Exclusive | Blakeman joins Jewish leaders in opposing Hochul-backed city takeover of historic NYC hospital

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman opposes the Gov.Kathy Hochul-backed New York City takeover of Brooklyn’s financially ailing Maimonides hospital.The New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) recently approved the proposal to make Maimonides Health part of the city’s public hospital system — NYC Health + Hospitals.Last fall, Hochul announced a $2.2 billion grant available for Maimonides to join Health + Hospitals, a massive subsidy intended to meet payroll and keep the lights on during the transition.But Blakeman said Maimonides in Borough Park — named after the famous Jewish philosopher and physician – — should remain a privately-run hospital and not be turned over to the city’s government-run hospital system.“Kathy Hochul — against the wishes of the local Boro Park community — is leading a state takeover of Maimonides Medical Center, a world-class private teaching hospital with over a century of service,” Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive said.“My wife was also born at Maimonides, making this hospital for especially meaningful to our family.

The Governor’s refusal to listen to the community will lead to inferior healthcare for the residents who have relied on the hospital decades.”He vowed, “When I am elected Governor I will stop this takeover and return the hospital to the top notch facility it has always been,” Blakeman said.The controversy has even reached President Trump.During a recent visit to the White House, rabbis from Borough Park told the president’s domestic advisors they didn’t want the city to take over Maimonides, according to a source.Maimonides has a long history of serving the Orthodox Jewish community in southern Brooklyn, particularly Borough Park, with many residents born there.It has a kosher kitchen.However, it is considered a financially distressed hospital with a large caseload of Medicaid or lower-income patients.Many other residents from growing Asia...