3 CHEERS TO THE JUDGE: Community applauds order temporarily stopping closure of LICH
A Brooklyn Supreme Court judge’s temporary restraining order stopping the State University of New York from closing Long Island College Hospital (LICH) has made Downtown-area officials and civic leaders, not to mention many of the hospital’s staffers, very happy.
However, the order, by Hon. Betsy Barros, has made SUNY Downstate, with which LICH is affiliated, rather unhappy.
The SUNY Board of Trustees unanimously voted earlier this month to close LICH, which lost more than $300 million from 2007 through 2011, according to an audit from the state Comptroller’s Office.
Justice Barros’ order, dated Feb. 22 and forwarded to the Eagle by union representatives, read, in part, “Sufficient cause having been shown therefore, it is ordered that pending the hearing of this motion, the respondents and all other persons, known or unknown, acting in their behalf or in concert with them in any manner or by any means, are hereby enjoined and restrained from: executing and implementing the approval of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York by acting to close Long Island College Hospital.”