Remember this? A Glimpse At The Soon-To-Reopen 2nd Place F Train Subway Exit

photo by Reader A.

Now this is a sight that we haven't seen for a while. This is the staircase of the 2nd Place F train exit as seen from inside the Carroll Street station. The photo was taken by a reader who took it through a hole in the plywood that was covering the entrance.

The F train subway plaza and the staircase leading to the station at Second Place were blocked off in September 2009 when construction of the new building at 360 Smith Street started. Since then, riders have been forced to use the smaller, narrower entrance at the corner of Second Street.

Andrew Inglesby of the MTA NY City Transit announced that this particular entrance will reopen at the end of February.

Related Reading:

Great News! Second Place Entrance To F Train Station Will Re-Open Soon

When Carroll Gardens Commuters Come Home Tonight, The 2nd Place F Train Plaza Will Be Closed

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And Here Is Assemblywoman Joan Millman's Statement Regarding Future Of LICH

And Assemblywoman Joan Millman just released her statement regarding LICH's possible closing.

Assemblywoman Millman Statement Regarding

Future of Long Island College Hospital

The news that Long Island College Hospital (LICH) might be forced to close its doors has caused an outpouring of support from across the borough. Currently all of the elected officials

are working together to convey to the state the importance of the HEAL grants for the future of

LICH and SUNY Downstate. I call upon the Governor to expedite the release of this money.

I join all of my colleagues in government to ensure that LICH remains a vital part of our

community.

Related Reading:
Neighborhood To Lose LICH After All?
Councilman Brad Lander Issues Statement On LICH's Potential Closing

State Senator Daniel Squadron Releases Statement Regarding LICH

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State Senator Daniel Squadron Releases Statement Regarding LICH

photo credit: LICH

Seems as though our representatives are right on top of this issue. Here is State Senator Squadron's statement:

Statement from State Senator Daniel Squadron on Long Island College Hospital:

"The deal to save Long Island College Hospital was a huge win for our community, Brooklyn and the state. Simply put, it must move forward. LICH has helped keep Brooklyn healthy for more than 150 years, and it must not be forced to close its doors now. I will continue to work with the governor, my colleagues in government and the hospitals as the merger moves forward."

Related reading:

Neighborhood To Lose LICH After All?

Councilman Brad Lander Issues Statement On LICH's Potential Closing

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Councilman Brad Lander Issues Statement On LICH's Potential Closing

Faculty & students of medical school of the Long Island College Hospital, on porch of original Perry Mansion.

Photo Credit:NYPL Digital Gallery

Councilman Brad Lander just released the statement below regarding the potential closing of Long Island College Hospital. Read on:

Statement on Cuomo Administration’s Jeopardizing of Long Island College Hospital

I was very distressed to learn this morning that the Cuomo Administration has decided to delay grants to Long Island College Hospital/SUNY Downstate Medical Center, which may force the hospital into bankruptcy. I call on the governor to immediately restore these promised grants, in order to protect the health and safety of Brooklynites.

Long Island College Hospital serves people from throughout Brooklyn, and is especially important to residents of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens, for whom it is the nearest medical facility. Long Island College Hospital operates 300 beds, and annually delivers over 2,500 babies and has over 55,000 emergency room visits. Long Island College Hospital also provides 2,500 people with good jobs.

Last year -- in recognition of financial challenges facing LICH, and in dialogue with the community -- LICH began the process of merging with SUNY Downstate Medical Center. That deal will both preserve LICH as a great community hospital, and achieve efficiencies in the delivery of health care in Brooklyn. As part of the deal, LICH and SUNY Downstate were promised $62 million in state grants.

By delaying these grants, and suggesting that they might be cancelled, the Cuomo Administration is placing the merger, the survival of LICH, and the health of our communities in jeopardy.

I ask Governor Cuomo to respect the State's commitment to LICH/SUNY Downstate, to immediately restore these grants, and to help secure the future of LICH, SUNY Downstate, and the health of our communities.

Related Reading:

Neighborhood To Lose LICH After All?

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Neighborhood To Lose LICH After All?

It would appear that we may lose our neighborhood hospital after all. Long Island College Hospital has been part of this community since 1858, but the last few years have been unkind to this institution. After a disastrous merger with Continuum Health Partners, which bled LICH dry and sold off millions in real estate owned by the hospital to funnel the money to its more prestigious Manhattan institutions, the medical facility was ready to fold in 2008.

A divorce from Continuum and a merger with SUNY Down State Medical Center was supposed to safe LICH. This now looks unlikely. According to an article in today's NY Times, Governor Cuomo's administration is delaying the $22 million dollars in state grants to help finance the merger. The delay may mean that LICH will run out of money by mid-March.

Though certainly not the most up-to-date medical facility, this growing community needs LICH. It is unrealistic to think that Methodist Hospital can absorb all the overflow or that everyone will be able to make the trip into Manhattan in an emergency.

From The New York Times:

Delay of State Money for Merger May Force a Hospital in Brooklyn to Close

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Comment Of The Day: Diego Now Open

Sandra has left the following comment on the post "'Stark' Worthy? Check Out Menu Of Soon-To-Open Smith Street Eatery *Diego*":

Diego is now open. We ate there last night and the food was very delicious. The guacamole is prepared right at your table and the waiter asks you how much of each ingredient to put in. Very unique and fun. The choc cake was out of this world with the center nice and runny. Diego is def a must to try and go back again and again

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Brooklynites Now Have Their Own Website To Report Potholes

This winter has been unkind to New York City streets and our corner of Brooklyn has not been spared. After the snow and freezing rain of the last few weeks, huge potholes have popped up on local roads. And just today, it was announced that the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge will be closed for emergency pothole repair.

Now, Borough President Marty Markowitz's office announced that Brooklynites can access a website to report these 'craters'.

No statement on how long it will take the city to fill these holes.

BP Markowitz directs Brooklynites to www.brooklyn-usa.org to report pothole problems

On Wednesday, February 9, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz urged Brooklynites to report pothole issues in Brooklyn only on the Borough President’s website, www.brooklyn-usa.org. Just click on the button “Report Potholes in Brooklyn.” The reports will be forwarded to the Community Service Center at Borough Hall for appropriate handling.

For residents without Internet access, please call the Community Service Center at 718-802-3777.

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