Yetta Kurland sending out a notice for community meeting tomorrow St. Vincent's

Dear Neighbor,
 
I want to remind you tomorrow, Thursday at 6pm there is a full meeting of Community Board 2.  It is located at Elizabeth Irwin High School at 40 Charlton Street in the auditorium.

The Coalition is asking that people attend to speak in the public portion of the meeting.  You have to be there by 6pm to sign up to speak.  It doesn't have to be long but you should stress two points:

There was a resolution passed by CB2 at their last meeting calling for a needs assessment to be done on the healthcare needs of the community.  While we believe this was a well intentioned effort to get a hospital back, it incorrectly puts the burden on the community and shifts it from the New York State Department of Health.  As clearly codified in Public Health Law it is the Department of Health who has the obligation to either continue the services uninterrupted that St. Vincent's offered or in the alternative affirmatively determine that there is no need for a hospital, a process which would involve significant public input.  

What we hope CB2 will make clear through resolution is that they want the Department of Health to comply with its requirements and ensure a hospital in the community.  In specific, we are asking CB2 to pass a resolution calling for a lock the land use on the buildings at the site of St. Vincent's so that it may only be used for a hospital.  As a necessary part of the ULURP process this would be a very powerful step and would ensure that this land was preserved for a hospital.  We are therefore requesting that CB2 pass such a resolution and that they allow the Omnibus Committee on St. Vincent's to put these issues on the agenda for their upcoming meeting. 
 
Please let as many people know about this meeting, we really need a big turnout and please prepare a statement of your own to say that includes the above points.

Hope to see you there.

 
Yetta