>A Valley insider had this to say:
Birthing babies is the MOST profitable aspect of Valley Hospital. They are losing potential mommies to hospitals with more SINGLE rooms. Now, every new mother to be wants a single room and she is willing to pay the extra $s for it. Valley wants to be able to provide that single room to every pregnant patient that wants one. Ka ching!
For this, they need to set aside an entire new wing, also moving diagnostic and pediatrics with it.
It is definitely about competition, but it’s competition over getting the profitable patients not in getting the most high tech equipment and personnel to handle the more expensive illnesses. Manhattan, after all, is not that far away.
Is it possible for valley to get what it wants without changing the building code?
We don’t really know, do we? They have not been made to provide other scenarios as yet (forget the DVD, that’s their opening gambit). They have not been made to provide an EIS (Environment Impact Statement). That should be necessary given that they are requesting a CHANGE in the town’s code. The EIS will provide much needed independent information to residents and planning members about noise, pollution, traffic, growth, pedestrian safety, effectiveness of proposed abatements, etc.
“Not-for-profit” and “competition” are an ungainly fit. So should the residents nearby (and the Village’s character) bear the brunt of this problem that Valley faces?
The planning board needs to ask the right questions. These will not be the questions Valley wants to be asked.
Let’s hope they are up to the task.




