State Senator Zellnor Myrie, in an exclusive interview with LittleAfrica News, has voiced strong criticism against the decision to shut down SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn.
Having received treatment for COVID-19 at the facility, Senator Myrie has been a vocal advocate for securing additional financial resources to keep the hospital operational.
In January, the state announced a plan to transform the city’s sole state-run hospital in New York City. Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside SUNY Chancellor John King, proposed a strategy that includes relocating inpatient services to Kings County Hospital, situated just across the street.
This move is part of a broader effort to address the financial challenges facing SUNY Downstate, which is grappling with a crumbling infrastructure that would require $4 billion in repairs and is currently operating at a $100 million deficit.
However, the proposed plan was immediately met with resistance from the local community, which claimed it was largely kept in the dark about these developments.
On February 29th, Senator Myrie led a protest against the state’s decision. The rally featured speeches by notable figures such as activist Al Sharpton, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and various local faith leaders, all of whom emphasized the critical need for the hospital within the borough.
Myrie criticized the lack of transparency and involvement in the planning process, saying, “All of the stakeholders involved feel like they were neglected in the process.”
He also highlighted the capacity issues surrounding healthcare institutions face, arguing that closing SUNY Downstate would be detrimental to public healthcare.
“The doctors don’t want this plan. The nurses don’t want this plan. The community doesn’t want this plan. Only the governor and the Chancellor do, and we have to ask ourselves who stands to benefit and why are they so insistent?” Myrie questioned.
SUNY Downstate, renowned as a leading teaching hospital and the largest medical school in New York City, is celebrated for graduating more Black and Brown doctors than any other institution in the state.
A poll conducted by the American Federation of Teachers revealed that 70% of local residents oppose the hospital’s closure.
Addressing the proposal to build affordable housing on the hospital site, Senator Myrie expressed his support for more housing but not at the expense of healthcare.
“Other communities don’t have to choose between having housing and healthcare. They get to have both and they get to have an equal measure and in high quality. We want that too; we want high-quality healthcare, we want affordable housing,” he stated.
Myrie asserts that the governor and the Chancellor are adamant about moving forward with the hospital closure.
“Our communities are tired of being disinvested in and disrespected, instead of investment and respect,” he said, signaling a continued fight against the proposed shutdown of SUNY Downstate.
