July 24: Funeral March & Rally for Brooklyn Healthcare

On Wednesday, July 24^th, doctors, nurses, activists and advocates will march across the Brooklyn Bridge in a funeral procession – to mourn the impending closure of Long Island College Hospital (LICH) and the continued privatization of our healthcare system.

 

While NYC’s population continues to grow, healthcare resources continue to be concentrated in the wealthy neighborhoods of Manhattan. Meanwhile, hospitals and clinics in Brooklyn that serve working people, immigrants, and people of color are being shut down.

 

• Governor Cuomo has put a Wall Street banker, Stephen Berger, in charge of healthcare planning in Brooklyn. Yet, Cuomo controls the SUNY system and has the power to keep LICH hospital open for the community. 
  
• SUNY Downstate claims LICH is losing millions of dollars each month and it can’t afford to keep the hospital running. Meanwhile, “34 of the top 100 highest paid state employees are employed by SUNY Downstate. The total cost for those salaries totals more than $16.2 million.”
• LICH supporters have charged that the closure of the hospital is a big real estate deal for SUNY, which stands to make up to $1 billion from the sale of the property.
• This fits the recent pattern in New York City of replacing hospitals with luxury condos, as happened to St Vincent’s hospital.
• 10 full-service hospitals have been closed in New York City since 2006. Don’t let LICH be added to the list.

There are more humane ways to balance the budget than closing public hospitals or cutting social services like Medicare and Medicaid. One way to balance New York State’s healthcare budget would be to implement a universal, single-payer healthcare system in New York such as New York Health.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

 

• Keep LICH open as a full-service hospital
• Put a moratorium on hospital closings
• Demand democratic, community input into healthcare planning throughout NYC

Join us, in solidarity, for the Funeral March & Rally for Brooklyn Healthcare.

TAKE ACTION!

Wed, July 24th
March and Rally
4pm Assemble @ Cadman Plaza
March across Brooklyn Bridge
5pm Rally @ Foley Square
Come wearing black