BALCONY New York

Paterson Gives St. Vincent’s Hospital Another Loan

By Anemona Hartocollis

Gov. David A. Paterson provided the second cash infusion in a week Sunday to St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan in Greenwich Village, but said concessions from unions and physicians would be needed to keep the hospital open.

Hospital Network Withdraws Proposal to Take Over St. Vincent’s

By Anemona Hartocollis

A large hospital network that had offered to take over the nearly bankrupt St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan in Greenwich Village has formally withdrawn its offer, further clouding the hospital’s prospects for survival.

The Decline of St. Vincent’s Hospital

By Anemona Hartocollis

For more than 150 years, St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan has been a beacon in Greenwich Village, serving poets, writers, artists, winos, the poor and the working-class, and gay people.

St. Vincent’s Gets Loans for a Four-Week Reprieve

By Anemona Hartocollis

The financially ailing St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan in Greenwich Village got a month’s reprieve on Wednesday, as Gov. David A. Paterson met with hospital officials, elected officials and others to try to keep the hospital from closing.

New York State Labor Chief Is Confirmed to Federal Post

By Steven Greenhouse

The Senate voted 60 to 37 on Thursday to confirm M. Patricia Smith, the New York State labor commissioner, for the Labor Department’s No. 3 post.

Gov. Paterson authorizes $6M loan to cash-strapped St. Vincent’s Hospital

By Kenneth Lovett
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF

ALBANY - Gov. Paterson has authorized a $6 million loan to St. Vincent's Hospital to help the cash-strapped hospital make payroll, the Daily News has learned.

"This is a dire situation, but I don't want to see this hospital close unless every available means has been employed," he said.

BALCONY URGES NEW YORK STATE TO SAVE ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL

For release Thursday January 28, 2010

“The possible closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village will tear a huge hole in New York’s Health Care Safety Net,” charged BALCONY Director Lou Gordon as the Business and Labor Coalition of New York urged the New York State Department of Health to provide immediate assistance to maintain the hospital.

Offer to Take Over Ailing Hospital Stirs Outcry

By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS

One of New York City’s largest hospital systems has made an offer to take over the financially struggling St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village, provoking opposition from elected officials who fear the loss of critical medical services, especially emergency care, for tens of thousands of patients who could be sent elsewhere.

St. Vincent’s RNs to protest acquisition by Beth Israel & Continuum Health Nurses will protest outside the hospital on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m.

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2010 – The 800 registered nurses who work at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in Greenwich Village fervently oppose the proposed takeover of the 727-bed facility by Beth Israel Medical Center and its parent Corporation, Continuum Health Partners. Within 60 to 90 days of the takeover, all acute care, surgical units, and emergency services would be shut down.

Don’t Close St. Vincent’s Emergency Room and Trauma Center

Statement by NYS Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried

"After 9/11, St. Vincent's was the primary admitting hospital for the injured survivors," said Assembly Health Committee chair Richard N. Gottfried. Read more...

CODE RED LOOMS FOR ST. VINNY’S

By Carl Campanile

A rival, powerhouse medical group has proposed taking over and shuttering the 160-year-old St. Vincent's Medical Center in Greenwich Village, which would spell the end of the city's only remaining Catholic hospital, The Post has learned.

Most U.S. Union Members Are Working for the Government, New Data Shows

by Steven Greeenhouse

For the first time in American history, a majority of union members are government workers rather than private-sector employees, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.

Statements on the proposed NYS budget

State Budget: Governor’s proposal would hurt kids, taxpayers NYSUT Media Relations

January 19, 2010 ALBANY, N.Y. January 19, 2010 – New York State United Teachers today said massive cuts proposed for education would force schools to cut teachers and programs, jeopardizing student progress while stalling the state’s ability to create jobs and revitalize the economy.

Statement of CSEA President Danny Donohue on Gov. David Paterson’s proposed state budget.

“Gov. David Paterson’s unwillingness to address the misuse of $62 million in taxpayer money on temporary state workers should be evidence that there are still better budget choices to be made. Hiring and shortchanging temporary workers in dozens of state agencies for years on end is a misguided priority and a violation of the law..."

New York State Nurses Association statement: Executive Budget relating to health care LATHAM, NY – Jan. 19, 2010

The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) warns that the Governor’s proposed $1 billion in healthcare provider cuts is a number so large that its impact on facilities will be devastating.

Albany - The governor’s proposed 2010-11 budget calls for a quarter of a billion dollars in negotiated give-backs from state employees, when the savings could easily be achieved by reducing the state’s reliance on costly private consultants, instead.

“HOT CRIPPLE” BY HOGAN GORMAN SET FOR FEBRUARY

I am doing my one woman show "Hot Cripple" again in February... It seems like the perfect time, considering the recent debate over health care in this country... For tickets and information go to http://hotcripple.com .

Tickets are only available online.

Here's what the critics and others say about the show...

Message from NYS AFL -CIO President Denis Hughes

OPPOSITION – Governor’s Charter School Program Bill #214

The New York State AFL-CIO representing over 2 million union workers, their families, and our retirees and their families is strongly opposed to the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the cap on the number of charter schools in the state and, equally to allow blanket authority for the Dormitory Authority to hand out construction finance to charter school companies.

Paterson Seeks Huge Cuts and $1 Billion in Taxes and Fees

By DANNY HAKIM and NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson proposed on Tuesday what would be the largest cut to school aid in more than two decades and nearly $1 billion in new or increased taxes and fees as he unveiled his budget, a plan that is likely to be the first chapter in a prolonged battle with the Legislature.

Searching for new sources of tax revenue amid a fiscal crisis, the governor proposed legalizing mixed martial arts, allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores, taxing bottled soft drinks, taxing cigarette sales on Indian reservations and deploying speed-enforcement cameras in highway work zones.

BALCONY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Labor working together as we confront the challenges of our turbulent times. BALCONY provides New Yorkers with a framework for collaborative solutions to the challenges of a fair budget, affordable health care, infrastructure investment, education equity, small business growth, and job creation.

Since 2007 under the leadership of Co-Chairs Alan Lubin and Bruce Ventimiglia BALCONY has grown to be a coalition representing more than 1000 prominent businesses, trade associations, labor unions, non profits, and chambers of commerce throughout New York.

Click here for details: BALCONY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

PEF plan reveals millions in cost-savings

Albany - The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today released comprehensive research that reveals the state can save $656 million over three years by implementing PEF’s cost-savings recommendations. The research also includes examples of irresponsible uncontrolled spending by some state agencies, a complete disregard of state law by others, and sloppy and incomplete record keeping by many.

An open letter to Legislators regarding charter schools and the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) program

Since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), NYSUT has committed to partner with the State Education Department, the Governor and the Legislature to ensure New York’s eligibility and competitiveness for RTTT funding. We believe that the program will provide grant recipient states with a significant opportunity to improve educational infrastructure and implement initiatives that will raise student achievement. RTTT can also provide a model from which recipient states and other states can learn and adopt strategies that will make a difference in the education of America’s school children.

State of the State 2010

State of the State Address 2010
David A. Paterson, Governor

Click here to view the presentation by Gov. Paterson.

A Time to Rebuild

Read the Full Text of the speech.

LUBIN & VENTIMIGLIA RE-UP AS BALCONY CO-CHAIRS

Alan Lubin Bruce Ventimiglia

The Business and Labor Coalition of New York is proud to announce that BALCONY Co-Founder Alan Lubin has re-upped as Co-Chair of BALCONY, serving with Founding BALCONY Business Co-Chair Bruce Ventimiglia.

"This is a pivotal time in New York's history," says Lubin, "and we need a collaborative effort between business and labor to build trust in the economy. Since 2006, we've found common ground, and moving forward, we can build on it."

St. Vincent’s Hospital in NYC lays off 180

CEO blames recession and funding cuts for the reduction in union and non-union jobs; seen as part of effort to transform itself into a community teaching hospital.

by Barbara Benson

Citing “severe financial shortfalls” stemming from the recession and a series of significant funding cuts, St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan announced Tuesday that it is laying off 180 people Tuesday. The cuts include union and non-union jobs, as well as managerial and patient-care positions.

Paterson Sued Over School Payments

by Nicolas Confessore

Alan Lubin

ALBANY — A coalition of teachers’ unions and local school officials mounted a legal battle on Wednesday against Gov. David A. Paterson, arguing that his decision to unilaterally withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in scheduled payments to school districts violated New York’s Constitution.

Education groups file lawsuit to block withholding of school aid

ALBANY, N.Y. December 16, 2009 — A broad coalition of education advocates and citizen taxpayers, seeking to protect school programs from elimination, stop employee layoffs and prevent dramatic property tax increases, today filed suit against Gov. David Paterson, saying he acted illegally and unconstitutionally by withholding state funds allocated by the state Legislature for school districts.

Voting 45-1, Council Rejects $310 Million Plan for Mall at Bronx Armory

by Sam Dolnick

Bronx advocates said that the City Council vote on Monday to reject a $310 million project to build a mall inside the Kingsbridge Armory provided an opportunity to come up with a more community-oriented plan for the massive red-brick castle.