In a perplexing move, HUMC asks the State to delay the hospital license hearing 6 months. According to HUMC’s spokesperson, “”We needed more time to prepare for the State Health Planning Board meeting, to educate our constituents.”
So − who are these constituents? Do the Pascack and Northern Valley residents need further education on the need for a local hospital? Is there a business problem? Could the understanding between HUMC and Legacy have a glitch? Is there a complication between Touro University and HUMC? Finances? Management? Personalities? Politics? How many questions could one conjure up with the tidbit of information offered in the latest news article. (Click HERE to read.)
After 19 months, they decided they need 6 months to prepare for the meeting. Lets review.
- HUMC and Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH) sign a letter of memorandum to merge (11/2006).
- Delay announced ― HUMC needs more time for review.
- PVH runs out of time and files for bankruptcy.
- HUMC buys PVH site at auction, at a discount, with Touro University.
Ambiguous promises made by HUMC to return a hospital in conjunction with a medical school.- Opposition objects.
- Municipal governing body swoons in hope and gives generous development ordinance based upon hospital license ‘application.’
- HUMC letter to State cites it is not purchasing the ‘hospital.’
- HUMC announce deal with Legacy Hospital Partnership.
- Opposition grumbles its concerns.
- Touro and HUMC announce intention to go in separate directions.
- HUMC, with Legacy, applies for hospital license in accordance with ordinance requirement.
- Opposition objects.
- HUMC agrees to pay $850K to bankruptcy court for hospital license.
- HUMC President, voice of confidence and assurances, retires.
- State Health Planning Board has first public hearing.
- Overwhelming public support displayed.
- Democrat State Senator Weinberg and Assemblyman Johnson object to a returned hospital. Republican State Senator Cardinale and Assemblywoman Vandervalk support it.
- Opposition objects.
- Final State hearing date set.
- Opposition objects.
- Mayor discusses bus transportation to (now canceled) hearing at this past Tuesday Mayor and Council meeting, clueless to the foregoing and ongoing saga.
- HUMC notes they need 6 months more time to prepare their case.
- Mayor responds in paper that he “really hope(s) the decision-makers listen to the people.”
You cannot make this stuff up. Is politics playing a part in this charade − surely. However, what is more distressing is the lack of local political awareness to the business process. Our Mayor ‘hopes‘ − these days unfortunately, it is an over used noun linked to many political visions. Apparitions that may be more associated to hallucinatory supplements then to reality.
The base question on everyone’s mind for now ― what case is HUMC preparing and why only now? In the meantime, maybe the Westwood governing body should review the hospital site’s ordinance. This way Westwood’s case is not misunderstood by HUMC or anyone else. We want and need a hospital reopened.
Surprise, surprise, “a glitch.” Hackensack is running the show and where it ends is only written in their playbook. Everyone should know by now if it doesn’t meet their NEEDS it doesn’t happen.
Comment by Gulliver — July 9, 2009 @ 9:36 PM
Coffee and paper didn’t go well together today. Read Assemblyman Johnson’s remarks. As a representative of the State’s Black Caucus, he’s telling the Governor it would be an insult to blacks if they reopen the hospital. Not opening it will now be an insult on a whole other level.
Comment by Dirk — July 10, 2009 @ 8:49 AM
Politics and reverse racism are being given a priority over a hospital according to today’s record. Is that the case HUMC needs to make? Does anybody really believe Corzine is helped by making this hospital a color issue? Didn’t anybody read that recent supreme court ruling on Connecticut’s reverse racism? That’s a topic that has no bearing on reopening a hospital where one existed. It says a lot about the mindset of the voice making it an issue!
Comment by SpinTree — July 10, 2009 @ 11:52 AM
Did you read the Record today. An Englewood state assemblyman is making color a factor in the hospital license. Doesn’t he see we have a black president that won in Bergen County.
Comment by Cockney — July 10, 2009 @ 12:11 PM
No additional info on HUMC’s reasoning really allows the brain to run rampart on the whys.
Comment by Roy Franks — July 10, 2009 @ 1:09 PM
Makes you wonder “what if”. What if no hospital? What do we get?
Comment by Amanda — July 13, 2009 @ 11:48 AM
Do our distinguished leaders have a Plan B if the hospital return explodes? Or are they just going with the anal wind that blows with politics. Obviously our Mayor Birkner has something in common with that boisterous Assemblyman Johnson, they’re both full of helium, no room for understanding the problem beyond a narrow subject matter.
The Assemblyman is whining about minorities as though they only live in Englewood. I don’t see any definitions of minority being confined to poor. Just because your a minority doesn’t mean your poor. I don’t know if he realizes it but both minorities and other folk all have heart attacks and get sick and have accidents and getting the necessary care quickly is important to all of us.
Comment by Willow — July 10, 2009 @ 4:17 PM
“Keep hospital shut. blacks tell Corzine.” That is the Record’s headline. What does that say about an elected person who says we don’t have what we think we should have so you can’t have it. Weinberg and Johnson said at the hearing the hospital shouldn’t open but only offered rhetoric. If Corzine needs votes that bad that he’ll let people like Weinberg and Johnson drive a wedge between people, then we need a new Governor. This is the political manipulation that comes with septic politics.
Comment by Sweeny — July 10, 2009 @ 6:31 PM
Obama redistributes the returns on my sweat and now Johnson wants to redistribute my access to health care. What next? Maybe they can find a way to redistribute my carcass as fertilizer.
Comment by Prentice — July 10, 2009 @ 7:06 PM
Mr. Johnson’s words are good for drawing flys but contribute little to the needs of people. It is becoming more proper, not right, issues are being decided more by politics then truths.
Comment by Wafi — July 10, 2009 @ 10:24 PM
I’m disappointed this hospital has been delayed. I’m disappointed the political machine in Westwood appears inept. I’m disappointed that Valley Hospital and Englewood Medical Center are so shallow to people needs. Most of all I’m disappointed that hospital access has now been questioned by the color of one’s skin. I’m tied of the stress and wish the Governor would show he cares and make a statement to reopen our hospital.
Comment by SandyZ1428 — July 12, 2009 @ 6:44 PM
If this delay is about politics then it says a lot about our state. It explains why some towns still use cesspools. They remain as a reminder not all are underground.
Comment by seesawsum — July 13, 2009 @ 4:38 PM