STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island state lawmakers are demanding that a Brooklyn colleague apologize after she publicly made a disparaging remark about the Island in Albany today.

During a joint Assembly and Senate Health Committee budget hearing, Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn) told state Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav R. Shah that she did not want to have to suggest to any of her constituents that they would have to go to the Island for treatment, because "you know how none of us like Staten Island."

The comment drew gasps of shock from the audience, according to Assemblymen Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) and Lou Tobacco (R-South Shore), who belong to the committee.

"The senator's comments were uncalled for," said Cusick. "She should withdraw them and focus on helping us provide a compressive plan to strengthen our city's health services. That is something that residents of Staten Island and Brooklyn can agree on."

Tobacco and Cusick have written a letter to Ms. Montgomery, demanding that she apologize for the comment and inviting her to visit their districts to deliver her mea culpa directly to the people of Staten Island.

"Instead of making disparaging remarks about different parts of the state, we urge the senator to work with her colleagues to come up with solutions that will help improve the quality of life for people throughout the entire metropolitan region, not just Brooklyn," said Tobacco.

Tobacco and Cusick also said that Ms. Montgomery's comments regarding the toll costs and commute times for outside residents visiting love ones receiving hospital treatment in Staten Island reflected concerns which the two lawmakers have been raising for years.

"This is a similar argument to the one that Staten Island lawmakers have been making, but which continue to fall on deaf ears," said Tobacco.

A video of her remarks was posted on YouTube: