Some village of Fredonia officials were frustrated again this week about the lack of progress on a new Brooks Memorial Hospital — and this time, some of their comments were politically tinged.
Mayor Douglas Essek said during his report time at a Village Board meeting, “I have tried to reach out to the New York State Department of Health, Miss Angela Profeta, who I guess is high up in that. I emailed Ms. Profeta on Dec. 20 with a very cordial email, stating that we really need this to happen and it’s essential. I haven’t heard anything back.”
He added, “You would think it would be easier to get in touch with state officials. I guess they don’t really want to talk to you. I wish it was just as easy to make an appointment and call the governor up and say ‘I’d like to have a meeting with you,’ and that’s just not the case.”
Trustee James Lynden wondered why he couldn’t.
“I can’t even get a number for this person from the State Department of Health. I got an email,” Essek replied.
“The governor’s office has a contact number. As a mayor you can ask for it,” Lynden said.
“OK, Jim, I hate to say it but … I do not have a straight number like some mayors here we have locally have. I do not have that privilege,” Essek said — apparently a reference to Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, who occasionally talks up his connections in Albany.
Essek soon added, “Make no mistake, I can tell you myself and other local leaders know it’s essential to have a hospital here in our community. I guess, at this point, I would love it to be in Fredonia, and it probably makes good fit. But whatever is the most economically feasible sustainable hospital that meets all of our community’s needs, that’s where it needs to be put.”
Trustee Dave Bird sarcastically commented, “Maybe we can offer (Gov. Kathy Hochul’s) husband the vending rights to it, and then they will move along quicker, like the stadium did.” That’s a reference to reports from spring 2022 that William Hochul might stand to personally benefit from the construction of a new Buffalo Bills stadium, because he is a senior executive and chief counsel with the company that operates concessions for the team.
“I think a lot of things are moving on behind closed doors that I’m not privy to,” Essek replied. “But I’m hopeful that we will have some answer one way or the other. This has been going on six years, seven years now, and it’s just ridiculous.”
Bird and Essek are Republicans, while Hochul is a Democrat and her executive branch in Albany is dominated by fellow Democrats. Rosas is also a Democrat.
