Mayor Adams, Officials Demand State Support for Trauma Center
The fight for a trauma center in Rockaway rages on. On Friday, September 20, Mayor Eric Adams came to Far Rockaway to join Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, the Far Rockaway Trauma and Health Access Task Force and the community for a rally to call on the state to support what’s still needed to bring a trauma center to the peninsula.
After Brooks-Powers secured $25 million in city funding in the 2025 budget, officials gathered at Beach 21st Street for the rally to ask Governor Kathy Hochul to show support in the effort to bring a trauma center to Rockaway, by providing funding and approval. Rockaway has one hospital, St. John’s, which does not have a trauma center, often resulting in patients having to be brought to Jamaica Hospital, more than 30 minutes away, wasting precious time during a traumatic emergency.
“We call on Governor Hochul to step up and support bringing a trauma facility to the Rockaway peninsula,” Brooks-Powers said at the rally.
Mayor Adams briefly joined the rally, saying, “Let’s take it to the next level. Let’s make sure we bring a trauma center to Rockaway. This is a powerful, powerful message stating that this is not a forgotten part of our city.”
Among other attendees were City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Dr. Mitchell Katz, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, Assembly Members Khaleel Anderson and Stacey Pheffer Amato, Senator James Sanders, Councilwoman Joann Ariola and others.
