Brooklyn, NY. At a two-hour meeting with the Boro-park West Community Association (BPW), Maimonides President Pamela Brier categorically rejected plans for the Hospital to become a sponsor of the “Maimonides Gardens Affordable Housing Project” in Boro-Park West.
The local Community Association (BPW) proposed the development of 100 urgently-needed new affordable housing units in BPW, in close cooperation with S.B.C.O./Agudath Israel, in the hope that it would provide a major boost to the Orthodox Jewish community in BPW, the area surrounding Maimonides Hospital (MMC).
At the meeting, Boro Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind, City Councilman Bill De Blasio, and City Council candidate Joe Lazar were joined by Queens Councilman Tony Avella, Chairman of the City Council Committee on Buildings and Zoning, who has recently declared his candidacy for the NYC Mayoralty.
MMC’s negotiating team included President Brier, Operations SVP Derek Goins, Planning VP Eric Scalettar, and Douglas Jablon, Assistant to the President and Patient Relations VP.
SBCO/Agudath Israel was represented Rabbi Chaim Israel.
Rabbi William Handler and Bob Katz of BPW presented detailed maps and alternate plans for the Hospital’s expansion, but these were categorically rejected by President Brier:
“We also considered building on our own campus, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, but we decided it was too expensive. We considered acquiring the former G & Sons building on New Utrecht Avenue, but felt it was unsuitable. We will go ahead with the development of the two new buildings that we have acquired, despite community objections.”
Councilman Avella, who had also attended the previous May 2 meeting, challenged Brier to come up with a master plan that would preserve the residential character of BPW, while serving the needs of MMC: “I can’t understand how this Hospital buys buildings in the community without any plan at all. Maimonides needs to develop a coherent plan immediately, in cooperation with the local community.”
Hikind, De Blasio, and Lazar all urged Brier reconsider her position and to be more creative and flexible in working with BPW and S.B.C.O./Agudath Israel to come up with a plan that would protect the residential character of Boro-Park West and provide additional affordable housing for the community, while meeting the Hospital’s needs.
(NOTE: The above press release was written, and submitted by BPW)
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7 Responses
NOW, LET’S SEE TACHLIS!
Dov Hikind shouldn’t bite the hand that fed his parents. His father worked as a Mashgiach in the MMC cafeteria.
DEAR “FLATBUSHER”:
You make a good point. If you needed money to pay your mortgage, you would have a lot of nerve to ask Maimonides for help. Although they rake in 3/4 of a billion dollars a year, you have no claim on their money.
However, Maimonides has a special obligation towards Boro-park West. The Hospital engaged in some very seruious blockbusting against the local Jewish community when it desired to expand and grow.
They destroyed much of the infrastructure and really hurt the homeowners there. They need to accept some responsibility for what they did and do whatever is possible to repair the damage.
Hey deepthinker,
What damage did Maimonodies do to the so called “Boro Park West?”
I just don’t chap what the whole tumul is about.
Can somebody explain?
Deepthinker: I don’t get you or the other Knackers from BPW. Whar legal or moral obligation does Maimonidies have to you guys? Please explain, since it sounds like you guys are just looking to take advantage.
When you say the Hospital, you probably mean the Emergency Department, the Birthing Center, and the Heart Center, and–perhaps–the Intensive Care Unit.
All these services are already in the Hospital.
What they want to do with these new buildings is provide convenience offices for some doctors. These can be located in less residential surroundings in the near-proximity to the Hospital.
There is no need to destroy a residential community in order to cater to every whim of the Hospital.
I happen to be lucky enough to personally know Doug Jablon. No one will ever know how hard he works to help people in their most crucial times. He would never be on a side unless it was the side for the greater good. If his name is behind a project than its for one reason, to help people. If someone doen’t believe me they can simply ask any one of the thousands of people who have seen first hand how Doug has touched their lives.