SAVE NEW YORK HOSPITALS! I'm alarmed by the state government proposal to eliminate hospitals in New York City as well as New York State. It's possible that I don't know all the ins and outs of the situation, but, as far as the city's hospitals are concerned, it sure sounds like it could be a scheme to benefit real estate developers at the expense of medical services.

The services include those provided at St. Vincent's Midtown, at 9th Avenue and 51st Street. For someone, like myself, who was staggered by the Department of Homeland Security's treatment of New York City as if it weren't a top terrorist target, the state's plan to close down this centrally located medical facility is even more shocking. There is, apparently, no other midtown west hospital between St. Luke's Roosevelt (by Columbus Circle) and St. Vincent's Manhattan (on West 12th Street). Even if there were, I'd be loath to reduce hospital space at this point in New York City's history. This is a time to focus on improving--not reducing--the city's medical preparedness.

The study seems to count beds in an effort to eliminate redundancy...but it strikes me (I could be wrong) that the huge number of beds in Upper East Side hospitals would go untouched while the only hospital in Hell's Kitchen would be closed down.

Also shocking is the fact that the legislation has been concocted to go into law through inaction of the state government unless legislators decide to take a stand on the situation and schedule a vote by the end of the year. If there's no vote, the legislation will pass.

This all seems okay with George Pataki, the longtime governor of New York, who seemed so unsure of his own state's non-urban hospital services that he had his own recent surgery done at Columbia Presbyterian. He's already screwed New York schoolchildren for years by not complying with court orders to come through with fair funding. I hope the elimination of city and state hospitals doesn't also become part of his legacy, but it looks like he's all to ready to downsize the system as a parting shot to his state and to New York City in particular.

Incidentally, Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer has also voiced support of the downsizing plan. Spitzer is a member of a family that has made a fortune in real estate.

Wanna protest? Contact Pataki and your local state representatives in the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate. And call the number below.
























Photo: David Marc Fischer