Neighborhood must stay vigilant

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A post-mortem of the proposed and hopefully demised plan for construction of Montefiore’s large medical facility on Riverdale Avenue is, in the words of Mark Twain, somewhat premature.

However, the efforts of Simone Development Companies and Montefiore evidence a case study in how not to proceed in gathering community support and backing. Secrecy and arrogance, juxtaposed against purported “disclosures” at Community Board 8 Land Use Committee meetings, were the norm. Retention by Simone of the attorney son of the chairman of the Land Use Committee put the community on notice of the developer’s and hospital’s cynical plan of attack. To his credit, the chairman of the committee stepped aside in his role during meetings in which Montefiore’s plans were discussed, and he publicly opposed the Montefiore-Simone plan. When local legislators, including former Councilman Oliver Koppell, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Sen. Jeff Klein and newly elected Councilman Andrew Cohen, were ultimately “granted an audience” with representatives of Montefiore, our elected representatives were met with a cold shoulder and a refusal to enter into any meaningful dialogue.

As the borough’s largest employer, Montefiore apparently felt it could have its way and that it knew what was best for the Riverdale community.

Many of us were not opposed to the concept of a “one-stop shopping” medical facility and we were aware of the fierce competition for revenue and patients faced by healthcare providers.

The Simone-Montefiore approach resulted in a galvanized and near unanimous community, opposed to the totally inappropriate location on Riverdale Avenue proposed for this facility. The many reasons for opposition have been repeated numerous times and appeared obvious to everyone except Simone and Montefiore.

Riverdale Avenue, Mark Twain, Simone Development Companies, Montefiore, Community Board 8, Land Use Committee, Oliver Koppell, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Jeff Klein, Andrew Cohen, Committee to Protect Riverdale, Department of Health, Burger King, Stuart Gartner
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