BROOKLYN-USA.ORG 9 COMMUNITY BOARD Q&A
Borough President Adams fulfills
an essential role in the most local
representative bodies of government
in Brooklyn, appointing members to
the 18 community boards that are responsible
for addressing community
concerns, assessing neighborhood
needs, and helping to manage land
use issues. Working in partnership,
they tackle many of the obstacles and
opportunities facing Brooklynites.
Below are some health-focused
questions that Borough President Adams
posed to leadership from Community
Boards (CBs) 4 and 15, with
the answers provided by CB 4 District
Manager Celestina Leon and CB
15 Chair Theresa Scavo, respectively
(future issues will explore additional
CBs).
CB 4
BP: CD 4 has the highest per capita
rate of tobacco retailers in Brooklyn,
and one of the lowest rates of access
to supermarkets in the city. What
steps can we take to address expanding
access to healthy choices in the
neighborhood?
CB: Some of the steps we are taking
to address this include supporting
initiatives such as Shop Healthy NYC,
expanding local farmers markets, and
periodic engagement with the community.
Educational programming
such as Eat Well Play Hard, which educates
young people and their parents
in schools, also plays a role in encouraging
healthier choices.
BP: Bushwick has historically faced
the highest rates of uninsured adults
in the borough. How has this impacted
local families, and what can be done
locally to combat this challenge?
CB: Many residents turn to visiting
local hospitals for minor injuries and
illnesses, which often leads to costly
medical bills for those without insurance.
We promote opportunities for
our local residents to sign up for coverage
across Bushwick by partnering
with Wyckoff Heights Medical Center,
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, and
other local health stakeholders, as
well as participating in initiatives and
programs such as Get Covered NYC
and local enrollment services.
BP: What local issues do you believe
to be the cause of the community’s
high rate of asthma and other
respiratory illnesses?
CB: Asthma and other respiratory
illnesses in Bushwick are caused by
a variety of factors including the high
volume of traffic of cars, buses, trains,
and trucks in the neighborhood.
Historically, Bushwick was known
for its large industrial areas that consisted
primarily of heavy manufacturing.
Pollutants from the industrial sites
combined with the limited amount of
parks and green spaces create a precarious
situation for residents’ health.
Additionally, smoking has also
contributed to the high rate of asthma,
which is why we need increased
awareness of the dangers of smoking.
Borough President Adams met with one of his older constituents during his annual
“Seniors by the Sea” celebration at Kingsborough Community College in
Manhattan Beach, an event that also educates on various elder health topics.
CB 15
BP: Sheepshead Bay and surrounding
neighborhoods face some of
the lowest rates of hospitalization for
abuse of substances such as alcohol
and drugs. What are the factors that
may be behind this, and how are local
residents being helped in getting back
on their feet if they do face such difficulties?
CB: Shame is the leading factor for
low rates of hospitalization for drug
and alcohol abuse. Those affected are
fearful of the repercussions of seeking
professional help. Many hide their
addiction from their families and loved
ones. Those who do admit to an addiction
problem oftentimes seek help
from either religious organizations or
neighborhood recovery programs to
avoid being put in the hospital system.
BP: Fewer residents self-reported
their own health as “good” or better
compared to any other part of New
York City? Why do you think that is the
case?
CB: Southern Brooklyn is home to
a sedentary lifestyle, in which residents
often drive to get around. Their
food choices are also unhealthy, which
Photo Credit: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
leads to obesity causing other health
issues to arise. Another major factor
is smoking, which is prevalent
throughout this district.
Waking up every day to a feeling of
malaise from overeating, shortness
of breath from smoking, and the inability
to walk creates many stresses
for residents and can lead to negative
self-reporting.
BP: Nearly half of all CB 15 residents
are foreign-born. Are there
unique challenges that this poses to
the delivery of quality health care services?
CB: Many foreign-born residents
of CB 15 are reluctant to seek medical
help because they fear the system.
Foreign-born residents, particularly
non-English speaking elderly, often
find it difficult navigating the health
care system considering language
barriers as well as cultural differences.
Many seek doctors of similar ethnic
background who better understand
their culture and language. Cultural
sensitivity training is needed in order
to make patients feel more comfortable
in receiving medical attention.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Borough President Adams learned about sustainable urban agriculture from
Glenda Ullauri, manager of the Bushwick Campus farm, as he announced his
“Growing Brooklyn’s Future” initiative.
BROOKLYN NEWS