Orange is the New Black in Fight To Save LICH

by Joanna Prisco 
Rep. Nydia Velazquez, District Leader Jo Anne Simon and others joined the growing list of Brooklyn community leaders willing to be arrested for LICH, when a hospital rally on Monday landed participants at the Carroll Gardens clink.

After forming a human chain across Atlantic Avenue and blocking traffic to protest SUNY Downstate's attempts to close Long Island College Hospital, Velazquez, her coordinator Dan Wiley, Simon and five other protesters were handcuffed and brought to the 76th Precinct. 

When she was released a few hours later, Velazquez emerged from the police station with a raised fist and said she had no regrets.

“Despite three legal restraining orders to prevent LICH’s closure, SUNY has been actively working to shut down this important local healthcare center,” Velázquez stated in a release.  “Governor Cuomo must work with all stakeholders—including the community—to develop a plan that keeps LICH operational.”

The morning's act of civil disobedience was the latest in a string of near daily protests by LICH supporters pleading for intervention from the governor or Mayor Bloomberg. Previously, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Councilmen Stephen Levin and Brad Lander, as well as Assemblywoman Joan Millman have all been arrested while showing solidarity with local hospital employees.

But as yet the governor has not responded to any of these protests, leading some neighbors to say Governor Cuomo has "turned his back on Brooklyn."

In the meantime, de Blasio continues to seek litigation against SUNY Downstate officials for preventing community members from receiving health care at the Cobble Hill hospital since ambulances were diverted last month.

“Access to quality health care can be a life or death issue,” Velázquez noted in her release. “It is irresponsible to block patients from visiting this facility in an attempt to shutter LICH.” 

To illustrate the point, NYSNA members will be participating in a Race for Care on Tuesday, as teams of nurses attempt to travel from Red Hook to the nearest available hospital, Methodist in Park Slope, via foot, car and bus. 

The driving distance between Coffey Park and LICH is approximately 1.4 miles, whereas Methodist is 2.3 miles away.

Stay with Patch for updates.