Reader says Valley’s argument for expanding is inconsistent.
-Thed
Valley’s argument for expanding is inconsistent. On one hand, they say there’s too many hospital beds in the area (fighting Pascack Valley reopening). On the other, they want to double their size. True, they aren’t adding a significant number of rooms, but the question must be asked: With the significant rise in outpatient care AND shorter hospital stays, as well as the so called hospital bed surplus, if Valley wants/needs single patient rooms and other amenities, they should reduce the number of rooms to keep the expansion to a reasonable size.
If you read the recent Time magazine article, which I’m sure Valley management is cursing due to the unfortunate timing (for them), you would know that it’s all about the money. Hospitals are big businesses and management earns higher and higher salaries as their empires grow.
We appreciate a good hospital here in Ridgewood. We just can’t let an unbridled expansion occur that will disproportionately impact the Ridgewood community.
Valley is just trying to maximize their profit, like any good enterprise would do. They want to be a strong regional medical center, and to accomplish that goal, they need to upgrade their facilities. I get that. Unfortunately, they are trying to do it on a property that is just too small, and too poorly situated to accomodate their desires. They realistically need about 10 more acres to build the hospital they “need”. But unfortunately, “they aren’t making any more land”. They have three choices, build on what they have, acquire more land around their current footprint (which isn’t likely), or build elsewhere, which throws away the value built into the current site. With the school nearby, and the close residential neighborhood, they have no option that appeals to all, so they’ve chosen the best option for Valley, which is what any of us would do if we were running the place. The renewed competition from PV is only going to add to the pressure. The people of Ridgewood like having a strong community hospital, but seem unwilling to accomodate a regional facility that will put additional strain on our already cramped infrastructure. Maybe they just need to build elsewhere and treat the Ridgewood facility as a satellite, similar to what HUMC is doing with PV.
Re: “Valley is just trying to maximize their profit, like any good enterprise would do”
As long as they are going to be a “for profit” organization, they can start paying taxes to Ridgewood, like all other “for porfit” businesses.
I agree. I think they would be wise to agree to pay PILOT. In the end, if valley doesn’t get what they want, they’ll likely sell to a national for profit community hospital. This may not be better for Ridgewood, but at least we’ll have tax revenue. But who are we kidding – they’ll get their expansion with some very minor change. Aronsohn needs a legacy so he can move up in the political world.
Aronsohn also needs campaign money.
Why do we need Valley and HUMC and Pasack and Eaglewood in North Jersey?
Mayor Paul Aronsohn pulled another fast one to get elected remember him saying during the candidate’s night. “We must rescind the H Zone Ordinance”
Valley, Hackensack,Pascack Valley,Englewood AND Holy Name…