After a long struggle to save LICH (Long Island College Hospital), which was about to close, a developer has won the bid to take it over. In compliance with community and union demand, bids that would have preserved LICH as a full-service hospital were given added weight. Four of the nine bids met that requirement, and one of them, Brooklyn Health Partners, was chosen. It will pay $250 million and keep a 300-400-bed hospital at the site; it will also create 1,000 housing units and medical offices.
Unions are cautiously optimistic. The Daily News quotes New York State Nurses Association executive director Jill Furillo, “Our work is not done. We must ensure that…LICH does not close for any period of time, and that the Brooklyn Health Partners team treats LICH employees and their collective bargaining representatives with respect.”
A final takeover deal still has to be negotiated and it is expected to close by May 22. SUNY will be free to relinquish its hold on LICH by the end of May.
