You Won’t Believe What The Mayor Of Chicago Is Calling A Public Health Crisis


Citing systematic racism as a leading factor for the huge gap in life expectancy across the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared racism a public health emergency.

Lightfoot, as well as the Chicago Department of Public Health, explained how there is a 9.2-year difference in life expectancy between Black and non-Black citizens of Chicago.

“At almost every single point in our city’s history, racism has taken a devastating toll on the health and well-being of our residents of color – especially those who are Black,” Lightfoot said Thursday. “Without formally acknowledging this detrimental impact, we will never be able to move forward as a city and fully provide our communities with the resources they need to live happy and healthy lives.”

The Chicago mayor vowed to “doubling down” on the ongoing partnership between city officials and community leaders to address racism in the Windy City.

Lightfoot said the city would be enforcing a “will to act” plan that will focus on addressing the effects of historical policies like Jim Crow restrictions and “other forms of financial and housing segregation and discrimination.”

“The launch of the Healthy Chicago Equity Zones is an extension of the racial and health equity work implemented by community leaders, public health entities, city government, and health institutions,” said Ayesha Jaco, executive director of West Side United, a community-based organization for Chicago’s western neighborhoods.

The city health department recently released data that showed a growing gap in life expectancy between Black residents, who typically live to be 71.4 years, and non-Black Chicagoans, who average 80.6 years.

There are five contributing factors to the almost 10-year-long differences in life expectancy, including chronic diseases, homicide, infant mortality, opioid overdose, HIV, and other infections – like the coronavirus.

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