New York City Tracking Program

Website: http://a816-dohbesp.nyc.gov/IndicatorPublic/publictracking.aspxexternal icon
Email: trackingportal@health.nyc.gov

Mission:

The NYC Health Department Tracking Program provides an urban and local perspective on environmental issues that impact health. The program collects local data from a variety of sources to

• Inform policy, programs and initiatives.
• Track progress in meeting health and sustainability goals.
• Support research.
• Educate the public.

Quick Stats:

• The New York City Health Department is the largest local public health agency in the country.
• NYC is one of only four U.S. cities where renters make up two thirds or more of the total population, over twice the national average.
• Renters rely on property managers to maintain their housing. Since 2014, health-related housing conditions in NYC have improved, going from 44% to 52% of homes reporting no maintenance defects, such as leaks, cracks and holes.
• About 85% of NYC residents that died from heat stroke were exposed to heat indoors at home. In NYC, low-income neighborhoods are twice as likely to have no air conditioning in the household as high-income neighborhoods.

Unique Data:

In addition to the set of standard data collected and displayed by all state and local tracking programs, individual programs may host data that are important to their populations. The NYC Tracking program includes data on urban living conditions and concerns such as:

• neighborhood-level air qualityexternal icon
• traffic-related injuriesexternal icon
• housing conditionsexternal icon
• presence of pests – cockroachesexternal icon, mice and ratsexternal icon
• use of pesticidesexternal icon

Accomplishments:

• Climate & Health: The City of New York used NYC Tracking’s heat vulnerability index to prioritize neighborhoods for interventions related to the city’s strategic planpdf iconexternal icon to combat the impacts of extreme heat.
• Air Quality: Data from local air monitoring were used to promote regulation to phase out heavy residual heating oils (#4 and #6) and inform the NYC planpdf iconexternal icon to reduce greenhouse gas emission 80% by 2050.

Local Resources:

• Eat Fish, Choose Wisely: Protect against Mercurypdf iconexternal icon (PDF) a guide for pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children
• Neighborhood Reportsexternal icon support the Health Department’s Center for Health Equity Health Action Centers. These centers bring clinical and community health services together in one place to help individuals and groups work on and coordinate strategies that advance neighborhood health.

More Information:

• New York City Success Stories
• Tracking in Action Video: Informing Asthma Centers in New York City