‘Stroller march’ to support Brooklyn’s LICH on Saturday

Babies to rally for Long Island College Hospital

April 12, 2013 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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A Brooklyn mom is spreading the word to Brownstone parents that a “stroller march” is planned for this Saturday to support Long Island College Hospital (LICH), now threatened with closure.

“Many of us have either had a baby at LICH, plan to have a baby at LICH or have taken our kids to LICH for medical care,” said Claire K. Tuck in a statement. “Most if not all of us have enjoyed LICH park. LICH is now seriously threatened as the state of New York wants to sell off this property and turn it into a high-rise condo.”

This Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. parents and kids will be bringing signs and strollers to LICH playground (for toddlers) on Henry Street near Amity Street, where they’ll rally and then march their strollers to Court Street.

“Governor Cuomo can save our hospital – or close it,” Tuck said. “We cannot let our neighborhood hospital be turned into a huge condo building.”

SUNY’s board of trustees voted on March 19 to close LICH, an affiliate. SUNY said the closure was necessary to save financially troubled SUNY Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush.

Local residents say closing LICH would leave a section of Brooklyn from Red Hook to Williamsburg without a hospital. Rallies, marches and letter-writing campaigns have been going on non-stop since the news was announced.

LICH supporters say that SUNY Downstate aims to cash in on LICH’s prime Brownstone Brooklyn real estate.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes issued a temporary restraining order on April 1 that bars the New York State Department of Health from shutting down LICH pending a May 2 hearing.

Interested marchers should RSVP to [email protected]