Senator Brad Hoylman Statement on Chelsea Std Clinic Closure

Hoylman to Department of Health: “The closure of an STD clinic in a community with the number of syphilis cases far above the city average is unacceptable and defies common sense”

NEW YORK – State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) said: “I’m deeply concerned by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) decision to close the longstanding STD clinic on West 28th Street for two to three years and instead direct patients to an alternative facility on West 100th Street at a time when Chelsea is suffering from an outbreak of syphilis.

“The timing of the decision to close the Chelsea STD clinic couldn’t be worse and defies common sense. In the first half of 2014, the number of cases of syphilis in NYC rose by nearly 10 percent.  The neighborhood of Chelsea has been particularly hard hit, with syphilis infection rates nearly six times those of the rest of the city. This scenerio is unacceptable. 

“I am grateful the DOHMH has agreed to convene a meeting with public health advocates, local elected officials and LGBT community leaders to discuss how the department plans to address the gaps in testing services.”

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