Slammed pols get praise from other side

In the aftermath of scathing condemnation of their opposition to the proposed expansion of St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside, State Senator Frank Padavan and Assemblymember Ann-Margaret Carrozza have received praise from an unlikely source - the hospital itself.
A letter dated February 21 from Dr. Edwin Simpser, COO of St. Mary’s was written, “to clarify our position in light of what we believe to be a good deal of misinformation,” the letter states.
“I have always believed your guidance has been constructive in addressing community concerns,” Simpser wrote, declaring, “We certainly do not now, nor have we ever, interpreted our differences as a lack of concern for the children we serve.”
“In fact,” the letter continues, “we have always believed you have acted with their best interests in mind.”
Padavan’s office made the letter available to The Queens Courier, as well as a copy of a letter from Blanche Felton, a local activist at the forefront of opposition to St. Mary’s plans, responding to the editorial entitled “Pols Sick Ploy” which appeared in the New York Daily News and was reprinted in The Queens Courier.
The editorial was in response to statements from Padavan and Carrozza asking for a delay in the approval of a Certificate of Need (CON) from the New York State Health Department (DOH) - the first step in the approval process - until community concerns could be addressed.
Felton, who is past president of the former John Golden Park Block Association, wrote in her letter that “We were never informed that St. Mary’s [CON] was scheduled for review on January 24.”
“[Padavan and Carrozza] responded to our request for a delay of the review process since we never had the opportunity to express opposition in a timely fashion.” Felton wrote.
The DOH approved the application at the meeting, and issued the CON.
Felton, a “concerned homeowner who lives less than 200 feet from St. Mary’s” asked in her letter that the editors “address the inaccuracies with a proper retraction.”
With the issuance of the CON, St. Mary’s must now go through the normal process of creating and submitting building plans to the New York City Department of Buildings before it can break ground on the projected $105 million project.
They will have to issue an Environmental Impact Statement and will submit to public review of the plans in accordance with the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process.
Simpser’s letter reiterates a promise by the facility “to continue to resolve differences through ongoing dialogue with community members” and welcomes their “participation in facilitating a positive and constructive conversation.”