CSEA battles NUMC misinformation

Daily Point

Union dismisses talk of hospital closure as opposition rallies in East Meadow

As the battle between Nassau University Medical Center’s current leadership and New York State officials boiled over this week, the Civil Service Employees Association — the union that represents most hospital employees — finally took a side. Its leadership sent a letter to members that largely supported the state. The missive sought to correct several erroneous rumors that have been circulated by NUMC officials or other supporters of the status quo and to assure members that the state’s plans would not close the hospital.

"We remain committed to keeping you informed with facts, not fear," the CSEA NUMC Facebook page stated Wednesday in posting the letter.

The letter — signed by CSEA Region One president Jarvis Brown, Region One political action coordinator Sue Castle, NUMC CSEA president Shakira Settles, and A. Holly Patterson CSEA president Melody Foskey-Easterling — addressed the state’s plans for NUMC.

Responding to rumors that the hospital would shut down, the CSEA leaders assured employees that the hospital "is not closing."

"In fact, our statewide CSEA leadership has confirmed that the Governor remains committed to NUMC’s success," the letter said.

Perhaps most strikingly, the letter addressed the notion that the hospital and its public benefit corporation, Nassau Health Care Corp., do not require an overhaul of the board — a change Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers are expected to include in the final state budget.

"The current board of directors has refused to cooperate with New York State to secure much needed funding," the letter said. "Simple requirements, like a comprehensive five-year plan, [were] never submitted to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). With a new board of directors, patients and staff will have the benefit of qualified directors who will put NUMC first."

The letter also dealt with funding issues, noting that the state Health Department is "committed to providing funding."

"Despite the bogus claims that the state wants the hospital to fail, we understand that the finalized NYS budget will include significant capital funding for NUMC," the letter said.

CSEA leaders also assured retirees that their health insurance would continue — but even that came with a dig at current hospital leadership, and a nod to the growing debt the hospital has with the New York Health Insurance Program.

"Despite the fact that NHCC owes over $400,000,000 to NYSHIP, health insurance benefits must continue per the negotiated contract," the letter said.

The letter emerged just hours before those supporting NUMC’s current leadership held a rally outside Burger City in East Meadow, after which they planned to walk to the hospital. The rally followed a string of ramped-up social media posts that claimed — without evidence — that Hochul plans to close the emergency department and the A. Holly Patterson nursing home, end medical services, and "bus NYC mentally ill people to NUMC." One especially incendiary flyer cried: "Eisenhower Park to become tent city!"

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Downtime for Dems

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Final Point

All eyes on Bruderman

Even as plans take shape for changes to the board of Nassau University Medical Center and its public benefit corporation, Nassau Health Care Corp., many of Nassau County’s movers and shakers remain focused on the outgoing board — specifically on former chairman Matthew Bruderman.

After all, the bizarre turn of events last Thursday — starting with Bruderman’s claims that his Oyster Bay home was burglarized, with the only missing items being documents and financial records related to the hospital and allegations it’s owed $1 billion by New York State, and ending shortly after with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s decision to fire Bruderman as NHCC chairman — caused many to scratch their heads and wonder: What in Mineola was going on?

Sources noted that Blakeman had stood by Bruderman through past troubling actions, including an expletive-filled town hall, the hospital’s poor financial performance, and increasingly incendiary language toward state officials. Bruderman previously made multiple campaign contributions to both Blakeman and the Nassau County Republican Committee, including $200,000 to the county committee in October 2021 alone — one month before Blakeman was elected as county executive.

So, knowledgeable observers told The Point, something specific likely prompted Blakeman to make the late-night move to fire Bruderman. According to one source, "the buzz" among those in the know who are watching NUMC is that Blakeman’s decision may have been an attempt to distance himself from the prospect that false information was given to the FBI.

Bruderman said earlier this month that he was cooperating with the FBI and the Department of Justice in an investigation into his claims that the state owes the hospital $1 billion, according to published reports. That reported investigation emerged after Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison sent a letter earlier this month to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel seeking an investigation into "serious allegations of misconduct, fraud and violations of federal law" by New York State.

"When Blakeman sends [Bruderman] a letter saying he’s fired, in essence you ask yourself: What’s about to happen to Bruderman that Blakeman needs distance from?" one source with knowledge told The Point. "It is a federal offense to file a false report with the FBI."

A second source noted that Blakeman may have had to fire Bruderman after "the stink of investigation" began to waft.

"There’s absolutely no loyalty, no staying power, when there’s a hint that someone is under investigation," the source, a former government official, told The Point. "It’s the oldest trick in the book."

After the alleged burglary last week, Centre Island police took an initial event report and referred the case to Nassau County’s 2nd Precinct, according to Officer John Schmidt. The Point has filed a Freedom of Information request for that report. Nassau County Det. Tracey Cabey confirmed to The Point that the case was referred to the 2nd Precinct.

"It’s in the early stages of investigation," Cabey said. "If there’s an arrest, we’ll put out a press release. But it’s still early."

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

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