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Hutchings employees, patients, families, health care professionals, union members, elected officials, mental health advocates all marched outside the Syracuse State Office Building Friday evening to protest the proposed closing of Hutchings Psychiatric Center and the transfer of all inpatient services to the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center in Utica. |
Senator Hoffmann and Dave Stallone of the Public Emplyees Federation on the steps of the Syracuse State Office Building |
(r-l) Assemblyman Jeff Brown, Senator Hoffmann, Assemblyman William Magnarelli (just behind Senator Hoffmann), Dave Stallone, and Assemblywoman Joan Christensen listen to Fred Fusco, Executive Director of the Mental health Association of CNY, who said, "The closing plan utterly fails to consider its bad effect on the patients and the community." |
Senator Hoffmann told the marchers, "All health care must be community based and that includes mental health care. Everyone knows what a tremendous difference it makes for a patient to have the support and encouragement of family. That is only possible if family members can visit on a regular basis." |
Senator Hoffmann told the marchers she is committed to keeping Hutchings open. |