A Brooklyn judge yesterday gave Long Island College Hospital a reprieve — ordering it to stay open for business pending his decision on whether it can shut its doors for good.
The State University of New York wants to close its money-losing Cobble Hill facility, but a coalition of nurses and doctors groups hope to keep it open.
“LICH is in a serious state. It is losing millions of dollars,” state Assistant Attorney General Steven Banks argued at a heated hearing in Brooklyn Supreme Civil Court.
Afterward, Borough President Marty Markowitz said: “I speak for all of Brooklyn when I say our priority is to save this hospital. I don’t care about all the riches in the world if you don’t have good health.”
Judge Johnny Lee Bayne vowed to reach a decision soon and ordered that nothing be done to close the hospital in the meantime.
“The stay is in full effect until this court or some other court says otherwise. Do not violate that,” he warned.