Press Release

For Immediate Release
October 4, 2010

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), issued the following statement in response to former head of New York’s health care restructuring commission Stephen Berger’s comments today in Crain’s Health Pulse newsletter on the news that New York Westchester Square Medical Center will remain open.

“Stephen Berger’s statement that the decision to keep New York Westchester Square Medical Center open was motivated by politics is both misinformed and misses the larger point. Westchester Square should have never been on the Berger ‘hit list’ because of its importance to the Bronx community. Further, it is not the job of elected officials to provide cover for government agencies or employees, as Berger alleges. Rather, our job is to serve our constituents and ensure they have access to the services they need and deserve, especially services as vital as quality health care. Berger might think that Westchester Square Medical Center isn’t needed, but the hospital, along with hundreds of constituents, community leaders and activists have proved otherwise.”

Congressman Crowley is the six-term representative from the 7th Congressional District of New York, which includes sections of Queens and the Bronx. He is a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

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