Commissioner Martin on Bronx asthma investment and state funding
Commissioner Martin discusses the $20M childhood asthma investment in the Bronx, funded by MTA congestion pricing revenue. He also covers the Health and Affordability Corps, mobile food vending, Groceries to Go, and Article 6 state matching fund restoration.
At the Health Department, we are committed to driving our resources according to need, no matter the subject area.
The Spring City Hall announced a $20 million investment to improve childhood outcomes, childhood asthma outcomes in the Bronx.
About half of that money will go towards community-based programming, and the other half will support asthma case management resources in schools.
That investment would not be possible without the MTA.
It's part of a larger $100 million commitment to New York City government.
The money was generated by congestion pricing revenue and will go to the
towards mitigation projects in environmental justice communities, including our asthma work.
Every day we are building on a legacy of more than 220 years in public health.
We are positioned to meet and anticipate the needs of community members, and we will continue to do so.
I'm encouraged to see increased support for our community health programming in the city's executive budget, and that includes a $3 million investment to establish the Health and Affordability Corps.
That funding will support 46 employees dedicated to working with New Yorkers across our city to facilitate access to benefits, health insurance enrollment, and referral to low- and no-cost services.
We're grateful for a $12 million investment in our mobile food vending program.
And I'm also reassured by the dedication of $10 million to continue Groceries to Go, which provides food and secure New Yorkers enrolled in health and hospitals NYC care program with monthly credits to purchase groceries.
At the state level, the fiscal year 2027 budget provides crucial support for public health.
I'm very grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature for restoring Article 6 matching funds of 36% to New York City.
This reverses several years of cuts where New York City was the only jurisdiction in the state receiving a lower state reimbursement for core public health services.
Thank you to Speaker Menon, to Chair Shulman, and the entire council for their continued advocacy on this issue.