NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Elected officials rallied with the Gramercy community on Sunday morning in support of saving Mount Sinai Beth Israel, one of the last hospitals serving lower Manhattan.
The closure plan earned public scrutiny when President and Chief Operating Officer of Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Downtown Elizabeth Sellman wrote a letter to the New York State Department of Health in November announcing her intention to close the hospital by July 12, 2024, citing financial losses (to the value of $150 million in 2023).
Sunday’s 11 a.m. rally was held outside of the Gramercy hospital in support of maintaining the hospital and access to medical care in lower Manhattan.
“We are worried as a community, we are scared,” Councilmember Carlina Rivera said. “We are very, very tired of services being eliminated and being moved uptown, into the west side.”
A statement announcing Sunday’s rally released by State Sen. Liz Krueger emphasized community need for the Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital, framing it as an issue of accessibility.
“We must ensure that high-quality healthcare is truly accessible to all New York City residents, regardless of income level, type or lack of insurance, and mobility. This includes access to emergency and inpatient health care services,” the statement said.
A crowd of community members attended the rally, many holding signs calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to intervene in the closure plan.
“Gov. Hochul: Save hospital care in lower Manhattan,” and “Gov. Hochul: Be a hero! For lower Manhattan” were among the sign messages.
The NYSDOH did issue a cease and desist order in December, preventing Mount Sinai Beth Israel's closure until the plan can be reviewed in full.
Sen. Brian Kavanagh said that the state has a responsibility to intervene in situations like these.
“They are supposed to assess how any change in a hospital, not just a closure, but even a reduction of services or a change of services, will impact the community,” Kavanagh said.
Other elected officials made remarks commenting on the communities’ need for the hospital, and to put pressure on state officials to enforce its cease and desist.
“We are relying on our community, our state government to not allow this closure to happen,” Assemblymember Harvey Epstein said.
Assemblymember Deborah Glick joined in the calls for preserving medical care south of 23rd Street.
“We are going to have to let Mount Sinai know that they can’t keep their flagship uptown and strip out Beth Israel downtown,” she said.