JERSEY CITY—Mayor James Solomon confronted hospital executives on Saturday as protesters fought the emergency room closure at Heights University Hospital. Two demonstrators were arrested on March 14 after attempting to breach an entrance locked by hospital administrators. The confrontation escalated amid a 7:30 p.m. shutdown on Saturday mandated by Hudson Regional Health executives.

The demonstration began as a die-in protest targeting the facility's corporate owner, Hudson Regional Health. Demonstrators carried handmade signs reading "Our Community, Our Hospital" and "Health Care Is a Human Right" while marching through Jersey City Heights streets.

Participants first gathered at the hospital entrance before proceeding to the chief executive's private residence nearby. Protesters maintained a continuous vocal presence outside the executive's home demanding the ER remain open past the scheduled deadline.

The Jersey City Police Department confirmed two arrests related to the demonstration at Heights University Hospital. Officers detained the individuals after they attempted to access the facility through a rear service entrance during the afternoon protest activities.

Looking back inside the hospital before the doors closed. Photo Credit: NJBallot.com

Protesters Face Limited Capacity Closure

Heights University Hospital has operated on a limited basis since November 2025, when Hudson Regional Health closed the main structure while maintaining the emergency room with approximately 60 beds. Saturday's protest at the Jersey City facility represented the final community push to prevent the complete elimination of emergency services after months of reduced capacity.

Mayor Solomon personally addressed the Saturday crowd at Heights University Hospital and publicly pledged to pursue all available legal avenues to block the closure. City attorneys filed an injunction Saturday morning attempting to stop the shutdown through judicial intervention. A state Superior Court judge denied the legal bid hours before the hospital locked its doors Saturday evening. The judicial denial cleared the path for Hudson Regional Health to proceed with the permanent closure despite municipal opposition.

Solomon called the closure the first time in New Jersey history a hospital has closed without following proper legal notification procedures. The mayor told reporters that eminent domain is "absolutely an option" to reclaim the hospital for public municipal use. The mayor's statement signals potential city seizure of the property if negotiations with HRH executives fail completely. Such a municipal takeover would require significant city council support and potential state legislative approval.

Jersey City Heights residents saw the hospital closure as a betrayal by HRH. One participant told NJBallot reporters that “people are really upset and let down and disrespected by their closure.” The protester also mentioned signs posted throughout the hospital, which appeared to indicate that the space was being used for filming a Netflix special.

State Cites Unpaid Penalties

State health department records indicate Hudson Regional Health accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in uncollected penalties for previous regulatory infractions. Governor Mikie Sherrill's office characterized the closure as illegal and vowed to collect the outstanding fines immediately. Acting Health Commissioner Raynard Washington has previously cited the operator for violations related to the facility's operation and maintenance standards.

Heights University Hospital serves a predominantly low-income community, where officials say 65 percent of patients rely on charity or Medicaid or are undocumented immigrants. Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros emphasized the severe demographic impact during the Saturday protest speeches. Ephros carried signs bearing the same healthcare slogans as other demonstrators, while marching alongside registered nurses and local community members.

Union Warns of Bed Shortage

Healthcare Professionals and Allied Employees President Debbie White actively participated in the March 14 demonstration and subsequent march to the executive residence. White criticized the closure that reduces emergency services for Jersey City's 300,000 residents by leaving only 350 beds at Jersey City Medical Center.

White stated that Jersey City requires 700 beds minimum to serve its growing population adequately. White has previously warned that the Heights University Hospital closure creates a "code blue" emergency situation for the municipality's healthcare infrastructure.

Hudson Regional Health invested $100 million in facility upgrades and renovations since purchasing the historic Christ Hospital property from the previous nonprofit operator in 2024. The corporation projected 30 million dollars in unsustainable annual losses and cited these costs as the primary reason for closure. HRH announced the shutdown despite vigorous community opposition that included a prior rally on March 12.

The facility operated continuously for 152 years as Christ Hospital before the acquisition by HRH. The hospital treated generations of Heights residents during its century-long operation as a nonprofit institution serving the diverse immigrant communities of north Jersey. The closure severs a historical healthcare lifeline that predated the city's modern development and the region's demographic transformations.

Jersey City community organizers have indicated that Saturday's arrests will not deter further legal challenges or public demonstrations regarding the Heights University Hospital property's future use. Protesters emphasized that the emergency room provided critical care for trauma cases and acute medical emergencies requiring immediate transport. The loss leaves the Heights neighborhood without immediate emergency care access and places additional strain on Jersey City Medical Center's emergency department capacity.

Sources

• NJ.com, "2 arrested as protest held to save Jersey City hospital from closing" (March 15, 2026)

• Hudson County View, "2 arrests made during protest over closure of Jersey City Heights hospital" (March 15, 2026)

• ABC7NY, "2 arrested as protesters attempt to stop closure of Jersey City hospital" (March 15, 2026)

• CBS New York, "Die-in protest held outside Jersey City hospital slated to close" (March 15, 2026)