NEW NAME: Kenneth Griffin, one of the richest men in New York, is getting his name on Memorial Sloan Kettering’s new Upper East Side tower. The founder and CEO of the hedge fund Citadel, Griffin and fellow-billionaire David Geffen donated $400 million to the cancer center in 2023, the largest philanthropic gift in the hospital’s history. The new pavilion, a 31-story building connected to the hospital between East 66th and 67th Streets, will be entirely dedicated to patient care. In September, Memorial Sloan Kettering secured the City Council’s approval to rezone the site, a key step allowing the project to advance.
KIDNEY DISEASE AWARENESS: The state Department of Health is encouraging residents to get screened for chronic kidney disease, which is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. The department issued a statement for National Kidney Month, outlining the risk factors of chronic kidney disease and ways to help prevent it. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of the disease, which impacts one in seven adults nationally and disproportionately impacts Black and Latino New Yorkers. The department stated that residents should avoid salty foods and smoking, stick to prescribed medications for high blood pressure and monitor blood sugar for diabetics. The department also released a separate statement on endometriosis, a uterine condition that can cause chronic pain and infertility, and encouraged individuals to get checked by a doctor if they believe they have it.
SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET HEARING: Preliminary budget hearings continue this week, beginning with the testimony from leaders of the Department of Social Services. The Committee on General Welfare will hold an oversight hearing at 10 a.m. on Monday examining the Department of Homeless Services’ $3.6 billion preliminary budget proposal, which makes up the bulk of DSS’s overall budget. The Council will also examine the Human Resources Administration’s $11.5 million, which is part of DSS as well.
