicians website article has been updated with a number of excellent articles and letters detailing the LICH situation - check it out!

 

www.lichmedicalstaff.org

 

Everybody's continued support for this effort is essential,

and we thank you all for your  support.

 

Toomas M. Sorra, MD

Concerned Physicians of LICH

 

 

Sent: Fri, Jul 5, 2013 12:06 pm
Subject: Long Island College Hospital: this just in...

LICH EMT reports that yesterday, a Cobble Hill resident was suffering a heart attack just a block or so from LICH but ambulance was forced to take him to Methodist due to continued LICH patient diversions.  According to the EMT, it took a full 9 minutes to get to that hospital and then more time to assess the patient and begin treatment.  Heart muscles die with each delayed moment.  In the first 9 minutes that it took just to travel to another hospital, the Cobble Hill resident could have already been in the LICH cardiac catheterization lab restoring his heart's blood flow, reducing the injury and increasing the chances for survival.

 

Also, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reports on a woman who was choking in Carroll Gardens.  According to that patient, because of LICH's diversion, the ambulance had to take her to Methodist & travel time was 20 minutes on a Sunday. Thank G-D for the paramedics who were able to treat her on the way.  She asks the reporter "who do I sue" over this. Others report on the impact of long delays for care at Brooklyn Hospital as well. (see: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/residents-fear-worst-brooklyn-er-crisis-drags-2013-07-04-160300)

 

This is no joke now.  People's lives absolutely are in danger as SUNY Downstate continues to thumb its nose at everyone - elected officials, supreme court judges, community residents, etc.

 

Does there need to actually be a death in the ambulance before the city and state put a stop to this insanity and full services at LICH are resumed?

FYI:  In LICH ICU today, there are 2 attending physicians present, plus one attending physician on call, 6 ICU Registered Nurses, 2 physician assistants, 1 nurses aide, a nurse manager and a case manager - all for just 2 patients - both of them being transferred out of ICU today.  There's even more staff than that in ER.  There's just 28 patients in the entire hospital, with a full staff of nurses, doctors, and other caregivers on those floors too. 

 

So what is the reason again that our ambulances are being diverted, our admitting office cannot admit anyone, and patients cannot come to LICH?

 

Lives here are being put at risk because Downstate has big plans to build new care centers around Brooklyn but has no way to pay for it.  Are people going to die in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens and Redhook just so LICH can be sold to fund SUNY's grand ideas? (see:

http://mcbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-can-suny-downstate-design-brooklyn.html

The Department of Health's representative was just at LICH again, counting all the staff on each unit, saying nothing, but looking astounded at the incredulous situation here.

 

So where is the NYC public advocate and the NYC mayor for these NYC residents in Brooklyn?  Where is the Governor? Do they all need to be sued by the family of a patient that SUNY causes to be harmed by continuing this debacle before they start to seriously advocate for this public and not just come out for a photo op?  How is this all still being allowed to continue? 

 

This is a tragedy with a mega-lawsuit waiting to happen and the city, state, SUNY and Downstate officials and Governor Cuomo will find themselves being held responsible.  LICH's full hospital services need to be resumed now.

 

Julie Semente, RN

 

Dear Neighbor,

In the face of SUNY's continued contempt for court orders and failure to find a new operator for Long Island College Hospital, we are escalating our efforts to keep LICH open for care.

Next week, we will be taking the save LICH message to the Manhattan offices of Governor
Andrew Cuomo and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zympher.


On Monday, July 8, NYSNA, 1199 and supporters of Long Island College Hospital will be holding a rally to tell Governor Cuomo to keep LICH, as well as Interfaith and Brooklyn Hospitals, open for care.

When: 4pm-6pm

Where: 633 3rd Avenue, Manhattan (between 40th and 41th Streets)

Buses leave from LICH at 2:45 pm at the Hicks Street entrance.

AND

On Wednesday, July 10th,

LICH supporters will rally and deliver a petition to Chancellor Zympher to obey the court order and keep the hospital open at safe staffing levels.

When: Wednesday July 10 at 10 AM

Where: 33 West 42nd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Buses leave from LICH at 8:15 AM in front of LICH (Hicks Street)

This is an important week for our communities. Please pass this message on and urge your neighbors to participate.

In friendship and solidarity,
Mickey


Michelle Green
Assistant Director for Special Projects
New York State Nurses Association

 

 

 

 

Summary: General CAG Meeting Tuesday June 25

This picture of the Gowanus Canal Flooding During Hurricane Sandy was taken on Second and Bonds Streets the night of the storm by Triada Samaras.

Hello from CORD!

Below is the
Summary for the General Gowanus Canal CAG Meeting on Tuesday June 25, 2013:

Tuesday night's general meeting was the first opportunity the group had to meet and work with our new facilitator, Doug Sarno. Both he and Pat Tallarico will be working together with the CAG as we move along in this Superfund process.

Natalie Loney, EPA's Community Coordinator reminded us that EPA is diligently sorting through all of the public comments submitted regarding the PRAP and that the Record of Decision (ROD) was on track for sometime in September 2013. Once the ROD is in place remedial design phase begins.

There was some housekeeping and catching up issues as we all began to get to know one another.  Outreach informed us that they received a good response to their survey and are working to get the CAG website into shape as a tool to announce CAG meetings provide links to EPA produced material regarding the Superfund and perhaps at some point serve as a CAG meeting summary repository.

Eymund Diegel informed the group that the oxygen pumping pipeline in the canal has been inoperative since Sandy but that the flushing tunnel would be ready to go within the next four months.It was suggested that the cost to repair the pump would far outweigh its benefits given the relatively short wait for the tunnel to get into service. Not everyone agreed. There even seemed to be conflicting information regarding the working condition of the pipe.

Nevertheless, The canal HAS been particularly, shall we say, aromatic, of late. Plus with all of the rain,the amount of visible raw sewage has been remarkable as well. We can't even imagine how high the pathogen levels must be right about now.
Some talk of design ensued. There  are clearly strong feelings about the proposed plan regarding the retention tanks and their locations. A retention tank at the head of the canal where the solids and the toxic compounds which attach themselves to those solids can be captured at their source is imperative to not only the success of the canal's remediation and its ongoing future health, but the only way to replace what is now the open sewer that runs and cuts through all of our neighborhood and negatively affects each and every one of us on a daily basis.

A safe, clean newly remediated canal and Thomas Greene Park are a benefit to every single person in our community.

Our community has certainly shown that when we stick together we can get good things done. CORD is committed to pursuing a clean canal, remediated upland sites, respectful development and maintaining, no, IMPROVING, our existing community amenities and maybe adding a few more.

Lets keep moving forward. Lets keep talking. We love hearing from you so please continue to send your comments, thoughts, questions and ideas to us at, CGCORD@gmail.com

Yours,

CORD