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NY: Religious Leaders Denounce Healthcare Cuts

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit

1199 SEIU - Mar 13, 2007
http://www.1199seiu.org/media/news.cfm?nid=1298

March 13, 2007

Religious Leaders Denounce Spitzer Cuts

The Rev. Al Sharpton and religious leaders gathered March 13 outside
Harlemâ Ös North General Hospital and stood shoulder to shoulder with
1199SEIU Secretary Treasurer George Gresham and workers from the hospital
to denounce Gov. Elliot Spitzerâ Ös proposed Medicaid cuts.

â £This is not the time for the governor to play macho politics,â Ø Rev.
Sharpton declared at the press conference. â £I am proud to stand here with
hospital workers, members of the Harlem community and religious leaders,â Ø
Sharpton said.

He noted that the press conference was being held in Harlem because the
Spitzer cuts â £would have a disproportionate impact on communities of
color and working class communities.â Ø He urged everyone interested in
preserving healthcare in the state to join him and 1199ers at the massive
March 15 demonstration at the governorâ Ös Manhattan headquarters to
protest the proposed cuts.

â» More on the budget fight | â» Watch Video Coverage

â £The governor speaks about reform, but his budget simply cuts dollars
from our already financially struggling hospitals and nursing homes,â Ø said Gresham.

Several speakers debunked Gov. Spitzerâ Ös oft-stated accusation that
1199ers are a special interest. â £We get up every day of our lives to work
in a financially challenged institution, and we are not a special
interest,â Ø said Carole Oâ ÖConnor, an 1199SEIU Delegate who works in
North Generalâ Ös finance department.

â £We are here to support the underpaid and the overworked,â Ø declared the
Rev. John Scott, representing 500 ministers in the Baptist Ministers
Conference of Greater New York.

â £We are already short staffed,â Ø explained North General RN Selena Dale.
â £The cuts would have a devastating effect on our community.â Ø

A society should be measured by the way it treats those who are the most
vulnerable, said Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Director of New York
Stateâ Ös Labor-Religion Coalition. â £We stand with the workers and
religious leaders here today,â Ø he said,â Ø adding, â £health care is not
a luxury, but a right.â Ø

â £We are not a special interest,â Ø Rev. Sharpton said at the close of the
press conference. â £We will march on the 15th because we are tired of
being the special sacrifice.â Ø


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