File #: Res 0793-2003    Version: * Name: Opposing the privatization of services within the State University of New York hospitals.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 4/9/2003
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution opposing the privatization of services within the State University of New York hospitals, and urging the Governor of the State of New York to withdraw his proposal to change the current status of the SUNY teaching hospitals and continue State support for these public institutions that train our doctors and nurses and provide essential services to our communities.
Sponsors: Yvette D. Clarke, Robert Jackson, Christine C. Quinn, Charles Barron, Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, Helen D. Foster, Alan J. Gerson, Melinda R. Katz, G. Oliver Koppell, Margarita Lopez, Miguel Martinez, Hiram Monserrate, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Philip Reed, Joel Rivera, Larry B. Seabrook, Helen Sears, Jose M. Serrano, Kendall Stewart, Albert Vann, David I. Weprin
Council Member Sponsors: 23
Res. No.793 Title Resolution opposing the privatization of services within the State University of New York hospitals, and urging the Governor of the State of New York to withdraw his proposal to change the current status of the SUNY teaching hospitals and continue State support for these public institutions that train our doctors and nurses and provide essential services to our communities. Body By Council Members Clarke, Jackson, Quinn, Barron, Brewer, Comrie, Davis, Fidler, Foster, Gerson, Katz, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Monserrate, Recchia, Reed, Rivera, Seabrook, Sears, Serrano, Stewart, Vann and Weprin Whereas, Governor Pataki's proposed State Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2004 includes a plan to allow the Trustees of State University of New York, also known as SUNY, to sell the Health Science Centers, located in Stony Brook, Syracuse and Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, to for-profit operators and eliminate State support for SUNY teaching hospitals; and Whereas, The Health Science Centers of SUNY are outstanding public health care facilities, serving thousands of New Yorkers each year regardless of their ability to pay; and Whereas, SUNY/Downstate Medical Center is a public teaching hospital, training new doctors and nurses, that serves the Borough of Brooklyn as well as the surrounding counties of New York, providing vital medical services to our community consistent with the educational mission of SUNY; and Whereas, The privatization of SUNY Downstate would cause a cutback in vital services and the elimination of hospital units that are not financially profitable, such as the neonatal intensive care unit, the cardiac care unit and the orthopedic care unit; and Whereas, Privatization would also mean that thousands of SUNY hospital workers would lose all current contractual rights and benefits, would no longer be able to participate in the state retirement system, would lose all civil service protections, and would likely face layoffs and reductions in salary; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York opposes the privatization of services within the State University of New York hospitals, and urges the Governor of the State of New York to withdraw his proposal to change the current status of the SUNY teaching hospitals and continue State support for these public institutions that train our doctors and nurses and provide essential services to our communities. JM LS 2231 04/07/03 |1013|