LICH Supporters Slams SUNY's Search for New Hospital Owner

By Rob Abruzzese and Mary Frost

State University of New York’s (SUNY) search for an entity to take over Long Island College Hospital (LICH) may be designed to fail, warned LICH supporters Thursday night at the Cobble Hill Association’s community forum to discuss the future of the 150-year-old hospital.

The nearly bankrupt (SUNY) issued a public Request for Information (RFI) on Wednesday to signal its intent to find another operators to take over LICH.

But the RFI has “more holes than Swiss cheese,” said Jerry Armer, the 76 Precinct Community Council President and long-time community activist. “And the holes are designed for a developer to use this land as something else.”

The RFI calls for an operator who could provide health care services either "on the [LICH] campus or in the community around" the hospital, leaving open the possibility that some or all of the valuable Brownstone Brooklyn real estate could be sold.

Women's Equality Agenda, Spearheaded by BALCONY Executive Board Member Cynthia DiBartolo, Tops Governor Andrew Cuomo's 'Priorities'

Letter to New York Daily News from Governor Andrew Cuomo

We have accomplished much in this legislative session: a third balanced budget on time, business and middle class tax cuts, an extensive economic development program, teacher evaluations, gun control — and the list goes on.

But now is not the time to rest on our accomplishments. There is more to do for our state — and several more weeks in this legislative session.

Here are my top priorities:

The Women’s Equality Act. This is a 10-point plan to address the many lingering inequalities that women still face in our state and in our society, and it’s essential. Today, men are 32 times more likely than women to become a CEO or member of a corporate board. Meanwhile, women are five times more likely to be victims of sexual harassment or domestic violence as well as twice as likely to be victims of housing or lending discrimination.

NYS National Organization for Women Wants Ideas to Become Bills

By Casey Seiler

The state chapter of the National Organization for Women brought its troops to Albany on Tuesday to press for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Women's Equality Agenda, 10 initiatives first outlined in early January that still haven't evolved into legislative language.

The lack of concrete details presented a challenge for the advocates, who would like nothing better than to secure commitments from enough Republican lawmakers in the Senate to help bring the measure to the floor despite the concerns of GOP Conference Leader Dean Skelos.

"This is a first step," said Sonia Ossorio, president of NOW's New York City chapter.

A coalition of some 750 groups and businesses are pushing for the agenda, which includes economic fairness provisions, stronger laws to fight human trafficking, Ossorio said. In addition, legislation similar to the Reproductive Health Act that supporters say will codify and modernize abortion rights protections is supported.

Retiree Surge Coming Soon For State

By Jimmy Vielkind


The Cuomo administration is finalizing a contract with Datrose, a Webster-based data entry, document scanning and personnel firm, according to a memorandum provided by a state official.

The April 17 memo says Datrose will "design a professional development and knowledge transfer program for state employees so that they can learn their search techniques" and "provide expert advice and support to the State to design and implement a comprehensive recruitment strategy for the State."

Assembly Democrats Propose Changes for Campaign Finance Reform

By Tom Precious

A couple of arrests of legislators, a couple of ideas for cleaning up Albany.

So it went Tuesday, as Assembly Democrats unveiled a package of changes to the state’s campaign finance laws, including taxpayer-funded campaigns and a new panel of appointees of the governor and Democratic and GOP lawmakers to better enforce violations of fundraising and expenditures by candidates.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo offered up his own ideas, minus actual legislation, including ending a 66-year-old law that lets local party leaders give ballot lines to candidates not enrolled in their parties.
BALCONY Issues in the News Archives