The Norwood News

To the editor,

Although I don’t live in any of the neighborhoods that have been served by the Norwood News, as a loyal Bronxite I felt pain as I read the report of the paper’s entering an “indefinite hiatus.” I was especially disturbed by the explanation offered by a spokesperson for Montefiore Medical Center that the hospital can no longer support the community newspaper because “as financial headwinds continue for healthcare systems like ours, [Montefiore] must direct all our resources to our core mission of delivering world-class care and critical services to those who most depend on us.”

As a Montefiore patient who is happy with the care I receive at my local hospital, I should be glad to hear that Montefiore is prioritizing the needs of its patients. But supporting a community newspaper also serves the needs of many of those patients. And the explanation does not ring true in the absence of a report that the chief executive of Montefiore and other upper administrators are willing to accept lower salaries. The highest salaries at Montefiore are public information. Perhaps a follow-up article in The Riverdale Press will list those salaries for us. I think the former readers of the Norwood News may question whether the hospital really is directing all of its resources to its “core mission.”

RICHARD NOCHIMSON

The Riverdale Press welcomes letters to the editor. It is committed to providing an open forum for opinions. Send letters via e-mail to letters@riverdalepress.com. The Press also occasionally publishes longer columns, as well as some works of creative writing. Your submission should be signed and include your home address and daytime phone number. This information is for verification purposes only and will not be published. Anonymous letters are not considered. Letters are subject to editing for reasons such as length and clarity.