Statement by Lower Manhattan Elected Officials on Health Department Ordering Beth Israel to Stop Cutting Services

Elected officials representing Lower Manhattan—including State Senators Kristen Gonzalez, Brian Kavanagh, and Liz Krueger; Assemblymembers Harvey Epstein, Grace Lee, Deborah Glick, and Tony Simone; Councilmembers Carlina Rivera, Keith Powers, Christopher Marte, and Erik Bottcher; Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine; Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Daniel Goldman—issued the following joint statement:

“As elected officials representing Lower Manhattan, we are pleased that the New York State Department of Health has issued a cease and desist letter to Beth Israel, directing the hospital to immediately stop closing beds and services on its 16th Street campus without prior approval from the Department. The delegation met with the Department last month to express our urgent concerns and elevate the protests of our constituents; chief among our concerns was our understanding that Mt. Sinai could not close services at this location without approval from the Department. We thank everyone who has joined this effort and shares in this victory for our community. We appreciate the opportunity to have worked with the Department to halt the unlawful termination of services and will continue to work closely together with the Department and our community to ensure continuous access to the critical healthcare services we need.”

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