The Fund for Public Health NYC has created a nonpartisan resource brief to help inform candidates running for local office in New York City about the importance of supporting public health. To those seeking office in NYC, the responsibility of protecting the health and safety of our city may soon be in your hands. New York City’s public health system is crucial to the well-being of individuals, communities, and our city’s prosperity.
New York City has made significant progress in its recovery from being one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet it is important to note that the recovery has not been felt equally by all our city’s residents. Black New Yorkers die on average five years earlier than white New Yorkers. We must address chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, that are the leading causes of death for New Yorkers.
New York’s elected leaders will have to address these and other public health issues while also contending with significant reductions in federal funding, including potential cuts to Medicaid, disease control, and disaster relief. We encourage you to make supporting public health a core part of your platform.
As a candidate for office in New York City, protecting the health and safety of millions of New Yorkers may soon be in your hands and will be one of your highest priorities. The Fund for Public Health in NYC is here as a partner and a resource. We will update and share this nonpartisan guide before every city-wide election to help inform candidates about our city’s public health needs and landscape, and to help every New Yorker live their healthiest life.