A KISS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - The State Environmental Quality Review Act requires government to consider and choose the alternative that minimizes adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable. You don't need to know environmental science to know that putting the hospital on the St. Luke's Campus is less impactful to the environment than putting it Downtown because less will be disturbed!
A KISS FOR REGIONAL HEALTH CARE - The applicable state law provides for funding projects that "consolidate multiple licensed health care facilities into an integrated system of care..." You don't need to know health care policy to know that going from three health care campuses to four by adding a new one Downtown is the exact opposite of consolidation.
A KISS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Regional leaders want the hospital Downtown to spur economic development. You don't need to know economic development theory to know that there is already significant economic activity going on within the Downtown hospital footprint (and if you don't know that, just ask the business people there) and that condemning businesses is the exact opposite of developing them. With the Arterial Project finally behind us, the existing infrastructure and buildings that a hospital would bulldoze are now assets that can be recycled, making the neighborhood prime for business expansion and new investment!
12 comments:
I'm a little confused. There is no discussion going on about the hospital except between those opposed to the downtown site. The downtown project's wheels are in motion and no hospital or governmental figure is discussing alternatives. It clearly is a done deal, for better or worse.
It is not a done deal until properties are condemned. Simple fact: The Hospital does not own the site. The project cannot go forward until either it has options covering the site, or a unit of government steps forward to exercise eminent domain. So far, no unit of government has been willing to step up to the plate.
I realize the complexity of property acquisition which is one reason I oppose the downtown concept. However, all government and all agencies involved in the project they have all endorsed certainly understood as well. That translates to the pretty obvious conclusion that eminent domain will be exercised if necessary. That had to be understood from the outset. There is no way, proponents of the plan would have traveled this far without the willingness to take properties.
The plan has gotten this far ONLY because certain key INDIVIDUALS have been in the position to control the process -- but they cannot control it forever and these certain INDIVIDUALS are not the ones who will vote on eminent domain. The public loves their property rights and does not like bullies. The public knows there is no need to condemn private property for a hospital that has acknowledged it can build the new project on its own land. When the issue finally comes up, there will rightfully be a lot of PERSONAL pressure placed on every board member/council person/ legislator that is thinking of approving condemnation. Many are in business -- and an action of this sort will backfire on them.
Good luck, Strikeslip, but don't bet on it. The time for public pressure if there was ever going to be any is long over.
The anonymous poster above is only here to nicely push the “yes agenda”, suggesting the hospital is a done deal. This is the yes tactic, they’re team continues saying things hoping they will come true. We have watched this for three years, and have complete faith the downtown concept will be defeated. So far from a done deal! Read our informational websites at www.NoHospitalDowntown.com and www.BetterUticaDowntown.com
Actually Anon5:24 the time for public pressure has only just begun! The elites running this process failed to follow the intent of the grant law, which requires public engagement, by postponing the opportunity for public discussion until after a site selection was made. This allowed for "pressure" to build. Our forefathers fought a Revolution and DIED to secure our rights including the right to private property -- which provided the basis for our country to rise to greatness by allowing its citizens to keep the fruits of their labor. The elites who are used to a docile Utica citizenry are going to be awfully surprised on this one because the right to private property (including being left alone by one's government) is far more dear to people than even the right to bear arms. The statements by leaders of the Community Foundation, the Hospital, and other local leaders and organizations trying to dismiss the resistance to the Downtown Hospital will backfire badly on them and their organizations.
The tendency of the No Hospital group to attack those who have supported their position is insulting, to say the least. In any controversy there comes a time when rational thought must govern conduct. Time and time again in this area, decent, legitimate grass routes groups have opposed insider decisions to no avail. In the instance of the hospital, the fight if there was to be any had to be made as the money was being allocated. It was not effectively made. Why does not matter. Now, are we really to believe that $300 million and a new hospital will halt and the site matter will go back to square one? Instead of fooling around for goodness how long on the Keeler show and being made to look foolish even by a sophomore like him, the No Hospital group would have been much more productive utilizing a better campaign when there was still time to make a difference; that is if there was ever a time given the insider dealings.
When, Anonymous 836, has NHD attacked those who have supported their position? And why would NHD oppose the $300M when the wording of the legislation is flexible enough to cover the MVHS existing site?
Read the comment of Anon. 7:46. Who ever it is a bit paranoid of "their team" when at one time I was on the NH team. If the state would "hold" the $300 million after the community in effect says, of sorry, we have changed our minds on the site, the state would and should be laughed out of town. My goodness the process is underway and has been for quite awhile. If the downtown project collapses, it may down the line of its own weight. But, it sure will not halt at this point because of community or even property owner objections. It would be interesting to hear what the NHD group intends to do constructively now? If their tactic is to only delay, they will bear the brunt of stalling or ultimately defeating the new hospital. Flexible legislation does not mean that the money will sit there forever. If your NHD group will state it opposition even though that may kill the entire project, it ought to say so. One more soothing approach would be to request that all candidates running for state office declare their intention to, if elected, protect the $300 million should the downtown site be changed. Let us see what they say.
Replying to Anon5:24 Isn't an environmental impact study also required? In addition to purchase of a site?
I have shared the view of the writer who concludes that the public protest effort relating to the Downtown hospital project is too little, too late. Three elements place some doubt in my mind. First, it is not known at least to my knowledge if the private financing part of the deal al be it not the major part is secure in final form. Second, the idea put forward that our State representatives who are from both parties should take whatever steps to guarantee the $300 million in public fashion is a good one. If they cannot commit to that, it is obvious that the state money is in fact tied to one site. Third, the excellent SEQR filing by the Utica Council President makes a compelling case against the downtown site. It is a shame that this type of presentation was not done more often in public forum awhile ago. I could not agree more that spending all that time on a radio show dueling with as the writer said, a sophomoric host, did not one much good. But the bottom line is fairly clear, there is far too much institutional support for the project for anything to halt it except the project concept itself. But, until a shovel actually turns dirt, civil and civic discussion cannot hurt. It may very well represent a new age of openness in our area which in itself is a gift of the NHD group.
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