Has LICH Become an Armed Camp?
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Two Sections w Facebook.com/ Twitter.com Volume 59, No. 83 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2013 BrooklynEagle.com BrooklynEagle @BklynEagle 50¢ BROOKLYN Has LICH TODAY Red Bulls Soccer AUG.7 Viewing Party at Become Good morning. Today is B’klyn Bridge Park the 219th day of the year. In The New York Red An Armed 1902, much of Brooklyn, espe- cially the southern and eastern Bulls professional soc- parts of the borough, was still cer team will host a Camp? farmland. The Brooklyn Daily viewing party with a Eagle of Aug. 7, 1902, informed big screen at Pier 1 in Patients and staff at Long its readers that “Canarsie has Brooklyn Bridge Park Island College Hospital been invaded as of lately by for their match against (LICH) in Cobble Hill say chicken thieves. Last night, the the Columbus Crew on security guards are harass- hen house of H.W. Schemelk Saturday, Aug. 10. ing them as they arrive for was broken into and most of his their appointments choice breeders stolen.” Speak- The festivities kick ing to the Eagle, Schemelk said off at 7 p.m., and match or try to go about their the hens were trained — they en- time is 7:30 p.m. Bring work at the hospital. tered the house every morning your blankets, lawn The guards, both armed and laid their eggs in a basket. chairs, towels and, of and unarmed, are part of a Well-known people who course, cameras. Food massive security presence were born today include satirist and beverages will be put in place by SUNY Down- Stan Freberg, singer B.J. available for purchase state as they try to shut Thomas (“Raindrops Keep as well, but on a cash- down the hospital in the Falling on My Head,” only basis. face of massive opposition. “Hooked on a Feeling”), To reserve space, go In this photo, NYPD officers Brooklyn-born actor Harold Parrineau (“Lost,” “Oz”), and onto the Red Bulls’ set up barricades as humorist radio host Garrison Facebook site: https:// security officers watch. Keillor (“The Prairie Home www.facebook.com/eve See story, page 2. Companion”). nts/408172705968892/. Eagle photo by Mary Frost B’klyn Health Woes Get National Press Kaiser Health News, a nationwide health publication, has published an article about the financial troubles of Brooklyn hospitals. It examines the bankruptcy of Inter- faith Hospital and the hospital's plans to close down operations, as well as the fact that SUNY Downstate has been trying to shut down Long Island College Hospital since March. “Brooklyn is close to losing two large and historic hos- pitals, and others might not be far behind,” the publica- tion reads. The article also examines Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick, which will have trouble breaking even this year, according to its CEO. LEFT: SEEN HERE IS A DETAIL OF A NEW MURAL IN GROVE ALLEY, which the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership wants to turn into a quirky commercial corridor. Two street artists held massive Cyclones of Brooklyn courtesy Photo spray-painting sessions on Saturday and Sunday at the dead-end alley near the Fulton Mall. See story and more photos, page 5. Eagle photo by Lore Croghan A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT has reinstated the gambling conviction of a man who oper- ated an underground poker club. The decision overruled an earlier decision by Brook- Cyclones’ lyn Federal Court Judge Jack Weinstein, seen here. See Pitcher Diaz story, page 12. Eagle file photo Goes To SINGER LUKE JAMES HAS recently had one of the tough- All-Star Game est jobs in Brooklyn. He has been the opening act for Bey- BROOKLYN CYLCLONES’ ACE once on her “Mrs. Carter Miller Diaz will get to start in Show” world tour, including at next week’s NY-Penn League Barclays Center, which he calls All-Star game. He is one of five “a fabulous arena.” He will Cyclones players, four of them also be performing at BAM pitchers, who have been on Aug. 29. See story, page 8. named to the National League Photo by Yosra El-Essawy squad. See Sports, page 11. Wednesday, August 7, 2013 • Brooklyn Daily Eagle • 1 LICH Has Become an Armed Camp, Supporters Say Patients, Staff: Guards Are There To Intimidate Them By Mary Frost resident who says she has “often intimidated by hospital security at Brooklyn Eagle used the hospital and depends on LICH trying to enter for a doctor’s ap- Patients and staff at Long Island it,” told the Eagle via email that the pointment today. Not cool!” College Hospital (LICH) in Cobble main hospital door remained locked Patients were advised to call 911 Hill say that security guards are ha- on Monday. “Patients, no matter to report harassment. rassing them as they arrive for their what state they were in, have to go Besides SUNY police, guards appointments or try to go about through two regular doors,” she said. have been hired from Summit Secu- their work at the hospital. “I saw an elderly lady who was rity, CSC (Command Security Cor- The guards, both armed and un- pushing a walker [she had just been poration) Security and, according to armed, are part of a massive security given dialysis treatment] try to one CSC guard, from another com- presence put in place by SUNY Down- struggle to open one of the doors pany he had never heard of. Many state as they try to shut down the hos- as the SUNY guards just stood there of the guards are new, he told the pital in the face of vehement com- watching. I grabbed the doors for Brooklyn Eagle. “I had several appli- munity opposition and legal stays. her and helped her out. I asked her cations in. Right after CSC hired me, Financially troubled Downstate ac- about the guards and she said they two more companies called me and quired LICH roughly two years ago. never help.” offered me a job.” “Inside the hospital, LICH has As security guards watch, officers of the NYPD set up barricades outside of LICH. This reporter observed hospital The demand for security guards been a police state,” one long- Eagle photo by Mary Frost administrators take no action as a is so high that many workers affili- time nurse told the Brooklyn Eagle. disabled elderly woman was unable ated with Summit don’t even have “Armed State University Police pa- Dr. Alice Garner, clinical leader of them from moving the patients. to climb the steps. Two passersby fi- official ID. Rather, their names are trol the halls. A dozen of them were the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care “They’ve been intimidating peo- nally aided her into the hospital. handwritten or typed on pieces of lined up outside a conference room Unit) at LICH, who oversees the care ple all kinds of ways,” she said. “They On Tuesday, a commenter named plain paper inserted into plastic cov- monitoring the actions of nurses of infants at the hospital. “There tried to dangle my job in front of Martine tweeted, “Women are being ers and pinned to their suit jackets. who were taking an accredited con- were armed guards inside the Neo- me. I know my work, I’m not afraid tinuing education class on, of all natal Unit,” she told the Brooklyn of that. But they’ve been harassing things, Workplace Violence.” Eagle. “What if they dropped one of my colleagues, and they’re afraid.” She recalled when LICH was their guns and it shot a baby?” she As Dr. Garner spoke to the Eagle, filled with victims and first re- said. “We went crazy and yelled at security guards rummaged through sponders after terrorist planes flew them to get out of there.” her purse. into the World Trade Center. “We While the armed guards left the Patients are harassed in other didn’t even have this many guards infants’ immediate area, Dr. Garner ways. The main hospital entrance right after 9/11!” she said. said they were still posted outside – a slowly-revolving automatic New locks have been installed the unit. “They’ve got guns. We’re door large enough to accommodate on inner and outer doors, employees’ afraid of them,” she said. wheelchairs – has been locked since bags and purses are searched upon Dr. Garner said patients and late July and labeled “out of order,” entering and exiting the building, staff had to ask permission to enter preventing wheelchairs from enter- and doctors and nurses say they were or leave the hospital over the week- ing the hospital. locked inside the hospital over two ends of July 20 and July 27. “For two Despite a nearby wheelchair ramp, weekends, only allowed to leave af- weekends in a row, they used Gesta- disabled patients are required to climb ter a guard opened a door with a key. po tactics. They were trying to move a flight of steps and walk through two The purpose of the guards is to patients out” against doctors’ orders, doors to get inside the hospital. Dr. Alice Garner, clinical leader of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at LICH. intimidate patients and staff, claims she said. “I called the police to stop Trudy Wassner, a Brooklyn Heights Eagle photo by Mary Frost Candidate Wants To Penalize Residents 3 Children, 1 Adult Hit by Who Refuse To Evacuate During Storms Cab at Cadman Plaza By Paula Katinas not occur again. Brooklyn Eagle “Over the past year, our district Residents living in flood zones and New York City as a whole have who stubbornly refuse to obey a made great strides in improving our mandatory evacuation order during hurricane preparedness and restor- a hurricane would be slapped with ing the infrastructure and business- penalties if one Brooklyn City es that were destroyed by Hurricane Council candidate gets his way.