From Clean Air to Senior Care Boston Reaffirms Public Health Commitments

This week, Boston's City Council approved two resolutions aimed at enhancing community health. The first resolution recognizes World Asthma Day on May 6, 2025, highlighting the chronic respiratory disease's impact on over 13% of Boston adults, particularly in neighborhoods like Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester. Councilor Coletta Zapata emphasized the need for clean air initiatives amid troubling trends, including Boston's ranking among the worst metro areas for ozone pollution. The resolution also calls attention to federal funding cuts that could impede local asthma mitigation efforts. In a second resolution, Councilors Flynn and Worrell advocated for Adult Day Health programs, which provide critical services to over 13,000 seniors and adults with disabilities in Massachusetts.

These programs play a vital role in preventing isolation and unnecessary hospitalizations. The Council opposes a proposed reimbursement rate cut that threatens the stability of these essential services. Together, the resolutions reflect the Council's commitment to health equity and support for vulnerable populations.