Faith, Community, and Labor Join Together to Keep SUNY Downstate Medical Center a Full Service Public Hospital

ALBANY, NY (01/06/2013)(readMedia)-- Vital services at SUNY Downstate Medical Center are being threatened by proposals to downsize, privatize, and/or convert the hospital to an outpatient facility. Faith, community, and labor organizations are joining together to fight back against the devastating impact of diminishing services at Downstate, which serves 400,000 patients each year. Access to quality health care in Brooklyn, training of future medical professionals, the jobs of hospital workers, and the local economy are all in danger.

WHO:

Speakers will include: New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, Churches United to Save and Heal (CUSH) Chairman Bishop Orlando Findlayter, UUP President Phil Smith, 67th Precinct Clergy Council President Pastor Gilford Monrose, PEF President Susan Kent, SUNY Downstate Coalition Planning Committee Chair Pastor Shane Vidal, NYSUT Vice President Andrew Palotta, Tabernacle of Praise Cathedral Bishop Dr. Eric Garnes, CSEA Region 2 President Lester Crockett , Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Executive Director Rabbi Eli Cohen, UUP Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud, Brooklyn Chapter of the NAACP Health Committee Vice Chair Lorraine Braithwaite-Harte. Members of the New York State Senate and Assembly are also expected.
WHAT:

Rally to keep Downstate Medical Center a full service public hospital.
WHEN: Tuesday January 08, 2013 at 12:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: The Well
Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York
NOTES:

For more information contact:

Jane Briggs, PEF, 518-785-1900

Ryan Delgado, New York State AFL-CIO, 518-281-3962

Denyce Duncan Lacy, UUP, 518-640-6600

Stephen Madarasz, CSEA, 518-257-1270

NYSUT Media Relations (518) 213-6000, ext. 6313