De Blasio can weigh in on Cobble Hill hospital’s fate: judge

Bill de Blasio and the Long Island College Hospital
Bill de Blasio and the Long Island College Hospital

Public Advocate and mayoral front-runner Bill de Blasio will get to help decide the fate of the financially-strapped Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill, a state supreme court judge has ruled. De Blasio – who was recently arrested at a rally to keep LICH open and who has used the hospital as a key talking point in his campaign – will join community groups such as the Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill Associations in the fight to keep the hospital open.

“The Public Advocate’s motion to intervene is granted,” Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Carolyn Demarest wrote in a decision granting de Blasio status as an “intervener” — similar to being added as an additional plaintiff in the case.

The ruling means that de Blasio will be able to speak in open court and present witnesses, the New York Post reported. The judge’s opinion also takes the State University of New York to task for reneging on its commitment to operate LICH as a nonprofit.

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“This community has to have a seat at the table to protect the future of this hospital. We won’t let this become another real estate deal that robs a neighborhood of vital health care,” de Blasio told the newspaper.

A spokesperson for SUNY told the Post that they were reviewing the decision. [NYP]  – Hiten Samtani