Twitter.com w Facebook.com/ Volume 59, No. 70 Two Sections FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 BrooklynEagle.com BrooklynEagle @BklynEagle 50¢ BROOKLYN TODAY Officials Protest ‘Secret’ Plan to Close LICH ULY LICH doctors say J 19 they were told by Good morning. Today is SUNY Downstate the 200th day of the year. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of July that LICH would be 19, 1870, ran an article, titled closed down this “Changes of a Decade,” weekend, in viola- about how the area west of tion of a restraining Prospect Park had improved order. Hundreds during the previous 10 years. “Just yesterday,” the Eagle rallied at LICH on said, the area was a “dense Thursday as SUNY forest” interrupted by small administrators re- farms with Revolutionary War- fused to speak to era houses and grist mills. elected officials. Left Since that time, the article con- tinued, thousands of dwellings to right: Sen. Daniel had been constructed, from Squadron, Brooklyn wooden-frame houses to work- Heights resident shops. Streets had been laid Susan Raboy; out with underground water Dr. Alice Garner, pipes, sewers and gas lines. Well-known people who head of the neona- were born today include actor tal unit at LICH; Pub- Benedict Cumberbatch, actor lic Advocate Bill de Anthony Edwards (“ER,” Blasio, Councilman “Fast Times at Ridgemont See High”), Hall of Fame tennis Steve Levin. player Ilie Nastase and actor story, page 2. Campbell Scott. Eagle photo by Mary Frost OOK BEAT WRITERBB CARA ALWILL LEYBA, right, author of “Champagne Diet: Eat, Drink and Celebrate Your Way To a Healthy Mind and Body,” is seen at her book-launch party with Chris- tine Freglette, co-owner of the Book Mark Shoppe in Bay Ridge. Leyba’s popular blog, “The Champagne Diet,” offers sisterly advice to women on how to live the good life with- out being broke. See page 10. Eagle NETS’ NEW ARRIVALS, PAUL by Rob Abruzzese photo Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, received a warm welcome at Barclays Center on Thursday. They are determined to deliver Brooklyn its first world title since Photo courtesy of Cara Alwill of Cara Leyba courtesy Photo 1955. See sports, page 3. THE ROOF DECK OF 411 CLINTON ST., CARROLL GARDENS, has “killer views.” Real estate executive Bill Ross bought the five-story walk-up building more than a decade ago and con- verted it to condos. He’s using a “Dutch auction” method to Eagle sell an apartment in the building. See page 11. photo by Francesca Norsen Tate Norsen by Francesca photo LAST TUESDAY, JEWS OBSERVED TISHA B’AV, THE SADDEST DAY OF the Hebrew calendar. Meanwhile, Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan. The timing inspired Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, the Turkish Cultural Center and the Kings Bay YMHA to hold a joint break-the-fast meal, called the “Iftar” by Muslims. Here, musicians from the Turkish Cultural Center Photo courtesy of Halstead courtesy Photo serenade the guests. Log onto www.brooklyneagle.com. Friday, July 19, 2013 • Brooklyn Daily Eagle • 1 Officials Protest ‘Secret’ Plan to Close LICH This Weekend sation” with elected officials. SUNY Says It’s a `False Rumor’ “People need to under- By Mary Frost “I have one question: Where stand a public health emer- Brooklyn Eagle is Mayor Bloomberg? Where gency is playing out in Brook- Long Island College Hos- is Governor Cuomo? SUNY lyn, and it is SUNY’s fault,” said pital (LICH) doctors say they Downstate is moving more an exasperated Councilman were told by SUNY Down- aggressively than ever to shut Levin. “Placing the ambulanc- state administrators to trans- down the hospital this com- es on diversion at LICH has fer all their patients out by munity needs in violation of overwhelmed other hospitals Friday so that LICH could be a court order. We’re not stand- in the area. They are putting shut down by Sunday. ing for it. SUNY is violating the real people’s lives at risk. It’s ab- Dr. Alice Garner, head of law and the public trust.” horrent and inexcusable.” the neonatal unit at LICH, said All four officials headed Lander said he brought “I received verbal orders that into LICH to attempt to meet his son to LICH when he we are to transfer all patients with hospital administrators, has bronchiolitis. “He had by tomorrow so they can shut while security guards tried to spend a couple of days in us down by Sunday. We did to block their way. The offi- the hospital. Where did we not receive one written word cials and a handful of nurs- take him? LICH. What hap- to substantiate this. We were es and staff made it to the pens tomorrow if a child in told the surgical areas and the administration floor, where Red Hook gets bronchiolitis? G.I. suite will be closed tomor- they asked to speak to inter- Or if someone in Brooklyn row in direct violation of the im CEO James Karkenny. Heights goes into cardiac ar- restraining order, putting the Karkenny, however, or- rest? People are going to die.” community at risk.” dered them to leave and threat- Levin said that what Hundreds of protesters ened to call the police. Sen. SUNY is saying directy con- shouting “Shame on SUNY!” Squadron said, “You refuse to tradicts what the staff was gathered in the 97-degree speak to elected officials?” told. “In our experience, the heat outside LICH in Cobble “You’ve been asked to staff, doctors and nurses are Hill Thursday afternoon after leave,” Karkenny barked. telling the truth. SUNY re- Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, state Sen. Daniel Squadron, Councilman Steve Levin, and Councilman getting the word. “You barged in illegally!” fused to meet with us today.” Brad Lander lead a crowd to LICH’s administrative suit to try to get answers after SUNY Downstate re- As dozens of cars honked Councilman Lander re- De Blasio said that he ex- fused to meet with them on Thursday. Eagle photo by Mary Frost their horns in solidarity, state plied, “You’re closing the hos- pected a “bait and switch” Sen. Daniel Squadron, Coun- pital illegally.” with SUNY. “They must tell ing SUNY has “gone rogue” immediate closure of LICH for Downstate, the hospi- cilman Steve Levin, Public Ad- Karkenny then locked us the full truth about what and calling for an indepen- obfuscate the truth, which tal is not closing this week- vocate Bill de Blasio and Coun- himself inside his office and their intentions are.” dent overseer. is SUNY’s commitment to se- end. No hospital in New York cilman Brad Lander told the refused to come out. As Thursday’s drama SUNY Downstate spokes- curing proposals to provide state can close without the crowd that SUNY officials re- While barricaded on the played out,1 statements from person Robert J. Bellafiore is- healthcare services in the approval of the Department fused to meet with them or fourth floor, Sen. Squadron representatives across Brook- sued a statement late Thurs- community. While SUNY has of Health.” put the orders in writing to called Carl McCall, head of lyn, Borough President Mar- day that SUNY was not closing made it clear that it will not LICH Dr. John Manny con- avoid legal culpability. the SUNY Board of Trustees, ty Markowitz and City Coun- the hospital this weekend. continue to operate LICH, as firmed, however, that LICH’s “They’re acting like thieves explaining that Karkenny “re- cil Speaker Christine Quinn “Patently false state- is reflected in the state-ap- operating rooms were closing in the night,” said de Blasio. fused to have a private conver- came in support of LICH, say- ments and rumors about the proved sustainability plan Friday, “at the end of shift.” Return of Downtown-Bay Ridge Brooklyn-born Businessman Bus Isn’t a Done Deal, Pols Warn Runs for Mayor as Independent By Paula Katinas town Brooklyn along Third to jobs in the court system Brooklyn Eagle Avenue. The MTA rerouted and in Bush Terminal. From Associated Press He touted his experience Don’t pop the cham- the B70 to Third Avenue for a In other matters, Gold- A millionaire tech busi- creating businesses and jobs pagne corks just yet. The res- portion of its route. But tran- en expressed concern about nessman on Wednesday en- as among his strengths. His toration of the B37 bus line is sit advocates points out the the impact the closure of the tered the race to replace campaign said he’s raised not a done deal, according to B70 turns from Third Avenue Montague Street tunnel will Mayor Michael Bloomberg, more than $450,000 in do- two Republican lawmakers onto 69th Street and doesn’t have on subway service. The saying the current group of nations. who warned riders not to cel- go any further north, leaving tunnel, which accommodates candidates would take the Hidary told the Associated ebrate too early. residents of Sunset Park and the R train, will be closed for city backward. Press he plans to take part in State Sen. Marty Gold- other neighborhoods north 14 months starting in early Au- Jack Hidary announced the public financing system en (R-Bay Ridge-Southeast of Bay Ridge without a Third gust so that the MTA can re- he would be running as an as well as use his own money. Brooklyn) and Assemblywom- Avenue bus. pair damage caused by Su- independent. The field is already a an Nicole Malliotakis (R-Bay Golden, Malliotakis, and perstorm Sandy. Golden Born and raised in Brook- crowded one, with multi- Ridge-Staten Island) said it’s Dorsa made a pitch for the questioned whether the MTA lyn, the 45-year-old Hidary Jack Hidary, tech businessman ple candidates on both the not a sure bet that the MTA B37.