NIFA’S Incompetent Richard Kessel Loses Again in Court But Vows to Keep Wasting Taxpayer Money

Nassau’s Only Public Hospital Files Contempt Motion Against NIFA, Urges $10,000 Per Day Fines for Defying Court Order

EAST MEADOW, NY  – Nassau Health Care Corporation released the following statement in response to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority’s vow to appeal their second straight loss in court to attempt to prevent Nassau University Medical Center from exercising its right to effective legal counsel as it fights for the federal and state funding to which it is legally entitled.  NHCC also filed today a contempt motion against NIFA demanding $10,000 per day in fines for the Authority’s defiance of the Court order.

“Incompetent Richard Kessel is at it again, wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to appeal his second failed attempt to deny NUMC its basic right to defend itself against Albany’s corruption. Mr. Kessel has played fast and loose with tax dollars and the law his whole career and this attack on NUMC’s right to effective counsel it yet another example. He continues to weaponize NIFA and drive deliberate misinformation about the hospital. He’s like Nassau’s own Captain Ahab, who will stop at nothing to slay his whale, but the only thing he’s really doing is trying to cover for Albany’s abuse of power and violations of federal law. By fighting so furiously, Mr. Kessel again proves that he cares about politicians, not the mostly low-income, minority and at-risk patients who deserve quality medical care served by NUMC. NIFA has now been ordered to approve legal contracts twice by the courts because of its inherent conflict of interest, but it has refused despite hiring two law firms to defend itself in litigation. Nassau residents should demand he comply with the court orders and if he has any sense of decency, help advance the progress NUMC has made by advocating for a restoration of both the Federal and State funding Mr. Kessel refuses to acknowledge. Maybe he’ll start serving the public and protecting NUMC’s patients in what would be a Christmas miracle, but it’s likely this Grinch isn’t interested in redemption.”

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