Gubernatorial Candidate Blakeman Opposes Hochul-Backed Takeover of Maimonides Hospital

Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has voiced strong opposition to Governor Kathy Hochul's plan to incorporate Brooklyn's Maimonides Medical Center into the city's public hospital system, NYC Health + Hospitals. The New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council recently approved the proposal, which includes a $2.2 billion grant from New York State to Maimonides to facilitate the transition.

Blakeman, who is running on the Republican ticket for governor, stated that Maimonides, a private teaching hospital with over a century of service, should remain independent. He criticized the governor's actions, asserting that the move is being made against the wishes of the local Borough Park community. "My wife was also born at Maimonides, making this hospital for especially meaningful to our family," Blakeman said. "The Governor’s refusal to listen to the community will lead to inferior healthcare for the residents who have relied on the hospital for decades."

He pledged that if elected governor, he would halt the takeover and work to restore the hospital's standing. "When I am elected Governor I will stop this takeover and return the hospital to the top notch facility it has always been," Blakeman stated.

The controversy has reportedly reached the presidential level, with sources indicating that rabbis from Borough Park raised their concerns about the Maimonides takeover with President Trump's domestic advisors during a recent White House visit.

Maimonides Medical Center, named after the renowned Jewish philosopher and physician, has a long history of serving the Orthodox Jewish community in southern Brooklyn, including Borough Park, and features a kosher kitchen. However, the hospital has been facing significant financial challenges. In 2021 alone, it incurred a loss of $145 million.

While Maimonides serves a diverse population including growing Asian and Hispanic communities, its financial distress has been a subject of debate for years. Opponents of the state's plan fear that a transition to the city's public hospital system could lead to a decline in services.

However, Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, has sought to allay these concerns. "NYC Health + Hospitals is committed to preserving Maimonides’ historic cultural identity and practices and to keeping these values intact as we move forward together," Katz said during a recent public hearing. "We want Maimonides to remain Maimonides."

Despite assurances, opposition has led to litigation, with two cases currently pending. The merger plan was initially announced by former Mayor Eric Adams. Final approval for the transfer of Maimonides' assets to Health+Hospitals is pending review by the state attorney general or the courts.

A spokesperson for Governor Hochul defended the administration's involvement, stating, "Governor Hochul is committed to saving Maimonides, which is why she directed billions of dollars in support for them while their Board found a partner who could provide a sustainable path forward." The spokesperson added that the transaction is "the best and only way to stabilize Maimonides" and will help protect healthcare access in Brooklyn through financial stability and investments in facilities and technology. The governor's office maintains that the integration is not a "takeover."