COVID-19 Leads to Dramatic Changes in the Food Retail Environment in New York City: May–July 2020

Abstract Objective: The food retail environment is an important determinant of food access and the ability to achieve a healthy diet. However, immigrant communities may procure their food in different ways than the mainstream population owing to preferences for specific cultural products or limited English language proficiency. The objective of this analysis was to describe the grocery shopping patterns and behaviours of one of the largest immigrant groups in New York City, Chinese Americans – a group experiencing high poverty and cardio-metabolic disparities. Design: Cross-sectional survey data. Setting: Community-based sample. Participants: Self-identified Chinese Americans in the New York metropolitan area (n 239). Results: Three shopping patterns were identified: type 1: shopped weekly at an ethnic grocery store – and nowhere else; type 2: shopped weekly at a non-ethnic grocery store, with occasional shopping at an ethnic store and type 3: did not perform weekly shopping. Type 1 v. type 2 shoppers tended to have lower education levels (37·5 v. 78·0 % with college degree); to be on public insurance (57·6 v. 22·8 %); speak English less well (18·4 v. 41·4 %); be food insecure (47·2 v. 24·2 %; P < 0·01 for all) and to travel nearly two miles further to shop at their primary grocery store (β = −1·55; 95 % CI −2·81, −0·30). Discussion: There are distinct grocery shopping patterns amongst urban-dwelling Chinese Americans corresponding to demographic and sociocultural factors that may help inform health interventions in this understudied group. Similar patterns may exist among other immigrant groups, lending preliminary support for an alternative conceptualisation of how immigrant communities interact with the food retail environment.

Download Full-text

Tobacco retail environment near housing programmes for patients with mental health conditions in New York City

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053590 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 526-533

Author(s):

Erin S Rogers ◽

Elizabeth A Vargas

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Public Schools ◽

York City ◽

Linear Models ◽

Supportive Housing ◽

Retail Environment ◽

The Mean ◽

Housing Programme

ObjectivesThe current study sought to characterise the tobacco retail environment of supportive housing facilities for persons with mental health (MH) conditions in New York City (NYC) and to estimate the potential impact of a tobacco retail ban near public schools on the retail environment of MH housing in NYC.MethodsTexas A&M Geocoding Services was used to geocode the addresses of housing programmes for patients with MH conditions, non-MH residences, public schools and tobacco retailers in NYC. ESRI ArcMap was used to calculate the number of tobacco retailers within a 500-foot radius around each housing programme and school address point, and the Euclidean distance to the nearest retailer. Generalised linear models were used to compare retail counts and distance between MH and non-MH residences.ResultsThe mean number of tobacco retailers within 500 feet of an MH housing programme was 2.9 (SD=2.3) and the mean distance to nearest tobacco retailer was 370.6 feet (SD=350.7). MH residences had more retailers within 500 feet and a shorter distance to the nearest retailer compared with non-MH residences in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island (p<0.001). Banning tobacco licences within 350, 500 or 1000 feet of a school would significantly improve the tobacco retail environment of MH housing programmes and reduce disparities between MH and non-MH residences in some boroughs.ConclusionsPeople with MH conditions residing in supportive housing in NYC encounter a heavy tobacco retail environment in close proximity to their home, and in some boroughs, one worse than non-MH residences. Implementing a ban on tobacco retail near public schools would improve the tobacco retail environment of MH housing programmes in NYC.

Download Full-text

An Important Armenian MS. with Greek Miniatures

Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society ◽

10.1017/s0035869x00097884 ◽

1942 ◽

Vol 74 (3-4) ◽

pp. 155-162

Author(s):

H. Kurdian

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

York City ◽

Christian Iconography

In 1941 while in New York City I was fortunate enough to purchase an Armenian MS. which I believe will be of interest to students of Eastern Christian iconography.

Download Full-text

Hospitals: N.Y. Appellate Court Denies Move to Privatize Public Hospital

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1017/s1073110500012961 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 202-203

Author(s):

Robert Chatham

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

York City ◽

Public Health System ◽

Municipal Hospital ◽

The Public ◽

Public Benefit ◽

For Profit ◽

Benefit Corporation ◽

The City

The Court of Appeals of New York held, in Council of the City of New York u. Giuliani, slip op. 02634, 1999 WL 179257 (N.Y. Mar. 30, 1999), that New York City may not privatize a public city hospital without state statutory authorization. The court found invalid a sublease of a municipal hospital operated by a public benefit corporation to a private, for-profit entity. The court reasoned that the controlling statute prescribed the operation of a municipal hospital as a government function that must be fulfilled by the public benefit corporation as long as it exists, and nothing short of legislative action could put an end to the corporation's existence.In 1969, the New York State legislature enacted the Health and Hospitals Corporation Act (HHCA), establishing the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) as an attempt to improve the New York City public health system. Thirty years later, on a renewed perception that the public health system was once again lacking, the city administration approved a sublease of Coney Island Hospital from HHC to PHS New York, Inc. (PHS), a private, for-profit entity.

Download Full-text

ASHA Voices: What a New York City SLP's Seen During COVID-19

PodCast Digital Object Group ◽

10.1044/2020-0730-ashavoices-tami-nyu-icu-covid ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

York City

Download Full-text

Cultural Competence Needed to Distinguish Disorder from Difference: Beyond Kumbaya

Perspectives on Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations ◽

10.1044/cds22.2.64 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 64-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Catherine J. Crowley ◽

Kristin Guest ◽

Kenay Sudler

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Public Schools ◽

Cultural Competence ◽

York City ◽

Cultural Sensitivity ◽

Graduate Program ◽

Language Disorder ◽

New York State ◽

Deep Understanding

What does it mean to have true cultural competence as an speech-language pathologist (SLP)? In some areas of practice it may be enough to develop a perspective that values the expectations and identity of our clients and see them as partners in the therapeutic process. But when clinicians are asked to distinguish a language difference from a language disorder, cultural sensitivity is not enough. Rather, in these cases, cultural competence requires knowledge and skills in gathering data about a student's cultural and linguistic background and analyzing the student's language samples from that perspective. This article describes one American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-accredited graduate program in speech-language pathology and its approach to putting students on the path to becoming culturally competent SLPs, including challenges faced along the way. At Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) the program infuses knowledge of bilingualism and multiculturalism throughout the curriculum and offers bilingual students the opportunity to receive New York State certification as bilingual clinicians. Graduate students must demonstrate a deep understanding of the grammar of Standard American English and other varieties of English particularly those spoken in and around New York City. Two recent graduates of this graduate program contribute their perspectives on continuing to develop cultural competence while working with diverse students in New York City public schools.

Download Full-text