Governor's office seeks agreement with county on state control of NUMC

Daily Point

Hochul reps, Blakeman meet to discuss fate of hospital

Serious discussions regarding the future of the Nassau University Medical Center are underway between New York State and Nassau County.

Those discussions ratcheted up Thursday, when representatives of Gov. Kathy Hochul met with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Deputy County Executive Arthur Walsh and Nassau Interim Finance Authority chairman Richard Kessel to discuss "the short term and long term health of NUMC," Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper told The Point.

The meeting lasted about an hour and took place in Blakeman’s office. The sit-down came as Hochul and her team are considering installing a temporary operator of the state’s choosing at NUMC. To do so, the governor must invoke a state health law for facilities "experiencing serious financial instability that is jeopardizing existing or continued access to essential services within the community."

Such a temporary operator would give the state control of NUMC’s operations. But the hope, sources said, is that the state could take such a step with the cooperation and partnership of the county. In that scenario, the state would still install a temporary operator but with the county’s involvement and agreement.

"It was a cordial and productive meeting," Tepper said. "The state’s priorities are the fiscal stability of the hospital and focusing on patient care and that’s what was discussed with the county executive. The plan is to try and work collaboratively on short-term and long-term solutions for NUMC together."

Neither NUMC Chairman Matthew Bruderman nor NUMC Chief Executive Megan Ryan, who have contended that NUMC is on solid ground, with improving financials, attended the meeting.

Tepper said the meeting was a "step in the right direction."

"We need to take care of NUMC first and foremost and we need to work together on this," Tepper said. "It’s too important."

Sources told The Point that the meeting ended with the promise that officials in Hochul’s office and NIFA representatives would come up with more details and a specific plan for next steps, with the hope that they would then meet again with Blakeman again in early September.

Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ryan, through a spokesman, declined to comment.

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

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Final Point

Hochul gets on the DNC list

After much lobbying, Gov. Kathy Hochul is getting a slot speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday night. Hochul was a strong supporter of President Joe Biden in the weeks before he decided to drop out of the race but it was unclear whether the Harris campaign would reward her for that effort.

Nationally known New Yorkers including Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Hakim Jeffries, all have prime-time slots, with Schumer, the Senate majority leader, scheduled to speak in Tuesday’s primetime 9 p.m. hour.

Up until today’s development, Hochul’s marquee event next week was a spot on a panel with the party’s eight women governors hosted by "Veep" satire star Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Some of those governors, especially Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, considered a future national candidate who represents a key swing state, were expected to have a featured slot.

Hochul also is expected to address the New York delegation’s morning breakfasts and on Monday was hosting one of the popular sightseeing boat rides on Lake Michigan from 3 to 6 p.m. It’s unclear now whether her speaking time changes those plans. On the boat ride, the delegates will glide by the Trump International Hotel and Tower built on a site that once was the home of the Chicago Sun-Times. On the massive structure, facing the water is a 2,800-square-foot TRUMP sign, a popular background for tourist photos. There is also a late-night bowling party Wednesday for the delegation.

One New Yorker with an outside shot at getting to the center stage is Long Islander Tom Suozzi, whose success in February’s CD3 special election to replace George Santos earned him national recognition for framing a Democratic message about immigration. Suozzi sits on the House’s Homeland Security Committee and is co-chair of the Democrats’ task force on border security.

Such a gig depends on whether and how the Harris campaign wants to stake out about immigration, according to a DNC source. Suozzi, in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlin Collins Tuesday night, said the party must do so and move beyond the notion that the border is a Republican issue. "They want us to talk about the things that they care about," he said, noting that affordability and immigration were prime concerns. "We have to secure the border, and we have to treat people like human beings. You could do both those things," Suozzi said.

"Do you think that is a winning issue in November," Collins shot back. "I know that’s a winning message," he replied.

Will such a message win Suozzi a speaking slot at the convention?

— Rita Ciolli rita.ciolli@newsday.com

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