Take action: Stop the Closure of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

From our union siblings at United University Professions (UUP) at the SUNY system:

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced a plan Jan. 16 to make drastic changes in the structure and operation of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. SUNY’s plan would relegate this safety net hospital to a wing in Kings County Hospital Center. Other health care services performed at Downstate would be farmed out to other neighboring hospitals. (Additional background here.)

This plan will unequivocally result in the closure of SUNY Downstate. If there is no building, there is no hospital!

Closing SUNY Downstate hospital takes essential public healthcare from a community that is predominantly poor and of color. Moreover, it jeopardizes one of the most important medical schools and teaching hospitals in the state, undermining our state’s ability to train desperately needed health care workers. Lastly, it erodes the robust public higher education mission of the SUNY system.

UUP asks for solidarity from higher education workers everywhere to stop the closure of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University!

• New York residents can write to:
  • Assembly Speaker Heastie
  • Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins
  • State Senators and Assembly Members
• Allies outside of New York:
  • Write to Gov. Hochul: Brooklyn Needs Downstate! Save SUNY Downstate’s hospital!