New York City Council Votes on Legislative Package to Address Maternal Mental Health Disparities

Council also passed legislation to establish rat contraceptive program, eliminate discriminatory enforcement of jaywalking, and advance the use of solar panels on city property

City Hall - Today, the New York City Council voted to pass a legislative package addressing maternal mental health, building on its past work to improve mental health and reduce racial disparities in maternal health. This package of bills stems from proposals first outlined in Speaker Adrienne Adams' 2024 State of the City and represents the third stop of the Council's Mental Health Roadmap, a comprehensive and evolving plan to improve mental health outcomes for New Yorkers. The legislation includes efforts to create a pilot program establishing postpartum support groups in each borough and to provide more information on available resources for families.

The Council also passed legislation to establish a pilot program for the use of rat contraceptives, legalize jaywalking to eliminate discriminatory enforcement, and require solar panels on city owned property.

"The maternal health of Black women and other people who can become pregnant is a matter of life-and-death that is personal to our women-majority City Council," said Speaker Adrienne Adams. "This Council has made addressing the racial disparities in maternal health outcomes a top priority, and we are proud to advance new legislation to tackle this crisis through holistic measures. Today's package of bills, which marks the next step on the Council's Mental Health Roadmap, follows through on proposals outlined in my 2024 State of the City address to confront the mental health challenges facing New Yorkers during and post-pregnancy. As we address this growing crisis at the national scale, I'm proud of this Council's work to advance more comprehensive and holistic maternal health for all."

Addressing Maternal Mental Health Disparities

Maternal mortality and racial disparities in maternal health outcomes continue to be urgent issues nationwide and in New York City. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in 2021, the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in New York City was attributed to mental health conditions, and two-thirds of the total 58 deaths occurred within a year of postpartum. Black New Yorkers are six times more likely than their white counterparts to die from a pregnancy-related cause, and nearly three times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides and overdoses account for about a quarter of pregnancy-related deaths associated with mental health conditions.

In 2022, the Council passed a historic 11-bill package of legislation to begin to address disparities in maternal health, mortality, and morbidity. The following legislation is a continuation of these efforts, and represents the third stop of the Council's Mental Health Roadmap as introduced in Speaker Adrienne Adams' 2024 State of the City Address.

Introduction 890-A, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would require the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to implement a three-year pilot program to establish postpartum support groups focused on the mental health of postpartum individuals. The support groups would be professionally facilitated and provide access to peer support, educational materials on postpartum mental health and postpartum stressors, and resources on home visiting support, lactation consultants, and other maternal health experts. There would need to be at least one group established in each borough, at least one group established in each of the three community districts with the highest rates of postpartum mental health issues, and at least one group established in each of the three community districts that are determined to be impacted most by factors such as structural racism, high poverty rates, limited access to healthcare services, and other social determinants of poor mental health. The Commissioner would be required to submit to the Mayor and the Council, and post online, a report on the program, in part including recommendations on whether to establish a permanent postpartum support group program.

"The Maternal Mental Health Crisis has been a longstanding, and often underreported crisis affecting women across our city," said Council Member Linda Lee. "Welcoming a child into the world is a wonderful life-changing experience, but we do not often talk about the emotional, physical, and psychological changes that come with being a new parent. In many communities, especially communities of color, there is a discrepancy and lack of physical and mental health support that is seen among their white counterparts. I am proud to introduce Int. 890 as part of Stop 3 in the New York City Council's Mental Health Roadmap to establish a 3-year pilot program of postpartum support groups to help new mothers and parents navigate life with a newborn. Together, the City Council is providing immediate action to address this health crisis."

Introduction 869-A, sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, would require the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health to conduct a public outreach and education campaign to raise awareness about resources available at the city, state, and federal level addressing mental health challenges faced by parents, including perinatal mood disorders. The campaign would be required to be available in the designated citywide languages.

"Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum. We must prioritize the mental health needs of parents, especially those facing perinatal mood disorders and the stresses of raising a family," said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. "This legislation ensures that every parent has access to critical resources and support. I am proud to pass this bill, which takes another meaningful step towards reducing the 75% of preventable maternal deaths among Black women, the 65% among Latina women. This is exactly the kind of work our Council is focused on delivering."

Introduction 651-A, sponsored by Council Member Kevin C. Riley, would require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to create informational materials that identify the effects of pregnancy loss on mental health and refer mental health resources available to individuals who have experienced pregnancy loss. The Commissioner would be required to distribute physical copies of these materials to all facilities operated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that provide reproductive healthcare and to post electronic copies on the department's website. Additionally, the Commissioner must, to the extent practicable, inform family planning clinics within the city and hospital departments primarily providing reproductive healthcare about the availability of these materials and make physical copies available to them upon request.

"With the passing of Intro 651A-2024, we are taking a crucial step toward supporting families through the deeply personal and challenging experience of pregnancy loss," said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. "By partnering with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), we are ensuring that individuals have access to critical mental health resources during this vulnerable time. These materials will be widely available in multiple languages, demonstrating our city's commitment to maternal health and family well-being. I am proud that New York City is leading the way in providing compassionate care and support for those who need it most."

Resolution 0402, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would call on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation to require health insurance plans to develop and implement a maternal mental health quality management program to promote access to affordable and comprehensive maternal mental health services.

Resolution 0403, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would call upon the New York State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation mandating all accredited psychiatry residency programs to offer a one-year, post-residency fellowship program specifically focused on Perinatal Mental Health (PMH).

Resolution 0404, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would call on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation to require obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs) to conduct maternal mental health screening during pregnancy and postpartum, and to require Medicaid to cover such services.

Resolution 0405, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would call upon the New York State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation mandating Medicaid Managed Care Organizations to collect and report prenatal and postpartum depression screenings and follow-up data using HEDIS measures.

Resolution 0406, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would designate May annually as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of New York and calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.156/A.6603, which would make the same designation Statewide.

Establishing a Rat Contraceptive Pilot Program

Introduction 736-A, sponsored by Council Member Shaun Abreu, would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), in consultation with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and an expert in rodent control, to establish a pilot program to deploy rat contraceptives for a period of at least 12 months. DOHMH would be required to establish two pilot program areas and at least one comparison area with similar building types. The pilot program areas would be required to be located within rat mitigation zones, with majority residential buildings and where a majority of buildings are required to set out waste in containers. During the pilot program, DOHMH would be required to perform monthly inspections of such areas to track signs of rats. After the pilot period, DOHMH would be required to provide a report to the Mayor and the Council of its findings and other information collected during the pilot program.

"The war on rats predates us and will probably out last us if we keep trying the same methods that haven't been working," said Council Member Shaun Abreu. "Many of those methods have disastrous effects, like poisoning our pets and wildlife, including our old friend Flaco. So we're going to containerize our trash, maintain our rat mitigation zones, and test out contraceptives as a tool we can add to our integrated pest management strategy. This couldn't have been done without the Lights Out Coalition and the people of this city speaking up. Special thanks to Speaker Adams and my colleagues on the Council for supporting this bill."

Legalizing "Jaywalking" to Address Discriminatory Enforcement

Introduction 346-A, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, would permit pedestrians to legally cross a roadway at any point, including outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and allow for crossing against traffic signals. It would legalize the activity commonly referred to as "jaywalking" and specify that crossing against a traffic signal or crossing at any point outside of a crosswalk will not be a violation of the administrative code and therefore can no longer be the subject of police enforcement or summons. The bill would also require the Department of Transportation to conduct an education effort regarding the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians and of operators of motor vehicles, bicycles, and other mobility devices on city roadways.

Currently, the enforcement of jaywalking disproportionately targets Black and Latino New Yorkers, who collectively received 92% of the 463 summonses issued for crossing a street against a signal in 2023. In the first three months of 2024, 96.5% of the 227 tickets where the race of the perpetrator was known were handed to Black and Latino individuals. By legalizing jaywalking, this bill aims to take a step towards addressing these injustices and enabling the redirection of resources to more pressing public safety concerns.

"This legislation is about fairness and equity," said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. "Our jaywalking laws disproportionately impact communities of color, and this bill will help correct that imbalance. It's time we prioritize safety and end the criminalization of everyday actions that unfairly target vulnerable communities. Let's focus our resources on real public safety concerns, not penalizing New Yorkers for simply crossing the street."

Installing Solar PhotoVoltaic Systems on City-Owned Property

Introduction 353-A, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, would require the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to install at least 150 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on city-owned property by December 31, 2035. The bill would also require DCAS to meet several interim deadlines, including having at least 100 megawatts installed, and the size and location of each remaining installation planned, by September 1, 2030. In selecting sites for solar PV installations, DCAS would be required to prioritize properties in disadvantaged communities.

"The climate crisis has reached a critical breaking point, demanding that we accelerate investments in solutions at an unprecedented pace," said Council Member Sandy Nurse. "We can no longer delay the installation of solar power on NYC buildings to ensure clean, renewable, and resilient energy for our future. Every opportunity to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels must be seized. Failure to act now puts our city and future generations in severe jeopardy."

"Building a more sustainable city requires ambitious policies and sustained efforts to build green infrastructure," said Speaker Adrienne Adams. "As we mark Climate Week NYC, we are excited to pass critical legislation that will result in the installation of solar power on more city-owned buildings, which is an important step to combatting the climate crisis. While there is more work to do, we are proud to have advanced recent legislative efforts to build solar canopies in parking lots, encourage the installation of solar and green roofs, mandate the municipal fleet to consist of zero-emissions vehicles, and more. I thank Council Member Nurse for her work, and our colleagues for their support, on this important bill that advances New York City."

Land Use

Memorial Sloan Kettering Pavilion - an application to facilitate the development of a new 31-story hospital building in Council Member Julie Menin's district. The hospital will contain 28 operating rooms, 206 patient beds, and a 2-story enclosed patient bridge over East 67th Street connecting the new development with Memorial Hospital on the Main Block. The agreement also includes more than $10 million in commitments from Memorial Sloan Kettering to support construction mitigation efforts, community infrastructure investments, and other improvements for the surrounding neighborhood.

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Plaza - an HPD application for a UDAAP approval and disposition of City-owned property to facilitate the construction of 1 new mixed-use building in Council Member Yusef Salaam's district. It will include 2 nine-story towers containing 108 affordable units, through HPD's Extremely Low & Low- income Affordability Program (ELLA), and a new community facility space for the pre-existing African vendors' market.

150 Mill Street Rezoning - an application to facilitate the development of a new mixed-use commercial and industrial building in Council Member Alexa Avilés' district.

2390 McDonald Avenue Rezoning - an application to facilitate a new 8-story mixed-used building with 80 housing units, including approximately 24 affordable units under MIH, retail and medical office space, in Council Member Kalman Yeger's district.

Marcus Garvey Boulevard - an HPD application for an Article XI tax exemption to facilitate the construction of 2 ten-story mixed-use buildings consisting of 155 affordable units under HPD's ELLA program and retail space, in Council Member Chi Ossé's district.

The Willoughby-Hart Historic District, a Landmarks Preservation Commission designation in Council Member Chi Ossé's district. The designation includes two blocks of late-19th century row houses constructed in the Neo-Grec style that, over the years, were home to a diversity of New Yorkers, including German and Irish immigrants of the mid-19th century, Russian Jewish immigrants of the 1920s and 30s, and the city's largest Black community in the mid-20th century.

21st Street Rezoning - an application to facilitate the redevelopment of two vacant sites near Astoria Park with new mixed-use buildings including 92 homeownership housing units, 28 of which will be affordable homeownership under MIH Option 2, in Council Member Tiffany Cabán's district.

The Council will approve Seis Vecinos Restaurant's application for a revocable consent to operate a sidewalk cafe in Council Member Rafael Salamanca's district.

The Council will disapprove Cozy Corner Bar's application for a revocable consent to operate a sidewalk cafe in Council Member Robert Holden's district.

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