New York, NY —
Across New York, hospitals are warning of reduced service and longer wait times - as they anticipate the state budget Gov. Paterson is set to release tomorrow. But, as WNYC's Fred Mogul reports, that doesn't mean all new capitol improvement projects are being put on hold.
REPORTER: New York Downtown Hospital won approval from state licensing authorities for its first-ever MRI suite last week. Tony Alfano, a vice president for Downtown, said they're lucky to have grant funding for the MRI, but many other developments may progress at a slower pace or be postponed.
ALFANO: We will have to look long and hard at capitol projects and prioritize those projects.
REPORTER: Downtown shares a problem with many other hospitals and non-profits: government funds are shrinking at the same time as private philanthropy. The hospital's "Lehman Brothers Emergency Center" was supported partly by a $50,000-a-year donation from the bank. Following Lehman's demise, Downtown will have to find the money elsewhere. For WNYC, I'm Fred Mogul.