Blakeman should fill his seats on the NUMC board

The newly constituted Nassau University Medical Center board has a massive challenge ahead — stabilizing and turning around the troubled hospital, while also planning for its future. Its work will be all the more difficult with four empty board seats.

In a disappointing move, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has declined to make his two appointments, saying he doesn't want to "play this charade" and falsely accusing Gov. Kathy Hochul of planning to close the hospital. His decision, to leave his voice and additional voices of Nassau County residents unheard by leaving seats empty, is the real "charade."

Blakeman is forgoing a critical opportunity to participate in the hospital's resurgence. To properly govern, he would choose two capable, professional, apolitical individuals who cou