Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman opposes the Gov. Kathy Hochul-backed New York City takeover of Brooklyn’s financially ailing Maimonides hospital.
asserted
Blakeman → oppose → hospital
The New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) recently approved the proposal to make Maimonides Health part of the city’s public hospital system — NYC Health + Hospitals.
asserted
Health → approve → system
Last fall, Hochul announced a $2.2 billion grant available for Maimonides to join Health + Hospitals, a massive subsidy intended to meet payroll and keep the lights on during the transition.
asserted
Maimonides → announce → transition
But Blakeman said Maimonides in Borough Park — named after the famous Jewish philosopher and physician – — should remain a privately-run hospital and not be turned over to the city’s government-run hospital system.
asserted
Maimonides → say → system
“Kathy Hochul — against the wishes of the local Boro Park community — is leading a state takeover of Maimonides Medical Center, a world-class private teaching hospital with over a century of service,” Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive said.
“My wife was also born at Maimonides, making this hospital for especially meaningful to our family.
asserted
wife → lead → family
The Governor’s refusal to listen to the community will lead to inferior healthcare for the residents who have relied on the hospital decades.”
asserted
who → listen → hospital
He vowed, “When I am elected Governor I will stop this takeover and return the hospital to the top notch facility it has always been,” Blakeman said.
asserted
Blakeman → vow → facility
The controversy has even reached President Trump.
asserted
controversy → reach → Trump
During a recent visit to the White House, rabbis from Borough Park told the president’s domestic advisors they didn’t want the city to take over Maimonides, according to a source.
uncertain
city → tell → source
Maimonides has a long history of serving the Orthodox Jewish community in southern Brooklyn, particularly Borough Park, with many residents born there.
asserted
Maimonides → have → residents
It has a kosher kitchen.
asserted
It → have → kitchen
However, it is considered a financially distressed hospital with a large caseload of Medicaid or lower-income patients.
asserted
it → consider → Medicaid
Many other residents from growing Asian and Hispanic communities also rely on Maimonides.
asserted
residents → grow → Maimonides
The debate over the hospital’s leadership and future has raged for years as its financial condition worsened.
asserted
condition → rag → years
The financial trouble has been going on for years.
asserted
trouble → go → years
Neighborhood opponents don’t trust the government to run the hospital, fearing services will worsen—a claim that has been rebutted by Health+Hospitals president and CEO Mitchell Katz during a recent public hearing.
uncertain
that → trust → hearing
“NYC Health + Hospitals is committed to preserving Maimonides’ historic cultural identity and practices and to keeping these values intact as we move forward together.
asserted
we → commit → values
We want Maimonides to remain Maimonides,” Katz said.
asserted
Katz → want → ?
Opponents have also filed litigation to stop the takeover.
asserted
Opponents → file → takeover
Two cases are pending.
asserted
cases → pende → ?
The planned merger was announced by former Mayor Eric Adams during the final days of his tenure.
asserted
merger → plan → tenure
The state attorney general or the courts have to give final approval to transfer Maimonides’ assets to Health+Hospitals, sources said.
asserted
sources → have → Health+Hospitals
Hochul defended her support of the Maimonides-Health+Hospitals merger.
asserted
Hochul → defend → merger
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
asserted
Report → start → news
“Governor Hochul is committed to saving Maimonides, which is why she directed billions of dollars in support for them while their Board found a partner who could provide a sustainable path forward,” a Hochul spokesperson said.
uncertain
spokesperson → commit → path
“Following the standard regulatory review process and direct engagement with the community, New York City Health and Hospitals has agreed to become the operator of Maimonides Medical Center and Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital.
asserted
Health → follow → Center
This transaction, which was the best and only way to stabilize Maimonides, will help protect access to essential health care in Brooklyn by strengthening the hospital’s long-term financial stability, supporting critical investments in its facilities and technology, and providing additional resources to sustain and improve patient care.”
asserted
which → stabilize → care
Hochul’s office also insisted that the merger with the city public health system is not a “takeover.”
asserted
merger → insist → system
The Aporia
