Chair Schulman introduces oversight hearing on 2026 Legionnaires' disease cluster
Council Member Lynn Schulman opens the hearing on NYC's response to the 2026 Upper East Side Legionnaires' cluster that sickened 94, hospitalized 79, and killed 11. She thanks Speaker Menin for her leadership and turns to the Speaker for remarks.
Good morning.
I am Councilmember Lynn Schulman, Chair of the New York City Council's Committee on Health.
Thank you all for joining us at today's hearing on New York City's response to the 2026 Legionnaires Disease Cluster.
At this hearing, we will examine the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's response to this year's cluster in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, which sickened 94 people, of whom 79 were hospitalized.
We lost 11 New Yorkers to this year's outbreak, making this the deadliest Legionnaires outbreak in our city since 2015.
We grieve for the lives lost and we send strength to their families and loved ones.
I want to thank Speaker Julie-Menin for being here today and for her steadfast leadership on this issue as she advocated for her district and for all New Yorkers, demanding action and accountability.
I will now turn it over to the Speaker for her remarks.