Cooper Square Committee, local elected officials, and legal service organizations are assisting the tenants in their efforts to find affordable relocation housing as soon as possible and to get Madison Realty Capital and their landlord, Jack Lebewohl, to make repairs to their building so that they can return to their apartments at some point in 2024.With your help, the tenants can access housing they can afford while they temporarily relocate. We estimate it will cost about $95,000 to help the tenants cover the difference in rent at new apartments in NYC and to cover the cost of food since they can't cook in the shelter, and they have had to buy new clothes since they can't access their apartments. They will need to buy furniture for their relocation apartments as well.
"This last month has been met with the most traumatic uncertainty for my neighbors and me, and while we should be celebrating the holidays or looking forward to the new year, we're instead couch hopping or living in shelters. We are exhausted and broken, and after almost 4 weeks, we're still left in the dark about what comes next." — Lindsey, Apt. 7"I have four young children who miss their neighborhood, who miss their school, who miss our friends. I wish nobody would go through this, what we experienced in the last couple of weeks." — Mohamed, Apt. 13"We got kicked out of our home in the cold winter. We are homeless, and we are in pain. We need justice! Major Eric Adams and fellow New Yorkers, Please, Please stand with us. Josh Zegen of Madison Realty Capital and our landlord Jack Lebewohl are NOT getting away with this. " — Lin. Apt. 17"Please help us — we are homeless, in shelters, or staying on friends' couches. Neither our landlord nor Madison Realty Capital have yet to offer affordable long-term housing." — Susan, Apt 6
The new restoration is happening thanks to a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express together with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. B&H is one of 25 restaurants in the entire U.S. — and the ONLY restaurant in NYC — to get the grant.New storefront, yes, BUT in line with our look historically; we are working with plans approved by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.We got the grant in June 2022, but it took us until just last Friday to get the work permits! (Long story, we'll tell you over a blintz someday.)
"Continuing to close beds without approval is unlawful and may result in civil penalties of $2,000 per day for each day that the beds or services are closed without approval," wrote Stephanie Shulman, director of the Division of Hospitals and Diagnostic and Treatment Centers at the health department, to Elizabeth Sellman, Beth Israel’s president and CEO.The letter also said the department would pursue other remedies, such as a court order, if the closures don't stop.
Mount Sinai submitted a proposal to the state health department in October to close Beth Israel by July 2024. The health system then submitted an addendum last month saying it would be necessary to close some services before the end of the year because of an exodus of doctors and decreased patient volume, which it said put patient safety at risk.
📢Our statement on @HealthNYGov issuing a cease & desist to @MountSinaiNYC Beth Israel Hospital. 📢 pic.twitter.com/so1AHIrkdL
— Harvey Epstein (@HarveyforNY) December 21, 2023
There is also a survey for community members to let the New York State Department of Health know how important the community hospital is... and why Beth Israel needs to be be saved. Find the survey here.We have received word from the NYS Dept. of Health that they have issued a cease and desist directing Mount Sinai Beth Israel to stop closing beds and services without prior approval. This is big news and more to come #SaveBethIsrael
— Carlina Rivera (@CarlinaRivera) December 21, 2023
