Chair Ung Q&A: Chokshi on racism as public health crisis since 2021
Ung asks about specific progress on the 2021 racism resolution. Chokshi explains the resolution required annual reporting and tangible actions, particularly important during COVID-19, and acknowledges the work continues for Black, brown, and Native American New Yorkers.
In October of 2021, when you were the city health commissioner, the Board of Health passed a resolution declaring that racism is a public health crisis.
In what specific ways do you think the Board of Health and Department of Health have been effective in addressing this crisis since 2021?
And what work do you think the Board of Health and the Department of Health still need to do to address this racism in public health in 2026?
Thank you for the thoughtful question, Chair.
This is one of the things that I'm proudest of from my tenure as health commissioner.
We very deliberately called it a resolution on racism as a public health crisis because it requires resolve for us to be able to confront the many ways in which racism
contributes to health inequities.
During the time that we passed that resolution, we put in specific language to ensure that there would be annual reporting that the department was required to make for us to ensure that there were tangible actions being taken.
This was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, of course, where we saw the ways in which the pernicious reach of racism affect the everyday lives of New Yorkers.
Since then, the department has continued its focus on equity, but of course the work continues because in so many ways, low income,
Black and brown New Yorkers, Native American New Yorkers continue to face the brunt of inequities and poor health outcomes.
Thank you.
Well, you did mention the annual reporting.