Mayor Adams' handling of health emergencies rekindles concerns following another Legionnaires' disease outbreak

In the heart of New York City, a second-worst outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city's history has sparked a wave of criticism and calls for action. With five fatalities and 109 cases, the current outbreak has raised concerns about the city's health and safety measures, particularly in relation to cooling towers.

Dr. Jay Varma, the former deputy commissioner for disease control at the health department, has been vocal in his criticism of the Adams administration over the drop in inspections of cooling towers, which are considered health and safety systems in the city. Varma argues that public health regulations require investment by the government to ensure compliance, and that investing in public health improves health, safety, and longevity.

Four of the 10 buildings that tested positive for Legionnaires' are owned by the city, adding to the concerns about the city's management of these systems. Chris Boyd, a former assistant commissioner at the health department, has emphasized the importance of monitoring the city's cooling towers for public safety.

The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has attributed the drop in inspections to staffing shortages. However, this has not deterred criticism, with City Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who worked as a de Blasio aide during the 2015 outbreak, expressing outrage over the consistent mismanagement from Mayor Adams.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights attorney, have announced a lawsuit against contractors they allege did not protect them from the outbreak. Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo has also called for the state to launch an investigation into the city's handling of Legionnaires' before and after the outbreak.

The City Council plans to hold hearings next month on the administration's response to Legionnaires'. Dr. Don Weiss, a former city health official, has stated that the current outbreak was avoidable. Attorney Jory Lange, who represents 44 people, plans to file a lawsuit after the city determines which building was the source of the outbreak.

In response, Mayor Adams has suggested that more frequent testing of cooling towers might not be helpful, using the analogy of COVID. However, the city health department has proposed overseeing the monitoring of Legionella bacteria in cooling towers to better protect the public, including through stricter regulations, mandatory testing by certified laboratories, and increased penalties for violations.

Amidst this outbreak, the city health department has also been under pressure to address another health crisis. The department scrambled to reopen sexual health clinics amid a 2022 outbreak of mpox.

Adams has faced criticism for being slow to alert New Yorkers and provide information about flooding and an air-quality crisis. As the city grapples with these health crises, it remains to be seen how the administration will respond and whether changes will be made to improve public health and safety.