By Hank Russell
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blasted Governor Kathy Hochul for appointing new board members of the Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC), calling the governor’s move “a power grab.”
On May 31, Hochul announced that she appointed Dr. Stuart Rabinowitz as chairman of the board of NHCC, which oversees the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC). Rabinowitz previously served as president of Hofstra University. Hochul also appointed to the board Amy Flores, a community manager at JPMorgan Chase and former executive director of the Nassau County Office of Hispanic Affairs; Dean Mihaltses, RPh, BPS, MPA, who was the interim CEO/COO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens; and Lisa Warren, president of the Long Island-based real estate investment and management firm Placid, LLC.
“NUMC is a vital lifeline for so many on Long Island, and today we are taking long-overdue steps to ensure it has the leadership and oversight it needs to thrive,” Hochul said. “These new appointments, and the new authority granted to the state and NIFA, will help ensure accountability, responsible fiscal management and high-quality care for the communities NUMC serves. Stuart Rabinowitz is a respected and visionary leader, and I can’t think of a better person to help lead this next chapter for NUMC.”
The press release issued by the governor’s office did not offer a reason for the new board members, but The New York Post reported that a group of NUMC leaders resigned from their posts, citing a “hostile takeover” of the hospital by Hochul. Outgoing CEO told the Post that the state “made it very clear” they did not want her to continue in her role, which is why she resigned.
But Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blasted the appointments, calling them “a power grab.” He held a press conference on June 3 in front of NUMC to blast the governor’s choices for the NHCC board.
“Because of the recent power grab by the state of New York by Governor Hochul, everything beautiful in this facility has turned into chaos and become a mess,” Blakeman said, adding that the state passed an “illegal” law in which they would take over NUMC with the purpose of shuttering the facility, which is considered a “safery net” hospital. He said the law was “blatantly” passed “with any transition plan, without any consultation or discussion or coordination. … We will not stand for that.”
Dr. Irina Gelman, who was the chairwoman of NHCC’s board, said morale among the employees is “at an all-time low,” and there have been “concerns about employee retention.”
Gelman reiterated Blakeman’s sentiments, stating that there has been “a complete lack of communication” from the state and “no transition plan in place.. This is a tragedy. The silence is deafening.”
According to Blakeman, the state gave NUMC $180 million in 2021, but in the last two years, the hospital has not received any funding. “Basically, the state has defunded the hospital with the intent of shutting it down and make a bogus claim that there’s a financial crisis.”
Later that day, Legislator Seth Koslow (D-Merrick), who is running against Blakeman for county executive, accused Blakeman of “throwing a tantrum” at the press conference. He also slammed Blakeman for “refusing to do his job” by not appointing members to the newly restructured NUMC board.
“While Bruce Blakeman throws another tantrum, our legislators are focused on saving lives,” Koslow said. “We intend to make our appointment to the NUMC board because we follow the law and put patients before politics. Blakeman’s refusal to name board members isn’t a protest — it’s a blatant refusal to do his job. His administration drove NUMC into financial and operational chaos. Now the state is stepping in to stop the bleeding, and instead of helping, he’s walking off the field. Nassau residents deserve leadership, not a disappearing act.”
Blakeman, meanwhile, said he is not backing down. “I have no desire to play this charade,” he said. “I have no idea to be involved in [Hochul’s] games or tp be a part of Kathy Hochul’s puppet show.”