Health
Vision
A city that provides healthy nutrition, healthy activity, a clean environment, and access to quality medical care for all citizens.
Questions
Now that the city has declared racism to be a public health crisis, how will it follow through to make real change?
How can we measure progress toward becoming a healthier city? Levels of obesity, diabetes, infant mortality, childhood lead poisoning?
The Cleveland Department of Public Health has gone through numerous staff shake-ups. What needs to be done to reform it?
The city ordinance requiring rental units to be certified lead-safe will be enforced starting in 2021. How is the new law working?
How can Cleveland be a better city to raise healthy children or age in place?
Recommendations
To reduce childhood lead poisoning, support effective enforcement and funding of the city’s lead-safe housing ordinance, and make sure the Health Department does a good job tracking children who have been exposed to lead.
Utilities (water, electricity, gas) are essential for health. Develop policies to reduce utility shut-offs and make utilities affordable for all.
Accelerate implementation of the city’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the health risks of air pollution, heat waves, flooding, and severe storms.
Support the Cleveland Tree Plan and restore the urban tree canopy for cleaner air, reduced noise pollution, and cooler neighborhoods.
Strengthen the city’s Complete and Green Streets ordinance and transform more of the city’s public realm into safe, walkable, bikable places that promote active living.
Make sure the Division of Water does a good job monitoring the safety our public water supply and the Division of Air Quality does a good job monitoring air pollution.
Regarding food, expand the Healthy City grant program to promote healthier diets and reduce food insecurity, work with partners to develop grocery stores in food-desert areas of the city, and protect urban gardening sites. By encouraging residents to eat a more plant-based diet, the city can promote health while helping to reduce the out-sized carbon emissions of meat and dairy production.
Support the City Planning Commission’s efforts to conduct Health Impact Assessments of proposed projects and plans.
Advocate for sensible gun safety at the state and federal levels.
Resources
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