Clinton/Hells Kitchen Pedestrian Safety Coalition

CHEKPEDS writes in support of St Vincent Hospital EMS

Feb 09, 2007

Mr. Neil Benjamin
New York State Department of Health
Division of Health Facility Planning
33 River Street
Headly Building
Troy, NY 12180
BY FAX ?– 518-402-0971


Dear Mr. Benjamin:

I am writing on behalf of CHEKPEDS a coalition for pedestrian safety in Hell's Kitchen and Clinton. Our coalition counts over a thousand residents, eight block associations and over 50 businesses, institutions and property owners.

We are very concerned about the Berger Commission?’s recommendations to close St. Vincent?’s Midtown Hospital, especially the effect such a decision will have on the health of our community. If Midtown?’s Emergency Room should close, there are no other institutions nearby that are prepared to accept thousands of additional emergency room patients, and the community - and the city at large - would lose an important health resource.

The neighborhood is one of the fastest growing in the city. Already six millions square feet and four hotels are under construction the recent Rezoning of the Hudson Yards will add 54 millions square feet of mixed-use space with thousands of office workers and 12,000 additional residents. The expansion of the Javits center and the addition of five midtown hotels will add many thousands of visitors to the area. . .
The neighborhood is also host to a large concentration of institutions for elderly, mental patients, drug rehabilitation, battered women and homeless, a fragile population with heightened emergency care needs.

We ask that the Department of Health reconsider the decision to close St. Vincent?’s Midtown Emergency Room in light of the massive needs identified and the negative health consequences such closure would bring to the current people of our community and to New York City at large

Sincerely

Send a Fax to Save Saint Vincent EMS

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