Greed and Politics destroyed St. Vincent's Hospital

"It's like a funeral inside."

New York State Assemblymember Richard Gottfried criticised New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg last night, during a town hall meeting of Chelsea and Greenwich Village residents. The mayor, who likes to get involved in issues that are important to New York City, did not participate in trying to save St. Vincent's Hospital, the Hon. Gottfried said.

Separately, as was reported by the Associated Pressin an article published yesterday on The Kansas City Star's website, Mayor Bloomberg was unmoved by attempts to save St. Vincent's.

"It's very sad. I wish the hospital could stay open. But the bottom line is, it's not going to," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday on his weekly radio show.

The same AP report also included the following information :

Since it opened in 1849, the famed Manhattan hospital has treated cholera victims, survivors of the Titanic and hundreds of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. It also was at the forefront of the early response to the AIDS epidemic.

St. Vincent's was the last Catholic-affiliated hospital in New York City. The nearest top-level trauma center is now Bellevue Hospital, more than two miles away.

During a "last mass" inside the hospital's chapel, the former St. Vincent's employees became emotional, the AP added.

"There's a lot of heartbroken people inside the ER. ... They have been the heart and soul of this hospital for many years," said Eileen Dunn, a St. Vincent's nurse for 24 years. "I think on 9/11 we saw what hatred could do. We're seeing today what greed and politics can do to a hospital.

"It's like a funeral inside," she said.

Bloombo Dicto to New Yorkers: 'Die Quickly'

What is perhaps New York City's last public clinic that treats adults who suffer from sickle cell anemia is rumoured to be closing.

In another sign that ruthless mayoral dictator for life Michael Bloomberg doesn't give a shit about New Yorkers, an anonymous tipper has submitted information to me that indicates that adults who suffer from sickle cell anemia have perhaps only one city clinic, where they can receive medical treatment. Now, that clinic is slowly unwinding its operations and is rumoured to be closing under Bloomberg's budget.

First firehouses, then the office of Public Advocate, then post offices, and now the clinics that underpin the health of our family, friends, and neighbors : Bloomberg is sick to think that it's O.K. to deny healthcare to New Yorkers, who are vulnerable to illness and disease. I hope everybody is beginning to see clearly how he shows no compassion or remorse when he does away with the important services that we all need.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) warned Americans that, "If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly."

Stop Bloomberg Now !