Senator Squadron's Community Convention

State Senator Daniel Squadron has organized the first-ever 25th Senate District Community Convention, and you are invited. From the official announcement:

Join Senator Squadron, elected officials and more than 100 neighbors on Sunday, March 15th to discuss pressing issues facing the 25th Senate District. Senator Squadron seeks your input and participation on housing, transportation, education, and many other district needs.

What: 25th Senate District Community Convention
When: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 3.00 to 6.00 p.m.
Where: Borough of Manhattan Community College,
199 Chambers Street

Yes, that's in Manhattan.

If you would like to go, Senator Squadron asks that you RSVP to Jasmin Sanchez, 212-298-5565, convention [at] danielsquadron [dot] org.

join the LICH mailing list

To stay in touch with events at LICH, join their mailing list. Zippi Dvash, LICH's Assistant Vice-President of Public Affairs and Development, writes in to say:

If you are interested in receiving advance notice of health talks, screenings, lectures and events at LICH, please email Zipporah Dvash in the Department of Public Affairs & Development at zdvash@chpnet.org, and ask to be added to their electronic news bulletin community. The list is private and will never be shared with a third party.

take advantage of LICH

One of our complaints about the management of LICH has been that they don't get the word out about either the services they offer or the high quality of those services. With all the news reports about financial uncertainty, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that LICH is still an excellent hospital with the same range of services that it offered a year ago.

With that in mind, we have offered to help LICH get the word out about their positive news as well. Here is a notice from LICH about a free community education workshop series about diabetes:

Diabetes is on the rise in the US, largely due to lifestyle choices. Long Island College Hospital (LICH) of Brooklyn, in conjunction with the Dodge YMCA at Atlantic Avenue, is hosting a community education workshop series about diabetes. The sessions include use of medication, foot care, new technology, counting carbs, glucose monitoring, type I diabetes vs. type II and more. Registration is required, but the sessions are free to the community.

WHAT: Community education workshop series about diabetes.
WHEN: 1.00 to 2.30 p.m. on
Tuesday, February 10,
Tuesday, February 17,
Tuesday, February 24.
WHERE: Dodge YMCA, 225 Atlantic Avenue, Classroom B (second level).

Info/Registration: Sara Reyes, Dodge YMCA, 212-912-2421, sreyes [at] ymcanyc.org.

Diabetes Self-Management Education: Brooklyn has some of the highest rates of diabetes in the state. If untreated or poorly controlled, diabetes can have devastating health consequences. Research has shown that controlling the blood glucose levels help neutralize the risk of health complications from diabetes. There have been many recent advances in diabetes management from better understanding the role of diet to development of new medications/insulins and high-tech devices. Come learn about diabetes management and self-management. This weekly three session work shop will provide a comprehensive overview of the diabetes and instruction in the self-management tasks that will allow people with diabetes to be in the best position to work with their HealthCare provider to help assure optimum diabetes management.

LICH properties for sale

LICH has put some of its properties up for sale, as reported by Brownstoner and other sources. Here is the list of properties:

74 Amity Street
76 Amity Street
78 Amity Street
82 Amity Street
86 Amity Street
113 Congress Street
43 Columbia Place
385-389 Hicks Street

As we all know by now, LICH is under the thumb of Continuum Health Partners, a relationship that both entities would like to terminate. When news broke that LICH properties were being sold, the first question was whether Continuum was going to sell the properties and then take the money and run. Based on the imperfect fact-gathering that we have done, it looks like the profits from the property sales will not line Continuum's pockets.

There are two explanations that we have heard from reliable sources, both of which we find plausible although we would still like more evidence. One explanation is that the money will be used to pay down LICH's building mortgages, which are held by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and guaranteed by HUD. The other explanation that we have heard is that the money will go towards a reserve fund for possibly lingering malpractice claims. If, as expected, LICH enters into a partnership with SUNY Downstate, their high malpractice insurance premiums will vanish because they will be part of the state system. But LICH would still need to hold a reserve for pre-SUNY claims that may arise.

As we find out more, we will pass it on.

Atlantic Yards event today

I apologize for the short notice, but this just came in yesterday. The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods is hosting a public event with the Atlantic Yards ombudsman. Yes, he exists, and he will answer your questions.

WHAT: Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods Hosts Q & A re Atlantic Yards
WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 7.30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Cyril of Turau Belarusian Cathedral, Atlantic Avenue at Hoyt Street

From the CBN notice:

The Empire State Development Corporation's Atlantic Yards Ombudsman, Forrest Taylor, will be at the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods' bi-monthly general meeting next week to field questions about the stalled mega-development project.

Mr. Taylor took questions from the public and elected officials at CBN's January 2008 meeting, and this will be good a opportunity to follow up on answers he gave then.

If you're curious about when the ESDC expects the Carlton Avenue Bridge to be rebuilt; why the Governor has been slashing budgets on just about every state-funded program while remaining mum about Atlantic Yards; just what the heck is going on with security plans for the planned basketball arena; or anything else having to do with the project—this is your chance. CBN has also extended invitations to several Brooklyn elected officials, who may welcome the chance to pin down the ESDC on the many unaddressed issues and unanswered questions hanging over the Atlantic Yards project.

In addition, if you're a member in good standing of one of CBN's member organizations, and you're interested in joining CBN's Steering Committee, there will be at least two seats open in the election that will be conducted at Wednesday's meeting. Nominations can be submitted from the floor. The Steering Committee meets once a month.