What do we want? A trauma center! On Wednesday, June 10, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers joined healthcare advocates, community organizations, elected officials, and residents on the steps of City Hall to call for continued investment in the effort to establish a trauma center in Far Rockaway.
The rally brought together stakeholders from across Southeast Queens and beyond to urge city leaders to prioritize healthcare equity and ensure residents have access to life-saving emergency care closer to home. There is no dedicated funding for the trauma center in the city’s current budget proposal.
“Today, New Yorkers came together with one voice to demand what every resident deserves, timely access to life-saving emergency healthcare,” Brooks-Powers said. “For far too long, residents of the Rockaway Peninsula have faced unacceptable barriers to trauma care, often losing precious time during medical emergencies. We have built a strong coalition, advanced critical planning efforts, and demonstrated the urgent need for a trauma center in Far Rockaway. Now, we must continue investing in this project and ensure that healthcare access is determined by need, not by zip code.”
Brooks Powers was joined by Council Members Mercedes Narcisse, chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Hospitals, Lincoln Restler, Christopher Marte, Lynn Schulman, Senator James Sanders, Assembly Members Stacey Pheffer Amato and Khaleel Anderson, Assembly candidates Pesach Osina and Mike Scala, Communtiy Board District Manager Felicia Johnson, community members and more.
The rally comes as final budget negotiations continue and follows years of advocacy to address longstanding healthcare disparities impacting residents of Far Rockaway and surrounding communities. Speakers emphasized that establishing a trauma center would significantly improve emergency response outcomes.
“For decades, Far Rockaway has been denied the trauma care every other community takes for granted. When lives are on the line, minutes matter — and our families should not have to travel miles off the peninsula to receive the care they deserve,” Senator Sanders Jr. said. Today’s rally is about making sure the trauma center stays front and center as final budget decisions are being made. The people of Far Rockaway have waited long enough. We need trauma care in our community, and we need it now.”
Brooks-Powers has been a leading advocate for expanding healthcare access in Far Rockaway, working alongside community stakeholders, healthcare professionals, and residents to advance plans for a trauma center.
“I am glad to be joined by colleagues across all levels of government today to urgently call on the city to keep its commitments to Far Rockaway families, and restore funding in its final budget for a long-needed trauma care center on our peninsula,” Assemblyman Anderson said. “At this moment, we continue to have victims of violent assault and car crashes needing to be transported more than 10 miles away for care because we don’t have this necessary facility in our own backyard. Every second counts in these types of medical emergencies, and so I implore the city to remember that it can save countless black and brown lives in our community by restoring trauma center funding for Far Rockaway in the finalized budget.”
“What do we want? A TRAUMA CENTER! When do we want it? NOW,” chanted Pheffer Amato. “As the City prepares its budget, it is time for them to step up and allocate the needed funds for our community. I truly thank the work of Councilwoman Brooks-Powers for making this issue front and center – and now it’s time to bring it home and get us the healthcare we deserve!”
Council Member Brooks-Powers pledged to continue working with partners at every level of government until the trauma center becomes a reality for the residents of Far Rockaway and Southeast Queens.
