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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kaushal Challa, CEO of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center on Impact of Jail Construction
5:54:57
ยท
131 sec
Kaushal Challa, CEO of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, testified about the negative impact of nearby jail construction on their healthcare facility at 125 Walker Street. The construction has caused significant damage to the building, disrupted patient care, and resulted in financial losses for the health center.
- The health center had to relocate pediatric services due to construction-related damage, resulting in 10,000 fewer patient visits and a $2 million financial loss.
- Requests for on-site monitoring of noise, air, and vibrations were initially ignored, and later implemented inadequately.
- The health center has made repairs at their own cost but has been told these expenses and lost revenues are not eligible for reimbursement.
Kaushal Challa
5:54:57
Hi.
5:54:59
Good afternoon.
5:54:59
My name is Kaushal.
5:55:00
I'm the CEO at the Charles B.
5:55:02
Wong Community Health Center.
5:55:04
We provide medical care to 65,000 New Yorkers every year.
5:55:08
Our mission is to care for all regardless of income, insurance, language barrier, any other barrier.
5:55:14
Most of our patients are low income, non English speaking, and many are uninsured.
5:55:20
My comments are about execution.
5:55:23
Our oldest site is what, 125 Walker Street which touches the jail site, same building as many of the senior citizens that I mentioned earlier.
5:55:32
10,000 patients get their healthcare here every year, especially pediatrics and dental.
5:55:40
In 2023, the building conditions got significantly worse.
5:55:44
There were leaks.
5:55:45
There was water damage.
5:55:46
It affected many exam rooms and waiting areas while the construction noise and vibrations disrupt imagine getting a shot while this jackhammering, that kind of thing.
5:55:56
We had to make the difficult step to relocate pediatric services at our own cost while trying to fix or cover up the damage.
5:56:07
But this reduced our capacity to serve patients with 10,000 fewer visits and a financial loss of over $2,000,000.
5:56:16
Despite requesting on-site monitoring, for noise, air, and vibrations since 2023, those requests were ignored, with supportive groups like NUBC and Welcome to Chinatown and many local officials.
5:56:29
Monitoring was eventually installed on the same block but still not on the floor where we deliver care.
5:56:36
We have made fixes to the damaged areas, mostly cosmetic, again at our own cost, in order to expedite resuming healthcare services.
5:56:46
But we've been told that those expenses and lost revenues are not eligible for claims or reimbursement without a clear explanation.
5:56:54
The purpose really of my testimony is to highlight the negative health impact that the project has already caused and the potential for further damage if the services must relocate again in the future.
5:57:07
Thank you for the opportunity.