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Q&A
Council Member Brooks-Powers inquires about Far Rockaway healthcare projects
0:58:15
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4 min
Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers engages in a Q&A session with Dr. Mitchell Katz about healthcare initiatives in Far Rockaway. They discuss the progress on the Far Rockaway Trauma Center and the Far Rockaway Primary Care Center, including state certification, land transfer, and construction timelines.
- The New York State Department of Health has shown support for a level three trauma center in Far Rockaway, recognizing the area's geographical isolation.
- There's an ongoing process to transfer NYCHA land for the trauma center site, with a meeting scheduled for the 29th to discuss the $300,000 needed for the transfer.
- The Far Rockaway Primary Care Center, with a budget of $28 million, is on time and on budget, expected to open in 2027.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:58:15
Thank you chairs and hello, doctor Katz and to your team.
0:58:20
I just wanna thank you, and the administration for your partnership particularly on the effort for the trauma facility in Far Rockaway.
0:58:31
And so while we regularly talk I just wanted to ask some of the questions for the record, particularly just wanting to hear from you Doctor.
0:58:40
Katz on how Health and Hospitals has engaged with the New York State Department of Health on the certification of the Far Rockaway Trauma Center.
Mitchell Katz
0:58:50
Well, I just want to commend you Majority Whip for an incredibly inclusive process with the community and community leaders, elected leaders, nonprofits on Rockaway Trauma Center.
0:59:05
And how we've been at these meetings and the participants have been very articulate about the need for a trauma center.
0:59:14
And for everybody to understand the unfairness within Manhattan, it's probably be five minutes to a trauma center.
0:59:21
If you were were going to have a emergency on Far Rockaway, it's forty five minutes with a police escort.
0:59:31
And we know that because of the tragic shooting of a police officer.
0:59:36
But of course it's not just police officers, it's people who live there who have to travel to Jamaica Hospital.
0:59:42
And there's just no way to get there quickly.
0:59:45
And as our chief nurse would tell us, right, our chair nurse would tell us, minutes matter with trauma.
0:59:54
When you're bleeding you gotta stop the bleeding.
0:59:56
So we have worked with the state and they have indicated that they would be supportive of a trauma center on Rockaway.
1:00:06
They would enable us to staff that center at the level of a level one or a level two trauma center.
1:00:16
They will not certify level one or level two unless it's a full hospital, but they will certify a level three trauma center.
1:00:24
If it's like a micro hospital, it's licensed as a hospital.
1:00:28
And they have shown a willingness to work with us because they recognize how geographically isolated Rockaway is.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:00:39
Thank you for that and how has health and hospitals advocated for the advancement of this critical proposal including the 300,000 needed to complete the NYCHA land transfer for the trauma center site?
Mitchell Katz
1:00:53
Yeah.
1:00:53
Well, under your leadership we're continuing to work with the executive and we have a meeting set up as you know on the twenty ninth with a variety of local leaders to access the $300,000.
1:01:07
The mayor has been very supportive of that plot of land being used for a trauma center.
1:01:14
It's a piece of land currently owned by NYCHA, but there is no plan to build on that land.
1:01:21
So we're not taking away housing.
1:01:23
There's no plan for it.
1:01:25
And it's an ideal site for a trauma center because it's large, it doesn't have any residential property close to it, and it's very close to the a stop.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:01:37
Doctor.
1:01:37
Cass I would love to thank you, the mayor, as well as my colleagues and the council for all of the work thus far.
1:01:44
I know we have a long way to go.
1:01:46
Chairs I just want to ask one more question which is focusing on the Far Rockaway Primary Care Center which we got to break ground on a couple of months ago.
1:01:56
The executive plan includes $28,000,000 for the Far Rockaway Primary Care Center.
1:02:02
This new comprehensive community health center will expand access to primary care, women's health, dental, vision and mental health services for the Far Rockaway community.
1:02:14
The facility is expected to open in calendar year 2027.
1:02:18
On 02/25/2025, the administration announced that the construction of this facility was underway.
1:02:25
Has the construction timeline for this center changed at all since our last budget hearing?
Mitchell Katz
1:02:30
No.
1:02:31
We're we're on time on budget.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:02:33
Sounds great.
1:02:34
Thank you, doctor We