Helping SUNY Downstate

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Jan 17, 2024 View in browser
 
POLITICO New York Playbook PM

By Katelyn Cordero

SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn will need a surge in state aid to avoid cuts in services and programs. | Downstate.edu

SUNY Downstate could receive significant funding in the state budget for a transformation fund to create a solution to its fiscal woes. But that could mean relocating services to nearby hospitals.

Chancellor John King and Downstate President Wayne Riley released statements warning of the changes to come for the college, which annually faces a $100 million shortfall.

King said his administration is working with Gov. Kathy Hochul to create a transformation plan – with funding in the budget that would create financial stability. But the changes would involve relocating some services to neighboring facilities.

Advocates and Brooklyn lawmakers are worried the changes could result in downsizing and the elimination of services needed in the minority, low-income community. Assemblymember Brian Cunningham (D-Brooklyn) said the Brooklyn delegation is meeting with King next week to discuss the future of the medical center.

“I’ve asked the chancellor to commit that there’ll be no job losses for any of the people that work at Downstate,” Cunningham said in an interview. “I understand that there is a reimagine period that's happening for Downstate. My firm hard line is that we have vital services for myself and the rest of Central Brooklyn.”

United University Professions president Fred Kowal said he is worried if there are any changes that would negatively impact union members or students.

“We are deeply concerned by the uncertain and undetermined plan,” Kowal said. “What we see as the most important and helpful way forward is that the area needs a modern new facility that is state-operated and state funded because nonprofits in that area are in terrible shape.”

In a statement, King said the governor is committed to provide funding to carry out the transformation plan put together for the hospital and medical school.

In an interview with POLITICO, King mentioned changes could include partnering with neighboring hospitals to bolster outpatient services and addressing its facilities that have fallen to disrepair.

“Downstate faces significant challenges with years of financial and facility emergencies plaguing the essential and historic institution,” King said in his statement.

“Fewer than half of the hospital’s available beds are in use on a regular basis, and Downstate’s hospital faces an infrastructure crisis and due to its age routinely floods, has temperature control issues, and many other limitations.”

Riley said in a statement that SUNY "is committed to a robust, transparent community engagement process to develop a realistic, forward-looking, and sustainable blueprint for the success of our university."

He said he expects the plan "will include deepening partnerships with other Brooklyn hospitals so Downstate can relocate services and Downstate can provide these services in collaboration with other excellent healthcare facilities."

From the Capitol

Rochester Assemblymember Demond Meeks spoke at a rally to demand the passage of the Treatment not Jail and Daniel's Law bills

Rochester Assemblymember Demond Meeks speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, for the passage of Daniel's Law and the Treatment Not Justice Act. | Shawn Ness / POLITICO

PUSH FOR DANIEL’S LAW: Democratic lawmakers and advocates gathered at the Capitol today to advocate for the passage of both the Treatment Not Jail Act (S.1976B) and Daniel’s Law (S.2398). Both bills aim to require better treatment of people dealing with a mental health crisis and address it not as a criminal act.

Daniel’s Law would ensure a mental health professional would respond to a person in crisis instead of a police officer.

Similarly, the Treatment Not Jail Act would allow people to receive treatment instead of jail time if they experience a mental health incident. The two bills gained traction after Daniel Prude, a Rochester native, was died during a police stop in 2020 when he experienced a mental health incident.

“We have to be intentional in recognizing systemic practices that oppress one brother, one sister and allow others to make strides ahead,” Rochester Assemblymember Demond Meeks said. “We believe that treatment is better than jail.”

Meeks was joined by Sen. Jessica Ramos, who is the sponsor of the Treatment Not Jail Act; Rochester Sen. Samra Brouk; and Assemblymembers Phara Souffrant Forrest, Jo Anne Simon and Monique Chandler-Waterman. — Shawn Ness

FROM CITY HALL

New York City Council Members Shahana Hanif, Chi Ossé, Tiffany Cabán and Sandy Nurse protest at the Rent Guideline Board meeting at Cooper Union on May 2, 2023

New York City Council Members Shahana Hanif, Chi Ossé, Tiffany Cabán and Sandy Nurse protest at the Rent Guideline Board meeting at Cooper Union on May 2, 2023 | William Alatriste/NYC Council Media Unit

MUSICAL CHAIRS: At least two progressive New York City Council members won’t be chairing the committees they led last session — or any committees at all — in a move that’s seen as retaliation by Speaker Adrienne Adams for voting against the budget.

Council Member Tiffany Cabán, who chaired the Committee on Women and Gender Equity, was told in a meeting with Adams that she won’t be leading any committees, a person familiar with the situation said.

And Council Member Chi Ossé won’t be chairing any committees either after leading for the last two years the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations, another person familiar with the decision said.

But nothing is set in stone yet, and assignments could shift before they are finalized, cautioned a person within the speaker’s office, who was granted anonymity to discuss ongoing conversations.

Adams has been meeting with members this week to discuss committee assignments, and the full list is expected to be announced and approved at the council’s stated meeting Thursday.

Members worried about big shake ups after Adams ally Keith Powers was surprisingly not reappointed as majority leader earlier this year. But a person familiar with the discussions said the two top positions — Justin Brannan in Finance and Rafael Salamanca in Land Use — will remain the same. — Jeff Coltin

The Campaign Trail

Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., right, speaks alongside Robert Zimmerman, Democratic candidate for New York's 3rd Congressional District, during a news conference with a bipartisan group of current or former elected officials who support his campaign, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Great Neck, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Former Rep. Tom Suozzi's supporters took issue with the recent comments from his opponent's campaign. | AP

SUOZZI KNOCKS ‘GODFATHER’ JIBE: Republican House candidate Mazi Pilip’s campaign calling her Democratic opponent Tom Suozzi “the godfather of the border crisis” received a rebuke from Italian-American groups.

Suozzi’s campaign released a statement signed by leaders at seven Italian-American organizations, including the National Italian American Foundation and the New York State Sons of Italy, calling on Pilip to stop using language that evokes the Mafia or other Italian aspersions.

“As Italian Americans and Italian American organizations, we condemn this anti-Italian attack and demand that Legislator Pilip apologize and refrain from issuing any other anti-Italian stereotypes in the future," the groups said.

Pilip’s campaign scoffed at Suozzi’s reaction.

“Tom Suozzi will do anything to try to deflect attention away from his dismal record of working hand-in-hand with Joe Biden to open our borders to illegal and unvetted migrants,” Aidan Strongreen, a spokesperson for Pilip, said.

Suozzi isn’t the first Italian-American politician to take exception to names that invoke the mob: The late former Gov. Mario Cuomo would be quick to condemn movies like “The Godfather” for spreading anti-Italian stereotypes. – Nick Reisman

On the Beats

Kathy Hochul addresses the media.

CUNY just got a big boost to Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to make New York a tech hub for artificial intelligence. | Yuki Iwamura/AP

EDUCATION: The City University of New York is receiving a $75 million gift from the Simons Foundation, a private foundation that works to advance research in science and math — the largest donation in the university’s history.

The university will use $50 million to create 25 new faculty positions and a master’s degree program in computational science — which entails using programming techniques to solve complex problems in fields like neuroscience and astrophysics — at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan.

The remaining $25 million will support CUNY’s participation in Hochul’s proposed Empire AI project, a consortium that will launch an artificial intelligence computing center in upstate New York. CUNY and the Simons Foundation are among seven founding institutions that are part of the consortium — the state’s leading universities and research institutions.

“With this support from the Simons Foundation, CUNY reaffirms its mission to promote educational equity and advance its role as a driver of inclusive growth in New York,” CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said in a statement. — Madina Touré

NY RENEWS PUSHES MORE CLIMATE FUNDING: The NY Renews coalition and legislative allies want $1 billion in funding for community planning, electric school and transit buses, decarbonizing schools, transitioning low-income homeowners to electric heat and more. The spending package includes labor standards and protections, a key component of the coalition’s push.

“What we want to do is build a union climate economy,” Ramos said at a Capitol news conference.

Hochul proposed using $250 million in bond act money for voluntary buyouts for properties threatened by flooding and rising seas, plus $130 million for resiliency grants for flood control projects. The governor also wants $47 million to plant trees. But she made no major new proposals to fund emissions reduction efforts.

“I do love trees,” said Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D-Ithaca). “That $47 million — fine — should not be a substitute. That cannot replace this package.”

The NY Renews coalition is also supporting the NY HEAT measure, which would end subsidies for new gas hookups and end gas utilities’ “obligation to serve” new customers, giving the Public Service Commission the ability to offer alternatives to customers.

Hochul included those two components in her budget but excluded another provision backed by NY Renews — a 6 percent of income limit on utility bills for low- and moderate-income residents.

“This is a major breakthrough,” said Assemblymember Pat Fahy (D-Albany), who sponsors the bill of Hochul included portions in her budget.

“We have work to do,” she added. “We need to keep this affordable.”

Hochul did include $50 million to fulfill a commitment to keep low-income customers whose homes are electrified through the previously approved $200 million EmPower Plus program from paying more than 6 percent for their electricity bills. Marie J. French

WHAT SHE DIDN’T SAY: Hochul’s $2.4 billion for the state’s migrant crisis was a major step in providing more outside aid to New York City.

But Senate Republicans said the governor’s omission of the migrant crisis in last week’s State of the State was telling.

“It's very clear she doesn't want to talk about it,” Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said at a news conference today in a preview of the Republican conference’s 2024 legislative agenda.

“They don't want to talk about it because there's no way to defend the policy at this point. It's easier to talk about swimming pools and reading.”

Beyond pressuring New York City to end its sanctuary status and advocating for a stronger border, the conference said their 2024 legislative agenda will focus on repealing bail reform, limiting state aid to colleges that have become “breeding grounds” for antisemitism and rejecting tax hikes.

“This is about the unraveling of New York, the unraveling of America, because they despise America; they despise freedom,” Staten Island Sen. Andrew Lanza said, referring to some Democrats. — Jason Beeferman

WORKERS SAFETY: The New Yorkers for a Fair Economy coalition, a labor-backed group, released its list of the most dangerous Amazon warehouses in New York.

At the top, the Amazon HAL1 warehouse just west of Colonie outside Albany. The group was also at the Capitol to ask for $5 million in the state budget to pass the “Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act.”

“Workers are seriously getting injured at a rate of 18.8 per 100 worker that's one injury for every five workers in that warehouse,” Theodore Moore, the executive director of ALIGN, one of the coalition's leaders, said. “That's not okay. And it's not exclusive to that warehouse close to here.”

There was no immediate comment from Amazon. — Shawn Ness

AROUND NEW YORK

— SUNY is optimistic despite decreasing enrollment rates. Strategies like a more personalized enrollment process may help correct the downturn. (Buffalo News)

Hochul’s $233 billion seeks to address issues that have been plaguing her administration, and it won’t be easy. (POLITICO)

Migrants in New York City are sleeping in the snow as they await ID cards. (New York Times)

 

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