Healing Gotham : New York City's Public Health Policies for the Twenty-First Century

New York City provides the ideal context for studying urban public health policy. Throughout its history, New York City has been challenged by a variety of public health crises. Since the nineteenth century—when it became one of the first American cities to develop a comprehensive public health infrastructure—New York has also stood at the forefront of formulating and implementing urban health policy. Healing Gotham examines in depth how the city has responded to five serious contemporary public health threats: childhood lead poisoning, childhood asthma, HIV/AIDS, obesity, and West Nile virus. Bruce F. Berg examines the rise and incidence of each condition in the city while explaining why the array of primary tools utilized by urban policy makers—including monitoring and surveillance, education, regulations, and the direct provision of services—have been successful in controlling public health problems. He also argues that forces such as race and ethnicity, New York City's relationship to the state and federal government, the promotion of economic development, and the availability of knowledge related to preventing, treating, and managing illness all influence effective public health policy making. By contrasting these five particular cases, this exciting study allows scholars and students to compare public health policy through time and across type. It also helps policy makers understand how best to develop and implement effective public health strategies around the United States.

Throughout its history, New York City has been challenged by a variety of public health crises. Since the nineteenth century—when it became one of the first American cities to develop a comprehensive public health infrastructure—New York has also stood at the forefront of formulating and implementing urban health policy. Healing Gotham examines in depth how the city has responded to five serious contemporary public health threats: childhood lead poisoning, childhood asthma, HIV/AIDS, obesity, and West Nile virus.

Bruce F. Berg examines the rise and incidence of each condition in the city while explaining why the array of primary tools utilized by urban policy makers—including monitoring and surveillance, education, regulations, and the direct provision of services—have been successful in controlling public health problems. He also argues that forces such as race and ethnicity, New York City’s relationship to the state and federal government, the promotion of economic development, and the availability of knowledge related to preventing, treating, and managing illness all influence effective public health policy making.

By contrasting these five particular cases, this exciting study allows scholars and students to compare public health policy through time and across type. It also helps policy makers understand how best to develop and implement effective public health strategies around the United States.

Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 1 Introduction......Page 14 2 Two Lead Poisoning in Children......Page 45 3 Managing Asthma......Page 84 4 Living with HIV/AIDS......Page 122 5 Helping a City Lose Weight......Page 175 6 The First Appearance of West Nile Virus......Page 216 7 Conclusion......Page 233 References......Page 264 B......Page 298 C......Page 299 D......Page 300 F......Page 301 H......Page 302 L......Page 304 M......Page 305 N......Page 306 P......Page 308 S......Page 309 U......Page 310 W......Page 311 Z......Page 312