Supporting Businesses Adversely Affected by the Closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital

On Saturday, February 12, 2011, I joined New York State Assembly Member Deborah Glick, U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler and the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce (GVCCC) in kicking off “Love the Village,” a day-long shopping event that encouraged the public to shop and explore businesses hurt by the loss of St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Participants were given a map of the area bounded by Greenwich Avenue and 14th Street from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue, with the names and addresses of small businesses. The first 100 shoppers who turned in receipts totaling at least $10 from three area businesses received a limited edition “Love the Village” t-shirt and all shoppers received one raffle ticket for every $10 worth of receipts presented.  Multiple raffles were held throughout the day.

St. Vincent’s hospital brought more than 3,500 employees and hundreds of visitors and ambulatory patients into the community every day, and its absence has left many local businesses struggling to survive.  We must each do our part to keep our remaining small businesses as well as the character of our community alive.