Joint Electeds Letter to Mount Sinai re New York Eye & Ear Infirmary

February 3, 2023

Kenneth L. Davis, MD

Chief Executive Officer

Mount Sinai Health System

150 East 42nd Street

New York, NY 10017

Dear Dr. Davis:

We write to urge you to pause any further action to merge New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEEI) into Mount Sinai Beth Israel and to shift services from NYEEI to Beth Israel or other sites, to permit additional engagement with the community and those who depend on NYEEI for healthcare. As elected officials representing the area in which NYEEI is located, we have seen firsthand the invaluable services this facility provides for our community and for many other New Yorkers. We are also still awaiting answers to questions we've asked of Mount Sinai throughout this process.

As you know, since 1820 NYEEI has provided indispensable and high-quality eye, ear, nose, and throat care for working people, union families, retirees, immigrants, and other underserved and vulnerable communities in lower Manhattan and the surrounding area. NYEEI serves tens of thousands of patients annually and its location in the heart of our community and the mix of services at a single site make these services more easily accessible to New Yorkers who rely on them—many of whom face physical disabilities with courage and resilience.

We understand that the decision to pause this plan may not be an easy one, but we strongly believe that it is the right thing to do for members of our community and for those who depend on the services you provide. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss with representatives of Mount Sinai how we can work collaboratively with you and the community to ensure that patients do not experience any reduction in the accessibility or quality of services and care.

Sincerely,

Harvey Epstein, State Assemblymember

Brian Kavanagh, State Senator

Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President

Brad Hoylman-Sigal, State Senator

Deborah Glick, State Assemblymember

Grace Lee, State Assemblymember

Carlina Rivera, City Councilmember

Chris Marte, City Councilmember