'Keep Your !@#% Hands Off Our Hospital!'

Hundreds of hospital workers, doctors, nurses, patients, elected officials, and community members descended upon the Governor's New York City office building on Monday, insisting that Governor Cuomo "Listen To Brooklyn!" and halt the proposed closure of Long Island College Hospital and Interfaith Medical Center or risk votes in the next election.

Alongside elected officials, such as Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Clinton Hill resident and registered NYSNA member Linda Oneil summed up the feelings of the crowd when she called out: "KEEP YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF OUR HOSPITALS!!"

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio was one of several politicians who stood with the masses, having taken a vocal stance against the possible closure of both Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill and Interfaith Medical Center—both under extreme fiscal scrutiny.

“There are powerful forces working to shutter these hospitals," said de Blasio in a release. "Some want to make money, others are out to save money. But there is no financial table that can reflect what the loss of these hospitals will mean to Brooklyn. And every one of us in public office has a responsibility to fight to the upmost to keep LICH and Interfaith open. That needs to be our bottom line."

Echoing a battle cry that nurses have been chanting for months, many stated that the impending closures will have a devastating impact on the future of health care options in the borough.

"There is a growing healthcare crisis in Brooklyn," said Maribel Agosto, LICH RN and member of the New York State Nurses Association. "If either LICH or Interfaith closes, care for hundreds of thousands of Brooklyn patients will be at risk." 

Stay with Patch for updates.