This is how a nonprofit nursing home goes for-profit

Community United to Save Theodore Roosevelt Park says it still has the upper hand in a legal battle against the American Museum of Natural History. In contrast to pronouncements of partial victory by the museum, the tiny nonprofit claims to be the real winner of a judge’s decision to let the museum resume some construction activities on the Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation.

It was a significant victory, according to David Paget, attorney for the museum. “Interior work and other necessary exterior work will begin Monday. For the time being, the Museum will not proceed with the removal of seven trees pending determination of the overall merits of the case, on which we fully expect to prevail.”

But Michael Hiller, the lawyer representing Community United, has a different take:

“I nearly fell of my chair laughing at the museum’s effort to make their calamitous loss look like a win,” he stated.

“The museum asked the Court to vacate the entire TRO so that all work in the Park could continue, including removal of the seven canopy trees.  When it became obvious to the museum’s lawyer that he had no chance of winning the motion, he shifted gears and asked if we would accept a negotiated deal that we just couldn’t pass up.

“We agreed to allow the museum to install a “safety sign” on scaffolding; store vehicles on the publicly inaccessible Ross Terrace; remove four shrubs; and perform work INSIDE EXISTING museum buildings.

“Because none of what the museum asked for had anything to do with our claims, we agreed to the relief.

“What can’t the museum do? They can’t touch the trees, the benches, the paths, the wildlife, or even a single blade of grass – period. In short, the Order plainly and unequivocally states that museum cannot do ANY work in the Park. If that’s a victory for the museum, I can’t imagine what defeat looks like to them.”

One do-gooder in western Queens has a nonprofit story to tell. Peter Wilson started the College Readiness Program at Sunnyside Community Services 16 years ago to help disadvantaged students prepare for college. The idea was inspired by his own experience applying for college nearly three decades ago. That’s when a high school adviser said that he shouldn’t bother applying to top-tier schools – but that didn’t stop him from getting into Columbia University. Now he wants to spread the power of positive thinking to young people in need of free SAT prep classes, assistance with college applications, and financial aid workshops. Read his story at NY1.

The New York state Charities Bureau has released a new guide on the sale of nonprofit nursing homes. More and more nursing homes are being bought up by for-profit entities, with about 5 percent of nonprofit nursing homes being sold annually in recent years. Such a transformation, though, requires that sellers adhere to the requirements of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law or else the state attorney general or the state Supreme Court could block the sale. The following guide has what you need to know on the matter.