NAACP LDF Files Suit to Block City Hospital Closings

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Press Releases, Volume 7. NAACP LDF Files Suit to Block City Hospital Closings, 1979. 7e397eb3-bb92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/30b598da-edc8-4674-9979-6316e57f903b/naacp-ldf-files-suit-to-block-city-hospital-closings. Accessed November 23, 2025.

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NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC

egal ‘efense lund 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 « (212) 586-8397

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FILES SUIT TO
BLOCK CITY HOSPITAL CLOSINGS

For immediate release: For further information:

Wednesday, August 15, 1979 Beth Lief or Peter Sherwood

(212) 586-8397

New York, N. Y., August 15 -- The NAACP Legal Defense Fund

filed a class action lawsuit today in federal court charging that

the announced plan of Mayor Edward I. Koch and city health care

officials to close four municipal hospitals in New York City

violates federal due process and civil rights law, state and

local health planning laws and various provisions of the State

Constitution and the City Charter. If successful, the suit

would block City and State officials from approving or

implementing any plans to reduce in-patient or out-patient

services, to close hospitals or reduce services until all

black and Hispanic residents have the same access to adequate

health care as white residents. It would require that any

illegal reduction be reinstated. The suit was filed in the

U. §. District Court for the Southern District of New York by

the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on behalf of David E. Bryan, Jr.,

Executive Secretary of the Metropolitan Council of Branches of

-more-

Contributions are deductible for U.S. income tax purposes

The NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND is not part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People although it

was founded by it and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF has had for over 20 years a separate Board, program, staff, office and budget.

ital Closings = 2

the NAACP and other black and Hispanic residents of New York.

At a press conference called to announce the suit, Jack

Greenberg, Director—Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund

made the following statement:

"We do not question the need of the city to contain health

care costs or to work to reduce excess hospital beds.

However, both law and decency require that hospital

closings or reductions in health care services not fall

with undue harshness and hardship on minority residents.

The present plan does just that. It would cut services

to residents of areas already severely underserved with

respect to access to adequate health care.

"The City’s proposal was not, as required by law, sub-

mitted for review to state or local health planning

agencies. Further, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

specifically requires that before cutbacks or changes

can occur in any federally-assisted health care pro-

grams, a civil rights assessment must be made. This has

not been done.

-more-

Hospital Closings - 3

"The New York State legislature has mandated, through

the creation of the Health and Hospitals Corporation,

a system to provide high quality, comprehensive health

care for residents, particularly those who can ‘least

afford’ it. In New York City those persons tend to be

overwhelmingly black and Hispanic.

"Presently, seventy percent of the patients who receive

in-patient health care in the City's 13 municipal

hospitals are minorities. The proposed closings would

result in a significant reduction in their access to

quality health care."

ete

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NAACP LDF Files Suit to Block City Hospital Closings

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