As the daughter of health care professionals, I stand in unwavering solidarity with NYSNA nurses who are preparing to take this historic stand across New York City. These nurses are the frontline of our healthcare system. They are the ones who stay at the bedside, catch emergencies before they escalate, and advocate for patients when no one else will. Their demands are simple and just: safe staffing, real protections from workplace violence, and guaranteed healthcare benefits for the caregivers who give everything to care for others.
Several of the hospitals involved — particularly Wyckoff Heights Medical Center — provide critical care to residents of my district and communities across Queens and Brooklyn. When nurses speak up about staffing and safety, they are doing so to strengthen patient care and ensure our neighborhoods receive the quality healthcare they deserve.
It is especially troubling that some of the wealthiest hospital systems in New York City claim they cannot afford fair contracts, while holding billions in cash reserves and preparing to spend enormous sums on temporary traveler nurses. Instead of investing those resources into the experienced nurses who know their patients, neighborhoods, and hospitals, executives are choosing confrontation over collaboration. That decision puts profits ahead of patient care and undermines the stability of our healthcare system.
Our nurses are the backbone of New York City’s healthcare system. Supporting them means supporting safer hospitals, stronger communities, and better outcomes for patients. I urge hospital leadership to listen to nurses and settle fair contracts immediately. The best way to protect patients is not through strikebreaking tactics, but by respecting nurses, valuing their expertise, and ensuring that there are always enough trained professionals at the bedside. Our City’s health depends on it.
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