Public Health News

If you have been keeping up with the news lately, you are bound to have heard that this year is projected to be one of the hottest on record … again. New York suffers from increased temperatures compared to its suburbs and exurbs due to a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect.

The Trump Administration has rolled back federal clean car standards of vehicle fuel efficiency and emissions regulations, previously established under the Obama Administration as part of the Clean Air Act. The new regulations will revoke the previous standard held for car manufacturers which obligated them to create more fuel-efficient vehicles every year.

As part of Vision Zero, DOT is bringing streets into the public realm by building pedestrian plazas. Turning streets from car-filled conduits into attractive places to relax makes city streets more inviting for pedestrians and help drivers become more aware of the need to drive slowly and attentively.

As climate change effects become increasingly more prevalent, people will be forced to move to safer spaces. A World Bank report predicts that the developing world could experience more than 140 million climate migrants.

Improper drug disposal is an issue that affects us here in New York and across the nation. While researchers in Washington State recently found water contamination from improperly disposed drugs, New York State recently approved a policy to combat this issue.

As part of the Reforming Energy Vision initiative, the New York State Department of Public Service, Con Edison, National Express, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority are participating in a demonstration project to operate five electric school buses throughout the White Plains public school district. The plan is for school buses to operate normally through the year and charge at night, while in the summer months they will be plugged into the grid and used as energy storage assets.

The EPA has once again been gaining public attention for recent regulations (or lack thereof) associated with potentially dangerous chemicals found in everyday cleaning products.  Policymakers in New York have worked to implement more strict standards.  However, there is still work to be done to protect our environment and health.

Adriana Espinoza, our NYC Program Director, recently submitted testimony to the New York City Council's Health and Finance Committees last week regarding our healthy foods budget priorities.  We called for a $10 million investment to expand grocery store access in underserved communities, a $15 million to increase healthy food SNAP incentive program, and a $3 million investment to increase healthy food options at corner stores.