‘There is no air conditioning': Frustration continues to mount at Brookdale Hospital
BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn (PIX11) — Patients and employees say they're dealing with another day of sweltering temperatures inside Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brownsville.
As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, multiple people visiting loved ones told PIX11 News, there is still no working air-conditioning, including on the 9th floor where stroke patients are being treated.
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One Brooklyn Health, which runs the hospital, initially denied there was a problem Monday, but then told PIX 11 News they were using portable air-conditioners and fans to keep patients safe.
Multiple staff members, who didn't want to be identified, told PIX11 News that it is not true. In an email, one employee wrote, 'On every floor above the lobby, there is no air conditioning at this point of 2 p.m. on June 24, 2025. Please do not let the hospitals lie to you. It is very hot in here, and we are hoping this can get fixed soon.'
Jose Alvarez, who was visiting his wife, said, 'It's very hot inside. I'm in the hospital because my wife is there, and I don't see any air conditioning.'
Merline, who didn't give her last name, said, 'After half an hour, sweating like crazy, my brother is in there, just got to bring a fan for him.'
Another PIX11 viewer emailed us to flag a social post from One Brooklyn Health that Congressman Hakeem Jefferies visited the Brookdale campus on Monday, the same day we broke the story of the cooling issue. That viewer wrote, 'To have a well-known politician come to the hospital in the midst of this and not use his position to help the community is disheartening, and the public should be aware of what is going on.'
PIX 11 News reached out to Rep. Jeffries' office. A spokesperson clarified that Rep. Jefferies was there on Wednesday, June 18 before patient complaints were made to PIX11 News. We asked if Jefferies was aware of the cooling issue when he was there and whether or not he would now discuss it with hospital administration.
On Wednesday, PIX11 News was told state health inspectors had been sent to Brookdale. In a statement, Marissa Crary, a Public Information Officer, said: 'The Department is in communication with facilities experiencing cooling issues in order to understand the scope of any issues and to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect patient and staff safety. The Department is also speaking to facilities to determine if assistance is needed, and no facilities have requested assistance at this time. The Department cannot comment further on any matters that may be the subject of ongoing investigations.
One Brooklyn Health was reached for a response, but emailed back that they had no further comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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