STONY BROOK — Working as a nurse in a hospital allows SUNY Stony Brook Local President Juanita James Allen a firsthand account of how federal dollars provide critical services that our communities cannot afford to be taken away due to federal cuts.
“I work as a nurse in the Stony Brook Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center,” said James Allen, There is nowhere else local residents can go to receive that level of service without going into the city.”
The hospital also relies on federal funding to support patients that rely on Medicare and Medicaid, including the poor and the elderly, who are two vulnerable groups that James Allen is particularly concerned about.
“We are a state hospital; we don’t turn people away,” said James Allen. “I’m concerned about will happen to the patients that need continued preventative care after they leave the hospital. That will be affected by cuts.”
To aid in CSEA’s efforts to spread information to members about the federal budget cuts, James has planned information days for her local, inviting CSEA’s Legislative and Political Action Department to attend, speak to members about the budget cuts, and urge members to become more engaged in our union’s political advocacy.
“The SUNY Stony Brook Local backs CSEA’s message about the federal cuts 100% and will continue to get the message out to our members about the needs of our community,” said James Allen.
— Wendi Bowie