What’s News for May 16
State Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes astounded a courtroom filled with lawyers, litigants and residents on Thursday when he asked attorneys for three competing bidders for Brooklyn’s Long Island College Hospital (LICH) to gather behind closed doors to try to work out a joint plan to keep the embattled hospital in operation. The unusual settlement negotiations could break through a logjam of burgeoning litigation threatening to tie up SUNY’s sale of the hospital for months or even years. Peebles Corp., Fortis and Prime Healthcare Foundation all bring something to the table, but “no one entity is going to be able to get the real estate unencumbered,” Justice Baynes said. If a deal is worked out, each operator would handle what they do best.
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The MTA announced this Wednesday that from July 26 to Sept. 1, a free “walking transfer” will be available between the G train’s Broadway station and the J/M lines’ nearby Lorimer Street station. This temporary improvement, meant to make things easier for G train riders during the five-week summer suspension of the northern part of the line has been hailed by elected officials and transit advocacy groups alike. However, some said that the measure should be continued on a year-round basis.