By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN WEST — Public Advocate Bill de Blasio blamed the state for letting St. Vincent's Hospital crumble during an appearance at a local community board meeting Wednesday to rally support to save the ailing West Side facility.
“I’m appalled by what the state hasn’t done,” de Blasio told a packed house at Community Board 4's full board meeting Wednesday night at Roosevelt Hospital. “The state needs to act like they want something to be saved... and not approve the hospital to be shut down.”
De Blasio told DNAinfo he came to the meeting, in part, because he is touring community boards across the city to personally make introductions.
But he said his visit to Board 4, which covers Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, was made to galvanize local residents to apply public pressure to ensure the West Side is not left without an emergency room facility below 59th Street.
The board of St. Vincent’s Hospital voted for its closure of inpatient facilities on Tuesday. A rally was held yesterday that de Blasio attended.
