New York Voters Overwhelmingly Support Legislation to Reduce Air Pollution and Asthma Rates
By Julia Jeanty and Garima Raheja
As summer approaches, people across the country will be taking the opportunity to enjoy the warmer weather and longer sunlight hours to get outdoors and enjoy nature. For some, however, going outside and enjoying some fresh air is not as simple as opening up the front door and stepping outside. Poor air quality, fueled by years of disproportionate pollution and dumping in Black and Brown communities, has left many New Yorkers in particular facing unclean and unsafe conditions while trying to recreate outdoors.
The history of environmental injustice in the U.S. is well documented and has direct correlations with asthma and other respiratory conditions. New York voters, however, are ready to see a change. Recent Data for Progress polling illustrates that 72 percent of New York voters agree that the state should place stricter limits on air pollution to help communities mitigate the risk of health conditions, namely asthma, driven by this pollution.
Voters in New York are also well aware of the effects of historic discrimination — including a lack of access to fresh and healthy foods, poor healthcare treatment, and high levels of pollution in marginalized communities — on the health outcomes of Black and Brown individuals. When asked about the drivers behind worse health outcomes for Black and Latina/o populations — such as higher rates of asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health conditions — compared to other races and ethnicities, over half of New York voters attribute this primarily to a legacy of racial discrimination rather than poor individual choices. Notably, voter perceptions of this idea vary by race, with 71 percent of Black New Yorkers and 75 percent of Latina/o voters believing that racial discrimination is the predominant reason for poor health outcomes for Black and Latina/o people, and only 47 percent of white New York voters believing this. Forty-two percent of white New York voters believe that worse health outcomes are primarily the result of poor individual choices, not outside factors.
Additionally, New York voters are ready to see lawmakers take action on these issues. New Yorkers overwhelmingly support legislation to reduce air pollution and asthma rates; 85 percent of likely voters, including 91 percent of Democrats, 84 percent of Independents, and 74 percent of Republicans, are in favor of this idea. More notably, the level of support for passing legislation to tackle air pollution and asthma does not vary significantly by racial groups; a supermajority of Black, white, and Latina/o voters in New York are in favor of seeing this legislation pass. Almost two-thirds of voters in New York City are also strongly supportive of asthma and air pollution legislation.
This summer, it is critical that New York legislators step up and protect vulnerable communities against preventable health risks by championing legislation to reduce both indoor and outdoor air pollution. New Yorkers deserve a breath of fresh air, and the time is ripe to act on poor air quality.
Julia Jeanty (@julia_jeanty) is the Policy Manager of Data for Progress.
Garima Raheja (@rahejagarima) is a fellow at Data for Progress.