BP MARKOWITZ, BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL TO HOST FREE 9/11 CONCERT FEATURING BROOKLYN SYMPHONY QUARTET
Action plan spearheaded by Borough Hall and Brooklyn elected and community leaders results in effective partnership to save four school clinics serving as first defense against H1N1

When plans for closure of these clinics were announced in the first week of July, the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office convened stakeholders to mount a campaign to secure funding to keep the clinics operating and serving. The Governor’s office today announced $300,000 in grants to Long Island College Hospital (LICH) in Brooklyn to keep four school-based clinics open and operating for the new school year.

Statement by Borough President Marty Markowitz:

“My office called a meeting as soon as we heard about these cuts, and we all showed what partnership between the community, the private sector and all branches of government can do when we come together. I want to thank the Governor for recognizing that these clinics not only heal and educate our kids, they also serve as the first line of defense against threats like the H1N1 flu, which will be back with a vengeance this fall. In this economic and epidemiological climate, their closing was unthinkable. I also commend our legislative leaders, as well as Brooklyn Senators Montgomery, Adams and Squadron, Assembly Members Brennan, Jeffries and especially the tenacious Joan Millman, for marshalling funds to keep these necessary clinics open. We thank Congress Members Velázquez and Clarke and Council Members de Blasio and Yassky for their efforts as well.

As was pointed out last year when this office and other advocates fought to save LICH’s maternity and pediatrics units, it would be one thing if neighborhoods served by LICH and these school-based clinics were facing significant population declines, but all you have to do is walk down Court Street, Smith Street or Atlantic Avenue and count the strollers, or see the small children crowding area parks, or check out the number of students overfilling neighborhood schools to know that there is an exploding population of young families in great need of school-based medical services. Not only that, this community is expected to grow by 15 to 20 thousand residents in the years ahead. Together, we have ensured better health care for so many students and their families for the new school year and beyond.”

Statement by Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham: