Yesterday evening’s meeting on the future of Long Island College Hospital, sponsored by Community Board Six, drew an audience that filled to capacity two adjoining large conference rooms at LICH. Those present included members of C.B. 6, many residents of the communities served by LICH, and several local political figures. Among the latter were City Councilman Bill de Blasio, Democratic State Senate candidate Daniel Squadron, Democratic District 52 Leader Jo Anne Simon, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and State Assemblywoman Joan Millman. Facing the audience were: Stanley Brezenoff (center in photo above), Chairman and CEO of Continuum Health Partners, a not-for-profit consortium of hospitals that owns and manages LICH; Dominick Stanzione (right), newly appointed interim CEO of LICH; and the discussion leaders and moderators, C.B. 6 Chairman Richard Bashner (left) and Housing/Human Services Committee Chairman Brad Lander.

Mr. Bashner opened by noting that C.B. 6 had not yet taken a position on LICH’s proposed elimination of its obstetrics practice, and that the purpose of the meeting was to gather information, both from LICH’s management and from members of the community, not to be a “political rally”. Given that, he asked, “Is this ‘amputation’ necessary?” Continue Reading →