Ben Landa…Bent Philipson…Howard Fensterman… de Blasio…
A contributor of LM, May 27, 2016
What is the connection, you may be wondering, that these men share? They have money invested in nursing homes, political connections, clout, legal connections, a hedge fund (Platinum) and mounting nursing home violations. They have de Blasio in common also. They have contributed significantly to him.
They, along with Leopold Friedman, to follow in the second article, may very well also share in “event-driven investments” – through Platinum and in diamonds, again through Platinum. While Platinum is not the central focus of this article, it very possibly should be.
In the meantime, what follows is a picture of connections, a web of sorts.
SENTOSA Nursing Homes:
Sentosa Care Nursing Homes (142 appeals) per LTCC.org (one of several sub-par nursing home groups) rec’d a rate settlement from NY State and got paid-off for substandard services!)
Sentosa Care facilities have been subject of numerous reports of poor care. Recently, ProPublica issued a report, “How N.Y.’s Biggest For-Profit Nursing Home Group Flourishes Despite a Record of Patient Harm.” Based on a 2014 listing of Sentosa facilities, with 142 appeals they are in line to receive a piece of the multi-million dollar handout. As per ProPublica:
“The decision maker in these deals is the state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council, a body of appointed officials, many from inside the health care industry. The council has substantial leverage to press nursing home applicants to improve quality, but an examination of dozens of transactions in recent years show that power is seldom used.
Moreover, records show that the council hasn’t always had complete information about all the violations and fines at nursing homes owned by or affiliated with applicants it reviewed. That’s because the Department of Health, which prepares character-and-competence recommendations for the council, doesn’t report them all.
The department’s assessments of Landa and other owners of SentosaCare homes have routinely found that the facilities provided a “substantially consistent high level of care” – the standard owners must meet to receive council approval.
Yet the agency’s assessments in 15 separate ownership applications since 2013 did not mention at least 20 federal fines paid by the group’s homes, records show. In more than a dozen cases, the department reported “no repeat violations,” even when a SentosaCare home had been cited multiple times for the same serious deficiency. “
BEN LANDA:
(PARTNER BENT PHILIPSON)
HOWARD FENSTERMAN IS HIS POLITICALLY CONNECTED ATTORNEY
SENTOSA Healthcare LLC :
(was formerly Split Rock Nursing)
http://forward.com/news/334807/takeover-of-non-profit-nursing-home-puts-200-jobs-at-risk/
In September, SentosaCare transferred its interest in Jewish Home’s Bronx facility to a newly formed company called TCPRNC, LLC. That firm’s owners include nursing home industry executives Leopold Friedman and Esther Farkovits. Its not clear what relationship remains between SentosaCare and TCPRNC, LLC, or whether SentosaCare will have any role at the Bronx home. SentosaCare COO Bent Philipson did not respond to a request for comment.”
THE PLAZA REHAB /AKA TCPRNC LLC (ALBANY)
(was New Jewish Home Lifecare )
HUDSON POINTE-SHEYA LANDA 25%-‘NEW’ OPERATOR OCT 2014
(LEASING FROM RCNR REALTY ACQUISITION LLC WHO
BOUGHT IT FROM RCNR REALTY LLC)
CYPRESS GARDEN CTR for Nursing and Rehabilitation-SHEYA LANDA
ST BARNABAS /SBNH ACQUISITIONS (Bronx)
SEAGATE REHAB and Nursing Center-AVI P.
MANAGING MEMBERS: BENT PHILIPSON/BEN LANDA
CYPRESS GARDEN Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation-GABRIELLE P.
SBNC ACQUISITIONS LLC-Managing Member –AVI PHILIPSON
ST BARNABAS /SBNH ACQUISITIONS –AVI (Bronx)
SENTOSA Healthcare LLC :
(was formerly Split Rock Nursing)
https://www.propublica.org/article/new-york-for-profit-nursing-home-group-flourishes-despite-patient-harm
MANAGING MEMBERS: BENT PHILIPSON/BEN LANDA
The following comes from a 2012 PHHPC listing:
https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/public_health_and_health_planning_council/meetings/2012-12-06/docs/phhpc_agenda.pdf
The members of the Board of Directors of Oceanview Manor Home for Adults, Inc. are as follows: Benjamin Landa, President Assistant Administrator, New Surfside Nursing Home
Affiliations:
Excellent Home Care Services, LLC (CHHA),
Avalon Gardens Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (RHCF),
Bay Park Center For Nursing and Rehabilitation, LLC (RHCF),
Bayview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (RHCF),
Brookhaven Rehabilitation And Health Care Center (RHCF),
Eastchester Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, LLC (RHCF),
Forest Hills Care Center (RHCF),
Garden Care Center (RHCF),
Golden Gate Rehabilitation and HealthCare Center (RHCF),
Grace Plaza Nursing And Rehabilitation Center (RHCF),
The Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing (RHCF),
Meadow Park Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (RHCF),
New Surfside Nursing Home (RHCF),
Rockville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (RHCF),
Split Rock Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (RHCF),
Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, formerly Willoughby Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (RHCF),
Tarrytown Hall Care Center (RHCF),
Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (RHCF),
Privilege Care Diagnostic and Treatment Center (D&TC),
Oceanview Manor Home for Adults (ACF), Hawthorn Health Multicare Center for Living (RHCF) (Receiver) Harbour Health Multicare Center for Living (RHCF) (Receiver) Lisa Rosenfeld, Secretary
Administrator, Oceanview Manor Home for Adults, Inc. (ACF)
SENTOSA CONTRACTS WITH/CO-OWNS:
Avalon Gardens
Bay Park Center
Brookhaven Nursing
Eastchester Rehab
Forest Hills Care Center
Garden Care Center
Golden Gate Rehab & Health Care Center
Highland View Care Center –Receiver
The Hamptons Ctr for Rehab
Grace Plaza Nursing
Little Neck Care Center
Nassau Extended Care Center
Oceanview Manor Home for Adults
Park Avenue Extended Care Facility
Parkview Care & Rehab
Pathways Nursing & Rehab
Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
South Point Plaza Nursing
South Shore Rehab
Spring Creek Rehab
The Grove at Valhalla Rehab
Throgs Neck Extended Care Facility
Townhouse Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
White Plains Center for Nursing Care
Woodmere Rehab
EXCELLENT:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/the-sick-looting-of-home-health-care-6428656
“During the public discussion of Excellent, one state planning council member, Howard Fensterman, waited outside. He had declared a conflict of interest, since he is one of Excellent’s lawyers and his wife has applied for partial ownership.
Mr. Fensterman is past chairman of fund-raising for Mr. Cuomo on Long Island, and his Lake Success law firm has donated more than a half-million dollars to candidates of both parties over the past decade, records show, including more than $17,700 to Mr. Cuomo and $43,291.25 to Senator Skelos, the Senate Republican leader. Excellent and the Fenstermans’ separate contributions include another $13,500 to Governor Cuomo.
Excellent is run by Joseph Goldberger, known as one of the “two Josephs” who raised $500,000 from their Hasidic community in Brooklyn for Mr. Pataki’s 1994 campaign.
An Excellent owner, Benjamin Landa, a nursing home magnate, has raised money for both parties, and his own contributions include $12,500 to the Republican National Committee; $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; $6,500 to United States Senator Charles E. Schumer; and $10,000 last year to State Senator John L. Sampson, a powerful Democrat who was recently charged with embezzlement and other crimes.
Excellent, in addition to seeking an expanded license, has applied to be a managed care plan under the name Olympia. “The home health care industry is either going to re-acclimate and reinvent itself,” Mr. Fensterman said, “or it won’t stay in business.”
BENT PHILIPSON:
(PARTNER BEN LANDA)
HOWARD FENSTERMAN IS HIS POLITICALLY CONNECTED ATTORNEY
THE PLAZA REHAB /AKA TCPRNC LLC (ALBANY)
(was New Jewish Home Lifecare)
http://forward.com/news/334807/takeover-of-non-profit-nursing-home-puts-200-jobs-at-risk/
In September, SentosaCare transferred its interest in Jewish Home’s Bronx facility to a newly formed company called TCPRNC, LLC. That firm’s owners include nursing home industry executives Leopold Friedman and Esther Farkovits. Its not clear what relationship remains between SentosaCare and TCPRNC, LLC, or whether SentosaCare will have any role at the Bronx home. SentosaCare COO Bent Philipson did not respond to a request for comment.”
HUDSON POINTE-GABRIELLE PHILIPSON 25%-‘NEW’ OPERATOR
(LEASING FROM RCNR REALTY ACQUISITION LLC)
CYPRESS GARDEN Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation-GABRIELLE P.
SBNC ACQUISITIONS LLC-Managing Member –AVI PHILIPSON
ST BARNABAS /SBNH ACQUISITIONS –AVI (Bronx)
SEAGATE REHAB and Nursing Center-AVI P.
MANAGING MEMBERS: BENT PHILIPSON/BEN LANDA
KINGSBRIDGE HEIGHTS REHAB-BENT 5% GABRIELLE 20%
Crown Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
Diamond Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
SENTOSA CONTRACTS WITH/CO-OWNS:
Avalon Gardens
Bay Park Center
Brookhaven Nursing
Eastchester Rehab
Forest Hills Care Center
Garden Care Center
Golden Gate Rehab & Health Care Center
Highland View Care Center –Receiver
The Hamptons Ctr for Rehab
Grace Plaza Nursing
Little Neck Care Center
Nassau Extended Care Center
Oceanview Manor Home for Adults
Park Avenue Extended Care Facility
Parkview Care & Rehab
Pathways Nursing & Rehab
Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
South Point Plaza Nursing
South Shore Rehab
Spring Creek Rehab
The Grove at Valhalla Rehab
Throgs Neck Extended Care Facility
Townhouse Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
White Plains Center for Nursing Care
Woodmere Rehab
ATTORNEY HOWARD FENSTERMAN:
SENTOSA CONNECTION
http://forward.com/news/334807/takeover-of-non-profit-nursing-home-puts-200-jobs-at-risk/
CUOMO CONNECTION- FINANCE CHAIR FOR LONG ISLAND
SCHUMER CONNECTION-FINANCE CHAIR FOR LONG ISLAND
http://sunlightfoundation.com/press/articles/2007/09/23/did-nursing-home-company-buy-schumers-help/print/
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/the-sick-looting-of-home-health-care-6428656
Defending East Neck Nursing Home w/Stripper :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=305YJ4X1IQY
DeBlasio Fundraiser Oct 2014:
http://www.howardfensterman.com/in-the-news/bill-de-blasio
From NYS DOH Dex 2012 Public Health & Health Planning Council:
https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/public_health_and_health_planning_council/meetings/2012-12-06/docs/phhpc_agenda.pdf
Putnam Operation Acquisition I, LLC
d/b/a Putnam Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Mr. Fensterman – Recusal
Eastchester Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
(Bronx County)Mr. Fensterman – Recusal
Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility Management, LLC
d/b/a Queens Boulevard Extended Care Facility Mr. Fensterman – Recusal
Hollis Operating Co., LLC d/b/a Holliswood Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare (Queens County) Recusal Mr. Fensterman – Recusal
Gamzel NY , Inc. d/b/a Revival Home Health Care
(Kings County)Mr. Fensterman – Recusal
Oceanview Manor Home for Adults, Inc.
(Kings County)Mr. Fensterman – Recusal
VRNC, LLC d/b/a Vestal Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (Broome County)
Mr. Fensterman – Abstained at the EPRC meeting
Beyond the Landa/Philipson connection (& Fensterman) there is also a rather interesting affiliation: Bernard Fuchs. He is the CEO of the Platinum Fund in which the BDL Group LLC traded on Hospice Annuities in a fraud case prosecuted by the SEC.
Fuchs has a 15% stake in TCPRNC aka The Plaza Rehab. TCPRNC is the SentosaCare newly formed interest and the problematic development of a Joseph Chetrit built nursing home on a frightening toxic site. de Blasio’s has gone full out to support it …yet another ‘partnership’ with one of the city’s biggest developers…in contravention of both the community as well as court judgments.
BERNARD FUCHS:
PLATINUM FUND LLC-PRINCIPAL (Hedge Fund)
BDL GROUP LLC-Hospice Annuities-SEC CASE
TIFERES INVESTORS LLC-CEO (Lawrence, LI)
THE PLAZA REHAB /AKA TCPRNC LLC 15% (was New Jewish Home Lifecare )
TCPRNC LLC
Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
Flushing Center for Rehab-30%
Hudson Pointe at Riverdale Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
Hopkins Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
Lincoln Center for Rehab-50%
Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing of Central Queens
The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center (a/k/a)
Comprehensive of Orleans(Co-owners Jacob Sod, Jonathan Bleier)
The Pavilion at Queens for Rehabilitation and Nursing
Greene Meadows Nursing and Rehab (Sod, Bleier, Peckman, & Fuchs)
St Francis Home of Williamsville/Comprehensive of Williamsville LLC
(Co-owners Ephram Lahasky, Joshua Farkovitz, David Gast, Fuchs
Sam Halper, Debbie Korngut, Teresa Lichtschein, Jeffrey Arem)
BESCAR LLC:
Benjamin Fishoff-Managing Member (see TCPRNC LLC)
Bay Park Center for Nursing and Rehab
Eastchester Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
The Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
THE PLAZA REHAB /AKA TCPRNC LLC 10% (was New Jewish Home Lifecare )
TCPRNC Real Estate LLC: (LOCATION IS LLPO BOX 10873 ALBANY, NY 12201)
New “OPERATOR” of Jewish Home Lifecare 100 W Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx) from NFP to for-profit.
http://forward.com/news/334807/takeover-of-non-profit-nursing-home-puts-200-jobs-at-risk/
In September, SentosaCare transferred its interest in Jewish Home’s Bronx facility to a newly formed company called TCPRNC, LLC. That firm’s owners include nursing home industry executives Leopold Friedman and Esther Farkovits. Its not clear what relationship remains between SentosaCare and TCPRNC, LLC, or whether SentosaCare will have any role at the Bronx home. SentosaCare COO Bent Philipson did not respond to a request for comment.”
Bescar, LLC
Kennedy RH Holdings LLC
Joel Edelstein
Israel Fruend
Bernard Fuchs Gerald Fuchs Tova Fuchs
Leopold Friedman
Benjamin Landa
Philipson Family, LLC Bent, Deborah ,Gabrielle, Raquel Philipson Esther Farkovits
Benjamin Fishoff (see above ownership in BESCAR)
Abraham Fishoff Eastchester Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
Meryl Maybruch Eastchester Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
Barbara Gold Eastchester Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
Regina Weinstock Eastchester Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
ESTHER FARKOVITS : (Resides in Israel)
THE PLAZA REHAB /AKA TCPRNC LLC 25%
(was New Jewish Home Lifecare )
TCPRNC LLC
KINGSBRIDGE HEIGHTS REHAB-25%
Little Neck Care Center
Nassau Extended Care Facility
Park Avenue Extended Care Facility
Seagate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
South Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
The Citadel Rehab and Nursing Center
Throgs Neck Extended Care Facility
Townhouse Extended Care Center
White Plains Center for Nursing
Additional Sources:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/the-sick-looting-of-home-health-care-6428656
LOSTMESSIAH 