

The Mayoral Candidates and Public Health
Jun 17, 2025
Marisa Donnelly, an epidemiologist and New York correspondent for Your Local Epidemiologist, delves into the public health policies put forth by mayoral candidates. She emphasizes the mayor's significant role in shaping health initiatives, touching on issues from maternal health to chronic disease management. Donnelly also confronts the alarming maternal mortality rates among black women and the need for actionable solutions. Additionally, she critiques the transition from traditional Medicare to Medicare Advantage for retirees and discusses the candidates' approaches to tackling obesity and sugary drink regulations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mayor's Role in Public Health
- The mayor of New York City has a tremendous impact on public health policies and emergency preparedness.
- Their decisions affect insurance coverage, chronic diseases, mental health, and hospital resources.
Addressing Racial Health Disparities
- Life expectancy disparities in NYC reflect deeper racial health inequalities caused by chronic diseases, overdose, and pandemic effects.
- Candidates Adrienne Adams and Brad Lander have concrete plans to reduce these disparities, including maternal health policies.
Medicaid's Crucial Role and Protection
- Medicaid is vital for millions of New Yorkers, covering 60% of children and 50% of births.
- Candidates uniformly oppose federal cuts but vary in their strategies to protect and expand Medicaid locally.