(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - If you’re in Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo or Syracuse, or on Long Island, you might have seen one of United University Professions’ (UUP) Social Media ads that calls for more New York State funding for State University of New York’s (SUN) Campuses and its three Public Teaching Hospitals.

UUP is pushing for $175 million to restore critical mission funding to the hospitals, which Union Representatives say is necessary for the continued success of these life-saving centers, which treat all who walk through their doors - even if they can’t pay for care.

One of the 15-second ads targets increased State aid for 19 cash-strapped Campuses - mostly located in Upstate New York - that are facing multimillion-dollar structural or projected budget deficits.

The other calls for the State to fully fund SUNY’s Teaching Hospitals in Brooklyn, Stony Brook and Syracuse.

Years of budget cuts and austerity, combined with the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic, have severely weakened the hospitals financially - especially Brooklyn’s SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

Both ads started running last week on Facebook and Instagram.

The Campus ad is running in Albany and Buffalo.

The Hospital ad can be seen in Albany, Long Island/New York City and Syracuse.

Meanwhile, UUP, Unions, State Legislators and Brooklyn Faith Leaders are all expected to participate in a major rally that will be held at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University on Friday (March 24th) to call for more funding for the cash-strapped Public Teaching Hospital.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten New York AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento are slated to speak at the rally.  

UUP Editor’s Note: View The Hospitals Ad HERE.  View The Campus Ad HERE.